Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today's Mass Readings

Today, on my mother’s side of the family (the Italian side), is a big day—St. Joseph Day! Italians value family. But with an Italian family, it is all about blood. My great-grandfather, Salvatore (Sam), always wanted a big family. He and my great-grandmother ,Mary, had four children.

At the time of my mother’s birth and adoption, great-grandpa Sam had a few grandkids already, but my grandparents, Vince and Bernice, were nervous about showing a little Irish baby girl to an old Italian man. Nonetheless, when mom was brought home from the orphanage, they told him, “Dad, here is your new grandaughter, Debbie…” Once my mother was in my great-grandfather’s arms, it was love at first sight—so much so that he began to cry.

When Grandpa Sam was getting ready to meet the Lord, he said to my great-grandmother, “Mary, I want Debbie to be with me!” My grandparents rushed my mother over to him. In bed with my mother by his side, he passed away.

We see a similar connection with St. Joseph. St. Joseph, not wanting to expose Mary to shame, wanted to leave her quietly. St. Joseph knew Mary’s purity and intentions, but he felt himself unworthy to take care of the Christ Child until he had to get confirmation from heaven saying, “Joseph it is ok for you to take Mary into your home, for she has conceived from the Holy Spirit…”

St. Joseph not having a blood connection with Jesus doesn’t make him less superior. On the contrary, God picked St. Joseph, like he did Mary, to be the foster father of his Son! And he named him Jesus as the angel told him to do. There isn’t an ounce of Italian blood in me, but by golly, I am Italian by heart, and I owe it to my grandparents “Alla Famiglia!!”

Reflection by Br. Maximilian Burkhart, OSB