Pope Francis' Catechesis on St.Joseph as an Educator
"It would be a grave mistake to think that a father and a mother can not do anything to educate their children to grow in the grace of God. Grow in age, grow in wisdom, grow in grace: this is the work Joseph did with Jesus, it grows in these three dimensions."
Dear brothers and sisters ,
Today, March 19, we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary and Patron of the Universal Church. So we dedicate this catechesis to him, he deserves all our gratitude and devotion as he was able to guard the Holy Virgin and Jesus the Son to be the guardian is the hallmark of Joseph is his great mission, to be the guardian .
Today I would like to take up the theme of the case in accordance with a particular perspective: the perspective of education. Let us look at Joseph as the model of the educator, who keeps and accompanies Jesus in his journey of growth "in wisdom , age and grace", as the Gospel says. He was not the father of Jesus: Jesus' father was God, but he acted as a father to Jesus, Jesus acted as a father to make it grow. And how did it grow? In wisdom, age and grace.
Let's start by age, which is the more natural, the physical and psychological growth. Joseph, together with Mary, took care of Jesus , first of all from this point of view, that he has "raised" Him, worrying that He lacked the necessity for healthy development. Do not forget that the faithful care of the life of the Child has also led to the flight into Egypt, the harsh experience of living as refugees- Joseph was a refugee, with Mary and Jesus to escape the threat of Herod. Then, once back at home and settled in Nazareth, there is the long period of the life of Jesus in his family. In those years, Joseph taught Jesus also his job, and Jesus learned to be a carpenter with his father Joseph. So Joseph brought up Jesus.
Let's move on to the second dimension of education, that of "wisdom". Joseph was Jesus' example and teacher of this wisdom, which is nourished by the Word of God, we can think about how Joseph brought the baby Jesus to listen to the Holy Scriptures, especially accompanying him on the Sabbath in the synagogue at Nazareth. And Joseph went with him because Jesus listened to the Word of God in the synagogue.
And finally, the size of the "grace." He always says St. Luke referring to Jesus: "The grace of God was upon him" ( 2.40). Here certainly the part reserved to St. Joseph is more limited than in areas of age and wisdom. But it would be a grave mistake to think that a father and a mother can not do anything to educate their children to grow in the grace of God. Grow in age, grow in wisdom, grow in grace: this is the work he did with Jesus, Joseph, it grow in these three dimensions help it grow.
Dear brothers and sisters, the mission of St. Joseph is certainly unique and unrepeatable, because Jesus is unique, however, in his guarding Jesus, educating him to grow in age, wisdom and grace, he is a model for all educators, especially each father. St. Joseph is the model educator and father, his father. So I entrust to his protection all parents, priests - who are fathers - and those who have an educational role in the Church and in society. In a special way, I wish to greet today, Father's Day, all parents, all dads, I greet you from my heart! Let's see: there are some dads in the square? Raise your hand, dads! But how many dads! Greetings, greetings in your day!
I ask for you the grace to always be very close to your children, letting them grow, but neighbors, neighbors! They need you, your presence, your neighborhood, your love. Be for them as St. Joseph, guardian of their growth in age, wisdom and grace. Keepers of their journey ; educators, and walk with them. And with this neighborhood, you'll be true educators. Thank you for all that you do for your children: Thank you. Happy birthday to you, and good Father's Day to all the fathers who are here, to all the fathers. May St. Joseph bless you and be with you. And some of us have lost our dad, he's gone, the Lord called him, many who are in the streets do not have a dad. We pray for all fathers of the world, for dads and even for those living and our dead, and we can do together, each recalling his dad, if he's alive and he's dead. And pray to the great Father of us all. And happy feastday to dads!
Greetings: A special thought to young people, the sick and newlyweds. Today we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. Dear young people, look to him as an example of humble and hidden life , dear sick people, especially guests of the "reception center Aldo Moro", accompanied by the Bishop of Gubbio Bishop Ceccobelli, the dialysis of Macerata and Tolentino and the boys of the Dream of Giusy , learn to bear the cross with the attitude of silence and prayer of the foster father of Jesus, and you, dear newlyweds, build your family the love that bound Mary with her husband Joseph. Thank you!
