St. Joseph - A Needed Pro-Life Padrone

Over the years Our Lady of Guadelupe has become a patron of the Pro-Life movement. The 2 main reasons are the fact that her image on the tilma is that of a pregnant woman & the fact that after her appearance there was a mass conversion to Catholicism that put an end to the huge amount of humans sacrificed by the Aztecs.

Over this past Advent/Christmas season I have become convinced that a 2nd patron is needed & that that patron should be St. Joseph.

Why?

Because of his role in the life of Jesus & Mary is a prime example of what we are to be doing in the Pro-Life movement. (Note: I don't claim all of the following is original. It is a synthesis of things I have read from others, in Scripture & prayed about.)

Let's go back to see what role St. Joseph played in the Jesus' life. The role that the Catholic Church has held up as a model for fathers ever since.

1st of all, he was Jesus' father. Not biologically, but in every other way shape & form he was resonsible for raising Jesus, the same as any Father, natural or adopted. & it is plain from Scripture that this right came from God Himself.

In Matthew 1:21 the angel tells Joseph: "(Y)ou must name him Jesus." It was the responsibility of the father to name the son on the 8th day. God made it clear that He was giving parental authority by this. What was Joseph's response? "(W)hen she gave birth to a son; and he named him Jesus." (vs 25) He accepted the responsibility to be a father to Jesus in every way.

The Holy Spirit added emphasis to this by inspring Luke to write this as a part of the story about the events when Jesus was presented in the Temple according to Jewish law: "As the child's father and mother were wondering at the things that were being said about him." (Luke 2:32)

& over the 30 years of Jesus' life before St. Joseph died that is what he did. With the full cooperation of Mary. In Luke we read that the archangel Gabriel told Mary what Jesus name was to be. In Luke 2:21 we read: "(T)hey gave him the name Jesus."

Later in chapter 2 of Luke there is the story of Jesus' being found in the Temple. What did Mary say when the found Jesus? "See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you." (vs 48) Clearly Mary was showing that she expected Jesus to relate to Joseph as a son does to a father. & Jesus did. We read in vs 51 " He went down with them then and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority."

We know that Jesus never acted in any way toward Josepth other than that as a son does to his father. & that is how everyone in Nazareth saw it. In Luke 3:23 we have the start of Jesus' geneology. It says: "Jesus was about thirty years old, being the son, as it was thought, of Joseph." We know that that is how they saw Jesus by their reaction when Jesus preached at the Nazareth synagogue. In Luke we read where they said: "This is Joseph's son, surely?" (Luke 4:22) & in Matthew: "This is the carpenter's son, surely?" (Matt 13:55)

But it is in the story of the Flight into Egypt (Matt 2:13-23) where we see the reason why Jospeh should be added as a patron for the Pro-Life movement. There we see how Joseph, guided by God via an angel, immediately did what was needed to protect Jesus from being harmed by Herod & later, Herod's son Archelaus. The Holy Innocents have come to symbolize those killed by the modern Herods in the form of abortionists. Joseph's actions prevented the same thing happenning to Jesus. He didn't worry about what it would cost. Joseph was willing to give up his home, his business & whatever else was needed so Jesus would be safe from harm.

St. Joseph gives us an example that should inspire us to be just as quick to respond & act in our defense of the unborn. Most of us won't have an angel appear to tell us what to do. But we don't have to. There are plenty of Pro-life leaders who are providing us with opportunities to defend the unborn. Like Joseph, we need to respond, & be willing to make sacrificesas needed so that 1 day, like Jesus, every unborn child will be protected from the 1st instant of life.

St. Joseph, by your actions you give us a perfect model of what it means to protect the unborn. May your actions always serve as an inspiration to us as we work to put an end to the actions of the modern Herods known as abortionists. Pray for us to your Son Jesus. Ask Him to give us the guidance we need as we work to build a "Culture of Life" . Ask Him to give us the Holy Spirit to empower & strengthen us in our work. Watch over us St. Joseph, that we might be protected from harm as we battle the enemies of your Son. We ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen!