May 1, 1998
Friday, May 1:
Friday in the Third Week of Easter and FEAST OF SAINT JOSEPH THE WORKER
First Friday
First Reading: Acts 9: 1-20
Psalms: Psalm 117: 1-2
Gospel Reading: John 6: 52-59
SAINT JOSEPH THE WORKER
So much has been said about this very special, holy, pure and quiet saint...and yet, so little is really
known about Saint Joseph. No one can pinpoint the exact year he died, but we do know he died a happy, peaceful death richly deserved because of his obedience to the Will of God in being the earthly guardian
of God's Own Son and the Immaculate Mother He chose to fulfill the Act of Redemption. Saint Joseph is
the saint most often invoked for the grace of a happy death and the assurance that Jesus is spiritually
present at that time with every dying soul. While Mary was the heart of the Holy Family, Joseph was the
head, yet always submitting to a higher Power in all things...from accepting Mary's virgin birth as truly from
God to rallying the family in the cold of the night to flee from Herod's wrath into a land he knew nothing
about, only that God would not abandon him nor those he was charged to watch over. Every virtue can be
attributed to this saint who bridged the Old Law, born into the royal family of David's lineage, and the New Law and guided to maturity Jesus Christ, our Savior. Because of his role in protecting the Holy Family he has been designated Protector of Holy Mother Church as well. He is the patron saint of workers for he
lifted the work ethics to a new level and taught these values to the Son of God.
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