Saint Joseph

Today is the feast of Saint Joseph, the head of the Holy Family. Saint Joseph is a patron of the Legion. We open our meeting asking for his prayers. An angel told him that it was ok for him to marry Mary even though she was pregnant. He was with Mary and Jesus at Bethlehem. He took baby Jesus to the Temple and presented Him to God. He heard Simeon prophesy that Mary would suffer. He provided for Jesus and Mary. He protected them. When Jesus was threatened by Herod, he took Jesus and Mary to Egypt, The family became refugees in a foreign country to escape terror in their homeland. For three days he searched with anxiety for the missing twelve year old Jesus. When Jesus was found in the Temple in Luke 2:48-50, Mary said, "Why have you done this to us? Behold your father and I have sought you sorrowing." And He said to them: "Why were you looking for me? Don't you know I must be about my Father's business." And they understood not the word that he spoke to them." Joseph was a good father he protected and provided for his family. Good fathers are in short supply today. In the US 43% of our children are growing up in homes without fathers. This puts them at risk. Children who grow up without fathers in their homes are much more likely to; use drugs be school dropouts have behavioral disorders belong to gangs grow up to be poor and unemployed become homosexual convert to Islam create families without fathers 85 % of youths in prison came from families without fathers. The problems of poverty would be solved by following Saint Joseph's example. Saint Joseph was head of the Holy Family. He protected and provided for them. He is important to Jesus and Mary. The same devotion he has for Jesus, he has for us, the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church. We can count on Saint Joseph for support. Saint Joseph, Father of the Church, pray for us.