Message from the Prelate (19 March 2018)

"Today especially, with the whole Church, we contemplate Saint Joseph, that just and faithful man. Let us entrust ourselves to his intercession."

Saint Josemaria was deeply moved by Saint Joseph’s simplicity and greatness. His life—that of “a craftsman from Galilee, just one man among many”—was intimately united to the life of Jesus and Mary. In Saint Joseph he discerned the features of those who understand that they are called by God to live close to Him in their daily lives, with everything this involves, including unforeseen events and worries. Saint Joseph lived under the same roof as God. We could think that in this respect he doesn’t seem to be “just one man among many.” Nevertheless, don’t we ourselves pray: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof”? And if we let Him, He enters. And a single word of his is enough to heal us (cf. Mt 8:8).

Today especially, with the whole Church, we contemplate Saint Joseph, that just and faithful man. Let us entrust ourselves to his intercession, so that he might help us to respond each day to Christ’s immense love, opening wide to Him the doors of our house, of our heart. And we ask that this response may spur us to ever greater service to those around us, spreading the joy of the Gospel.

Rome, 19 March 2018