Saints + Scripture: Lent — Solemnity of Saint Joseph

'Tis the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (floruit first century B.C.-first century A.D., of Nazareth): Spouse-link ūnus, Spouse-link duo, Spouse-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Saint Joseph's Day.

Commentary: Wayback Machine 19 March & Wayback Machine 20 March.

Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

In Matthew, the infant Jesus, like Moses, is in peril from a cruel king; like Moses, He has a (fore)father named Joseph who goes down to Egypt; like the Old Testament Joseph, his Joseph has a father named Jacob; & both Josephs receive important dreams foretelling their future. The last time Joseph appears in person in any Gospel is in the story of the Passover visit to the Temple in Jerusalem when Jesus is twelve years old.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Solemnity of Saint Joseph
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter seven, verses four, five(a), twelve, thirteen, fourteen(a), & sixteen;
Psalm Eighty-nine, verses two & three, four & five, & twenty-seven & twenty-nine;
The Letter to the Romans, chapter four, verses thirteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, & twenty-two;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter one, verses sixteen, eighteen thru twenty-one, & twenty-four(a);
or, the Gospel according to Luke, chapter two, verses forty-one thru fifty-one(a).

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today’s Gospel centers on the intriguing figure of Joseph. Joseph is one of the most beloved of the saints, featured in countless works of art and prominent in the devotional lives of many.

We know almost nothing about him, yet some very powerful spiritual themes emerge in the accounts of Joseph. He had become betrothed to Mary, and this union had been blessed by God. And then he finds that his betrothed is pregnant.

This must have been an emotional maelstrom for him. And, at a deeper level, it is a spiritual crisis. What does God want him to do? Then the angel appears to him in a dream and tells him, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home." He realizes at that moment that these puzzling events are part of a much greater plan of God’s. What appears to be a disaster from his perspective is meaningful from God’s perspective.

Joseph was willing to cooperate with the divine plan, though he in no way knew its contours or deepest purpose. Like Mary at the Annunciation, he trusted and let himself be led.

Video reflection by Msgr. James Vlaun (Telecare T.V.): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Clement of Dunblane, Bishop, O.P. (died 1258), who began the construction of Dunblane Cathedral: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Cathedral.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Narcyz Turchan, Priest & Martyr, O.F.M. (1879-1942, A.K.A. Jan Turchan), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, one of the One Hundred Eight Blessed Polish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (list, № 61); Wikipedia-link CVIII.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Anton Muzaj, Priest & Martyr (1921-1948), martyred in the reign of the Communist dictator Enver Hoxha, one of the thirty-eight Martyrs of Albania: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (list); Wikipedia-link XXXVIII.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"I entrust myself to You because You do not disappoint; I do not understanding, but even without understanding, I entrust myself to Your hands."
—Pope Francis

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"St. Joseph, how I love him! What does me a lot of good when I think of the Holy Family is to imagine a life that was very ordinary, just like our own."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"If there be a true way that leads to the Everlasting Kingdom, it is most certainly that of suffering, patiently endured."
—St. Colette (1381-1447, feast day: 7 February)