GO TO JOSEPH
In Pope John Paul II's thinking - as set out in his 1989 encyclical Redemptoris Custos ("On the Person and Mission of Saint Joseph in the Life of Christ and of the Church") - St Joseph is set within the plan of redemption. Inserted directly in the mystery of the Incarnation, the Family of Nazareth has its own special mystery.
In this family Joseph is the father: his fatherhood is not one that derives from begetting offspring; but neither is it an 'apparent' or merely 'substitute' fatherhood. Rather it is one that fully shares in the authentic human fatherhood and the mission of a father in the family.
St Joseph is seen in the Gospels as the humble but exalted instrument of God's great designs in the redemptive Incarnation; he is the spouse, the husband of Mary, the guardian of her honour, lending his name to her Child: "Is not this the son of Joseph?" (John 6:42).
These two aspects are closely related: "...
it was from his marriage to Mary that Joseph derived his singular dignity and his rights in regard to Jesus".
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Way of the Cross
The Second Station
Jesus Carries His Cross. How could any human impose such a burden upon Your torn and bleeding body, Lord Jesus? Each movement of the cross drove the thorns deeper into Your Head. How did You keep the hatred from welling up in Your Heart? How did the injustice of it all not ruffle your peace? The Father's Will was hard on You - Why do I complain when it is hard on me?I see injustice and am frustrated and when my plans to alleviate it seems futile, I despair. When I see those burdened with poverty suffer ever more and cross is added to cross my heart is far from serene. I utterly fail to see the dignity of the cross as it is carried with love. I would so much rather be without it.My worldly concept is that suffering, like food, should be shared equally. How ridiculous I am, dear Lord. Just as we do not all need the same amount of material food, neither do we need the same amount of spiritual food and that is what the cross is in my life, isn't it - spiritual food proportional to my needs.Amen
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