For the Love of Us All

WITNESS

MARCH 20^th, 2013

THE FATHER OF FAMILIES

Joseph

Was the foster-father

Of Jesus

And the husband

Of the Blessed Virgin Mary

He was

Of Davidic descent

And his trade

Was a carpenter

Which implies

He was impoverished

He was betrothed

To Mary

And he had doubts

About her conception

Who wouldn’t

And he had doubts

About the decision

To go to

And the return from Egypt too

Everything we know

About Joseph

Comes from the Gospels

(Matthew 1 and 2 & 13:55

 Luke 1 and 2 & 4:22)

Joseph is

The patron Saint

Of fathers and families

Of bursars and procurators

Of manual workers-especially carpenters

And ALL of us

Who aspire to a holy death

It is believed

That Mary and Jesus

Comforted Joseph in death

Many churches-hospitals

And religious congregations

Are dedicated to Joseph

And the name of “Joseph”

As a Christian name

Has been used throughout history

He was declared

“Patron of the Universal Church”

By Pope Pius IX

And Pius XII

Declared the feast

Of “Saint Joseph the Worker”

Dear Lord-we pray

As Saint Joseph

Protected his wife-Mary

And his son-Jesus

And dedicated his life

To his family

We pray that more fathers

May have the dedication and honor

As Saint Joseph

THE FATHER OF FAMILIES

Robert P. Wallman

3-18-13

Ps       Saint Joseph feast days are March 19^th and May 1^st

Witness        3-20-13