Saint Joseph - the Man of Joy

We continue our Week of Prayer as we prepare to celebrate the special year which Pope Francis has dedicated to the ‘The Joy of Love’ in family life. We have chosen Saint Joseph as our inspiration for our Week of Prayer which will end this coming Friday on the Feast of Saint Joseph.

Our reflection today is on Saint Joseph the worker. We pray for all families in our parish as a new week begins which may include working from home, homeschooling, or working on the front line in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. We pray that all family members will know that they are loved, appreciated and cherished.

All the work of our hands is precious and to be valued. So much of the work that takes place in family life is under the radar: we think of the parents and grandparents working to better the lives of their children; the work of family carers that is 24/7. We think too at this time of those who have lost their livelihoods as a result of the pandemic.

In Scripture we read: 

May the favour of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us -

 yes, establish the work of our hands… (Psalm 90:17)

May God Bless the work of our hands and make us always strive for a good work/life balance. 

We pray Pope Francis' Prayer for the Year of Saint Joseph:

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To you God entrusted his only Son;

in you Mary placed her trust;

with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,

show yourself a father

and guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,

and defend us from every evil. 

Amen.

Recite together: the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

As we conclude day one of our Week of Prayer ahead of this special Year on the Family, I offer you a short reflection from Pope’ Francis from ‘The Joy of Love’: 

“The welfare of the family is decisive for the future of the world and that of the Church.” 

(Amoris Laetitia, 31)

God bless all families.

AMEN