CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH
CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH
Remarks by The Co-ordinator Saint Joseph Society Archdiocese of Benin City Dr. E.S. Joseph Uujamhan, KSG, PhD, FAEng.
At the Closing Ceremony of “The Year of Saint Joseph”
At the Marian Ground Iguedaiken, on Saturday 4th December, 2021
Your Grace,
Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Obiora Akubeze,
Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Benin City / President Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
Monsignories, Very Rev. & Rev. Fathers, Consecrated Men and Women, Chairman of the Laity, Papal Knights & Dames, Knights of the Various Orders, CMO, CWO, CYON, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
Glory be to Jesus, Honour to Mary and Joseph!! Glory, Glory to Jesus, Honour to Mary and Joseph.
1. It is with immeasurable joy and unalloyed humility, that I make a few remarks at this closing ceremony of the Year of Saint Joseph holding on this Marian Ground. It is even more delightful when it is being concelebrated with the feast of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary due on 8th December. I wish to sincerely and immensely thank the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Benin City, not only for his initiative in putting these two ceremonies together, but for his foresight in setting up Saint Joseph Society in the Archdiocese of Benin City on 18th December 2017, three full years before Pope Francis declared the Year of St. Joseph. Quite remarkable is the historical and unitive correlation of today’s double celebration, in that, Pope Pius IX (1846 - 1878) who declared the dogma of Immaculate Conception [Ineffabilis Deus (God ineffable)] on 8th December 1854 was the same Pope who declared St. Joseph Patron and Protector of the Universal Church, sixteen (16) years later on 8th December 1870 by his decree [Quemadmodum Deus]. The remarkable words of now Blessed Pope Pius IX then, were: “whosoever consoles St. Joseph in life, shall be aided by him in death”. His Holiness Pope Francis, in commemoration of one hundred and fifty (150) years of this proclamation, declared the Year of St. Joseph 2020 / 2021. Words are not enough to thank these faith-filled Popes and our Archbishop for their foresight.
2. I wish to thank the entire clergy and the lay faithful of this Archdiocese and indeed beyond for the commitment to the full year celebration of the first ever year, dedication to the Head of the Holy Family on earth, an earthly trinity approved by the Holy Trinity on high. The Year of St. Joseph has brought to the fore, the direct and indivisible link between the three members of the Holy Family, with each playing his or her role perfectly, all to the glory of God and redemption of mankind from the shackles of destruction engineered by Adam and Eve at the time of Creation. Never again will Saint Joseph be separated from his immaculate wife, the holy and ever virgin Mary.
3. So, what has the Year of Saint Joseph offered us? With the committed efforts of the Clergy and many lay faithful, we can proudly say that we have learnt in this year that:-
(i) Saint Joseph is the noble son of David, through whom the title “Jesus, Son of David” (Lk.18:38) was not only prophetically fulfilled but that our Lord Jesus genealogically came from the royal line of David. In the same light, our Lord is addressed as a Nazarene because St. Joseph brought him up in Nazareth, and this fulfilled the prophecy (Mtt.2:23), He shall be a Nazarene.
(ii) Saint Joseph is not only listed among the long line of Patriarchs with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph of the Old Testament --- etc, but indeed, he is their light. By carrying Jesus the light, by being the first after Mary and indeed the first man to set eyes on the Saviour, he was the lampstand on which we see our Lord Jesus Christ. St. Bernard says, “this wise and faithful steward was privy to the promise and witnessed its fulfillment”.
(iii) We learnt that by accepting the command of the angel to take Mary home as his wife (Mt.1:18-21), St. Joseph did not only become the husband of the Mother of God, but also shared significantly in the salvific encounter. In particular by taking Mary home, he did not only save the unborn Child, our Saviour and his own Saviour, but the Mother from the consequences of perceived adultery which is stoning to death.
(iv) We learnt that St. Joseph was not only the guardian of the Virgin but guided and protected the virginity of the virgin Mother. As St. Bernard would say, “Joseph was created in the image of the of the Blessed Virgin Mary, his betrothed --- Joseph was the only and most trustworthy co-operator in the Divine Design ---” “--- and the Virgin Mary was espoused to Joseph that the Virgin might be preserved from Suspicions”.
(v) We learnt that there is a parallel between Joseph of the Old Testament and the Joseph husband of Mary. While the first Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers out of envy, Joseph the husband of Mary fled into Egypt with Christ to escape the envy of Herod. Both Josephs were also acclaimed dreamers and Chaste. In addition while the Old Testament Joseph remained faithful to his master Potiphar, despite the evil suggestions of his mistress, Joseph the husband of Mary, recognizing that his wife is the Virgin mother of the Lord, guarded her with utmost fidelity. He guarded the gate that was shut permanently and perpetually (Ezk.44:1-3).
(vi) St. Joseph teaches us obedience by his faithful obedience to the wishes and commands of the Lord. His response to “rise and go to Egypt” was spontaneous. He did not ask any question; he did not ask why he had to leave his country on exile to Egypt that very night or the means to go to Egypt, or where to stay in Egypt or how long he was to stay there. He simply obeyed and lived on the Providence of God.
4. Among many other virtues which we are to imbibe and imitate, St. Joseph teaches us:
(i) Chastity, for both the married and the unmarried.
(ii) Prudence, that virtue which guides other cardinal virtues of Justice, Temperance and Fortitude.
(iii) Total and undiluted obedience to constituted authority, spiritual or human, whether we are senior to or junior to the person giving the instruction.
(iv) As a model of workmen, St. Joseph teaches us to be faithful workmen in our respective vocations.
(v) As a man who had an unwavering trust in God, St. Joseph is not only an example to parents but an enviable example of living in the Providence of God.
5. St. Joseph, the glory of domestic life, excels in his fatherhood and the Church invites us to copy him for he was a caring father, a loving father, a listening father, a beloved father, a father in obedience, an accepting father, an exemplary father and a father in the shadows [Pope Francis - Patris Corde]. We are 3 all invited to take him as our spiritual father, just as Mary is our spiritual mother. We are not a one parent family.
6. The Church invites us to imitate St. Joseph in his simplicity, in his chastity, prudence, valour, obedience, faithfulness, patience, fatherhood and take him as the pillar of our families, recognizing that he is the Terror of demons, Patron of the dying, Patron of the poor and Patron of refugees. In addition, the Church teaches that he is the Guardian of the Redeemer, the Servant of Christ, our Support in difficulties and Guardian of those who are afflicted.
7. The Church has given us St. Joseph at this time or rather made him more known because he is most needed now and beyond because the family today is under attack. We should all now consecrate ourselves to him, just as many of us have done to our mother Mary, for our holy Mother is happy when we recognize and honour her husband. Our Lord Jesus Christ wants us to honour St. Joseph for He Jesus was the first to honour him since He chose St. Joseph of all men to be His earthly father, guardian and teacher. God the Father wants us to honour and imitate St. Joseph for St. Joseph played His role on earth in the eye of men. Many persons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, like the priests here, but only one man has ever and will ever represent God the Father and that is St. Joseph, our spiritual father, who is greater, wiser, more faithful than Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is the Light of Patriarchs and noble Son of David.
8. The erudite Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, aged 94years and still kicking observes that: – “Throughout all history, Joseph is the man who gives God the greatest display of trust, even in the face of such astonishing news” – news that his wife was carrying a male Child for months without his collaboration ---”. He went further to admonish the faithful to trust St. Joseph and keep close to him every time, everywhere and at every circumstance, saying:- “If discouragement overwhelms you, think of the FAITH of Joseph. If anxiety has its grip on you, think of the HOPE of Joseph --- If exasperation or hatred seizes you, think of the LOVE of Joseph ---”---.
9. St. Joseph did not ulter one word in the Scriptures. Yet we are invited to Imitate him in his silence, for that silence was not empty but a call to recollection, an invitation to contemplation, a sure way to the “interior castle” to quote St. Teresa of Avila, where the Holy Trinity’s breath surround us. As suggested by Alphonsus Liguori, we can dedicate or devote fifteen (15) minutes of our daily visit to the Blessed Sacrament, meditating on, and replicating St. Joseph’s silence thus:-
Sunday - The Holy Trinity
Monday - The Holy Spirit
Tuesday - Your Guardian Angel
Wednesday - Saint Joseph
Thursday - The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Friday - The Passion of Christ Saturday - The Blessed Virgin Mary
10. For those who are Devotees of the Divine Mercy, remember the words of St. Faustina in Diary No.1203, to pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be and the Memorare to St. Joseph everyday for protection. St. Jospeh assisted her on the spread of Divine Mercy Prayers (Diary No.1244). That Memorare card is being circulated today.
11. Remember, that the man who protected Jesus from the anger and jealousy of Herod, the man who protected Mary from being stoned to death, the man who did not cause Mary to abort the Child, the man whose obedience, faithfulness, chastity are incomparable, can still today be of tremendous assistance to you, in your life and salvation. Therefore, I call on: All Men, Husbands, - To take St. Joseph as their father, as their pillar, protector and the rallying Guardians and Fathers point for a good life. (Biological or Spiritual) All Women - To take St. Joseph not only for their protection but to help their husbands be like Joseph. They will not only care for them but help bring up their children to be good citizens. All Families - To make their families like that of St. Joseph, where Mary and Jesus reside. All Unemployed - Go to Joseph to help them find well-paying jobs All Workers - For a just, fair wage and commitment to work For Good Prayer Life - To turn to St. Joseph, for his silence was not empty but full of contemplation For Priests & Religious - To seek St. Joseph’s virtues particularly Chastity and Obedience For us to have a Good - Turn to St. Joseph for he will invite Jesus and Mary to surround you at the Life & Happy Death point of death.
12. Today’s celebration is not the end of the devotion to St. Joseph. It is the wakeup call. Join The Saint Joseph Society, a Prayer group approved by His Grace the Archbishop of Benin City. Membership Registration slips are going round now, pick one. Wednesday is our weekly Prayer Day, here and all over the world. We anxiously and humbly await the permission and invitation of the Parishes that are not yet in the fold. On this note I whole heartedly thank the following twenty-three (23) parishes in the Archdiocese, where we have the St. Joseph Society, already established: Holy Cross Cathedral / St. Peter / St. Francis / St. Joseph / St. Paul / St. Teresa / St. Thomas Aquinas / St. Gabriel the Archangel / Mary the Queen / St. Augustine / Holy Spirit / St. Fidelis / St. Albert / St. Andrew / St. Matthew / Sacred Heart / St. Valentine / St. Maria Goretti / St. Mulumba / Immaculate Conception Catholic Church / Good Shepherd Catholic Church / St. Patrick / St. Gabriel Urorah. Saint Joseph, the Saint of Saints, the Saviour of his Saviour, is everyday and every body’s saint and his intercession is efficacious in all circumstances. Pharaoh at the time of famine in Egypt said to his people “Go to Joseph (Gen.41:55) - Ite Ad Joseph”. Pope Pius XII in 1955 putting it in a more commanding and convincing way, said: “If you would be close to Jesus, we repeat, Go to Joseph”.
I conclude these remarks in the unfading and prayerful words of Pope Saint Pius X (1903 - 1914) ALL FOR JESUS, ALL THROUGH MARY, ALL IN IMITATION OF SAINT JOSEPH!!! 5. Join me to sing this Holy Family Song: THE HOME OF JOSEPH I LOVE SO MUCH:
1. There is a Woman I love so much There is a Woman I love; There is a Woman I love so much, Her name is Mary.
2. There is a Son she loves so much, There is a Son she loves; There is a Son she loves so much, His name is Jesus.
3. There is a Man they love so much, There is a Man they love; There is a Man they love so much, His name is Joseph.
4. There is a Man, we love so much, There is a Man we love; There is a Man we love so much, His name is Joseph.
5. There is a Home, we love so much, There is a home we love; There is a Home we love so much, The home of Joseph.