Silence
is Golden:
Reflections on Joseph of Nazareth
By Theresa Cavicchio
Special to the CS&T
Father’s Day is that special date on which we honor our earthly
fathers, but we can also commemorate Father’s Day by focusing
our minds and hearts on a father none of us has ever seen in the flesh.
Joseph of Nazareth ranks first on my list of favorite saints. Growing
up in an Italian-American household, I heard his name over and over
again in numerous relatives who were named after him — including
a grandfather, a brother, and extended family members. My father-in-law,
husband, and son are also namesakes of the foster- father of Jesus.
But on an even more personal level, St. Joseph has been and still is
a trusted confidant and father figure to me.
Researching his life, I am reassured — I have chosen my mentor
well. The same, sterling qualities — being full of faith, compassionate,
humble, hard-working, obedient, strong, protective — appear over
and over again in his life. Those and countless other positive adjectives
make up the description of a righteous man whose life was centered on
God and family.
But when we turn to Sacred Scripture, attempting to flesh out this man,
who was chosen by God to fulfill such an awesome role, we encounter
what appears to be a major stumbling block: Not one word of Joseph’s
can be found there.
As a result, over time. the list of his characteristics has typically
included the adjective, “silent.”
When we combine that trait with what we can learn from the actions of
Joseph that have been recorded in Scripture, the image emerges of a
man who enjoyed a rich, full, interior life.
One critically important aspect of that life was his relationship with
God — a relationship based on faith, trust, and the special brand
of familiarity that comes only from time spent together. The Father
knew exactly what kind of man He wanted to assume earthly responsibility
for His beloved Son, and St. Joseph’s attitude of receptivity,
fostered by an intense prayer life, made him the ideal candidate.
The example of Joseph’s life is sufficient; his words are not
necessary.
In the beauty of its simplicity, his life demonstrates the tremendous
power inherent in qualities that the world might consider less-than-desirable
— humility, a willingness to place others’ needs before
one’s own, satisfaction with a place in the background. But those
very characteristics made Joseph the chosen one of God the Father, and
defined his earthly role as husband and father.
Extending that supportive role into his life in heaven, St. Joseph has
accompanied Our Lady on several of her visits to earth, most notably
in apparitions at Knock and at Fatima.
At Knock, Joseph stood behind Mary’s right side, his head inclined
toward her in a gesture of silent deference. At Fatima, Our Lady promised
Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta that her spouse would appear: “St.
Joseph will come with the Infant Jesus to give peace to the world.”
Then, on Oct. 13, 1917, the occasion of the famous Miracle of the Sun
at Fatima, that promise was fulfilled. The children saw a vision of
the holy family, in which St. Joseph stood with Our Lady and the Child
Jesus, silently blessing the world and affirming her message of peace.
By his very silence, St. Joseph gives testimony to the strength and
power that come from a life centered in God, receptive to His voice,
and obedient to His will.
Prayer kept Joseph open to the promptings of the Spirit, which directed
his everyday activities and strengthened him to fulfill God’s
plan. His role in salvation history is an incomparable one, based on
Divine confidence in his ability to protect Jesus and Mary, to support
them by the work of his hands, and to provide the perfect image of fatherly
love and concern.
Never wishing to call attention to himself, Joseph continues to draw
our eyes to Jesus and to Mary, encouraging us to make them first in
our lives, just as he did in his own.
So, while it is good for us to honor our earthly fathers on this Father’s
Day, perhaps we can also spend a few quiet moments with St. Joseph,
asking him to help us strive toward his faith-filled, reflective spirit
and receptivity to the will of the Father in our lives.
And perhaps we can consider the words of St. Teresa of Avila, who encourages
us to turn often to that most highly esteemed of father figures, for
spiritual growth and heavenly favors.
“Would that I could persuade all men to be devout to this glorious
saint, for I know by long experience what blessings he can obtain for
us from God,” she wrote. “I have never known anyone who
was really devout to him, and who honored him by particular services,
who did not visibly grow more and more in virtue, for he helps in a
special way those souls who commend themselves to him.”
Theresa Cavicchio is a wife and mother. She works in the religious education
program for her parish, St. Madeline.