April 30th - St. Joseph By: Nidhav Sojan

St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus and the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is one of the most loved and powerful saints of the Church. The Catholic Church officially celebrates St. Joseph twice in the liturgical year. March 19th  commemorates his vocation as the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and May 1 st  his vocation as a worker and provider. Today we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. The feast of St.
Joseph the Worker was established by Pope Pius XII in 1955 in order to Christianize the concept of labor and give to all workmen a model and a protector. While establishing this feast Pope Pius XII said, “The spirit flows to you and to all men from the heart of the God-man, Savior of the world, but certainly, no worker was ever more completely and profoundly penetrated by it than the foster father of Jesus, who lived with him in closest intimacy and community of family life and work”. This feast reminds us that St. Joseph used his skills as a carpenter to provide for his family’s needs and he passed down the same skills to his son Jesus. We also find dignity in similar ways, in our work, in raising our family, and participating in the life of God’s creation. St. Joseph's most obvious mark in salvation history was his role as foster father to Jesus and husband to Mary. In this vocation he served those he loved with all his heart and strength. But it is also his
humility and loving diligence as a hardworking yet poor provider that serves as an example to all who work to fulfill a vocation or provide for a family. 

Intercessory Prayer
Good Saint Joseph, ever watchful guardian of the Holy Family, protect the chosen people of Jesus Christ, keep us free from the blight of error and corruption, and be our ally in the conflict with the powers of darkness. As of old you rescued the child Jesus from the plots of Herod, so now defend the universal Church from all harm. Keep us one and all under your continual protection, so that by your help and example, we
may lead a holy life, die a happy death, and come to possess eternal life in heaven. Amen.