Buona festa di San Giuseppe

!9 Mar is 1 of 2 days we honor St. Joseph in the Catholic Church. He is the patron of the Universal Church. He is also probably underrated & underappreciated by many Catholics. This is probably because there is so little said about him in the Gospels. But, when you look at what is said seriously these few words actually say volumes. These words show us the greatest role model for a husband & father that there could be. He was willing to do whatever was needed to protect & provide for his family. He was a man of deep faith that challenges us to imitate him.

From a sermon by Saint Bernardine of Siena, priest

The faithful foster-father and guardian

There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to any human being. Whenever the divine favour chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfil the task at hand.This general rule is especially verified in the case of Saint Joseph, the foster-father of our Lord and the husband of the Queen of our world, enthroned above the angels. He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph’s wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying: “Good and faithful servant enter into the joy of your Lord”.What then is Joseph’s position in the whole Church of Christ? Is he not a man chosen and set apart? Through him and, yes, under him, Christ was fittingly and honourably introduced into the world. Holy Church in its entirety is indebted to the Virgin Mother because through her it was judged worthy to receive Christ. But after her we undoubtedly owe special gratitude and reverence to Saint Joseph.In him the Old Testament finds its fitting close. He brought the noble line of patriarchs and prophets to its promised fulfilment. What the divine goodness had offered as a promise to them, he held in his arms.Obviously, Christ does not now deny to Joseph that intimacy, reverence and very high honour which he gave him on earth, as a son to his father. Rather we must say that in heaven Christ completes and perfects all that he gave at Nazareth. Now we can see how the last summoning words of the Lord appropriately apply to Saint Joseph: “Enter into the joy of your Lord”. In fact, although the joy of eternal happiness enters into the soul of a man, the Lord preferred to say to Joseph: “Enter into joy”. His intention was that the words should have a hidden spiritual meaning for us. They convey not only that this holy man possesses an inward joy, but also that it surrounds him and engulfs him like an infinite abyss.Remember us, Saint Joseph, and plead for us to your foster-child. Ask your most holy bride, the Virgin Mary, to look kindly upon us, since she is the mother of him who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns eternally. Amen.

I couldn't put it better.

As an Italiano-American I also share the deep love that Italians have for San Guiseppe. While we didn't do much in the way of celebrating when I was a child I have tried to learn the traditions & when possible put them into practice. The following article describes some of these practices:

http://www.catholicexchange.com/vm/PFarticle.asp?vm_id=2&art_id=27839&sec_id=53424

I have made something similar to what he calls sfinge, bigne di San Guiseppe. & believe me when guests came over to our house there was always something offered to all. Food & drink are an important part of Italian hospitality. Mange!!! To refuse would be an insult to the hostess.

& in this age of the internet there is even a virtual St. Joseph's Altar:

http://politickles.com/thankevann/stjoseph/altar.php

Buona festa San Guiseppe!!!! Mille grazie for saying yes when God called you.