Companion of our Families
Jesus probably always called Joseph “abba,” or “papa.” He would later address God, his Father, in the same way. It’s by the same word—so intimate!—that he invited his disciples to pray to God the Father: “When you pray, say: Our Papa who art in heaven…”
A father figure to Jesus, a paragon of the relationship that binds him to the Father and a devoted husband to the Virgin Mary, Joseph is an inspiring family man. In the midst of our busy lives and our struggles to balance work and family, in the midst of our concerns and worries about the future of our children or our ageing parents, it’s good to entrust our families to the example of love and trust in God that Joseph set.
Like the millions of Mount Royal pilgrims who pass through the Oratory’s Votive Chapel each year, contemplating Joseph with his calm, reassuring hands, as if to say “Don’t worry about a thing, I hear your prayers,” let us confide in this powerful heavenly companion!
Joseph, companion of our families,
with confidence in your benevolent intercession,
we entrust them to you, as well as our
human and Christian communities.
May God’s love reign and be the leaven of our lives!
