St. Joseph: Patron of a Happy Death
Saint Joseph dwelt with Jesus for nearly 30 years in an intimacy that the angels might have envied and in the capacity of father. We should often reflect on what we owe Saint Joseph in consideration of the numerous graces that he obtained from Jesus for all men, but especially for poor sinners. (p 120)
On this week when we celebrate All Souls Day it is good to remember the happy death of St. Joseph and maybe to ponder our own mortality. People often think this is morbid but as Christians we are reminded again and again that we are made for something greater than our short time on earth. We are made for heaven. I have had this conversation many times with both the young and old where I ask this simple question, “Are you ready to die?” I don’t ask, “Do you want to die today?” because as disciples of Jesus Christ who know neither the hour or day of his return or of our being called from this life we should take time to prepare and be unafraid of what we all must face one day.
The quote above from Archbishop ……in his book, “The Month of St. Joseph” is a reminder that if we like Joseph spend our days in intimate conversations with Jesus, our Blessed Mother and those on earth around us, conversations of love and blessing, then we know the joy and truth of being loved for who we are and the graces in our life overflow in our unity with God.
We can see this in the sacramental life we are called to live where each of the Sacraments we recieve help us to stay in intimate contact with our Lord. We should think about how we come forward to the altar of the Lord, preparing ourselves with every step to hold Jesus, in the Eucharist, gently and lovingly in our hands as we recieve him Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Or maybe allowing the priest to place him gently on our tongue, allowing this vulnerablity to show forth the greatness of our God in humble reception.
In our sacramental life we begin to let go of the chains of the world and allow ourselves the freedom of a child. In “The Imitation of Christ” we hear these words “Try to live now in such a manner that at the moment of death you may be glad, rather than fearful. Learn to die to the world now, that then you may begin to live with Christ.”” (#23) How do we live now? This is the most important question much like when Jesus is asked the question “But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Lk 10:29) If I choose to live my life in seeking Jesus in my neighbor, in seeking to serve my neighbor in joy then how I live my life today becomes an act of love the lived life of the Beatitudes. This is the path for preparing and accepting the happy death.
“The Imitation of Christ” warns of the opposite to this searching for happiness, “The sins and vices in which we are so entangled that we can rarely apply ourselves to the contemplation of heaven are matters for just sorrow and inner remorse,” ( #21) When we spend our time focused on what is temporary rather than eternal, we will fall into despair. The call to holiness is the fulfillment of our most intimate desire and when we choose to contemplate the lesser and baser in the world we live a drudgery. When we see the world as a place of blessing where we are called to care for others as true neighbors and not use others and creation for selfish pleasure it is here we find the contemplation of life through death blessed in grace filled moments.
“He (St. Joseph) died filled with hope in the assurance of a blessed eternity, encouraged by the all-powerful love of Jesus and the sweet words of his immaculate Spouse.” (p 119) As daughters and sons of God we are invited as St. Joseph was to experience a fully lived life in the presence of Jesus and our Blessed Mother Mary where at the moment of death we find ourselves escorted in love to the everlasting feast of heaven and earth.
God Bless
Fr. Mark