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DAY 19:  Saint Joseph was courageous and fearless. It took courage for St. Joseph to take his family into the pagan territory of Egypt. He knew he would have to defend his wife and child.

DAY 19:  Joseph Most Courageous, Pray for Us

So perfectly was he [St. Joseph] dead to the world and the flesh, that he desired nothing but the things of heaven.— St. Bridget of Sweden

Saint Joseph desired nothing but the things of heaven. He lived entirely for love of Jesus Christ and, after Mary, is Jesus’ most faithful disciple. Saint Joseph is the father of Jesus, but he is also a disciple of Jesus. It takes courage to be a faithful disciple of Jesus. Many are willing to follow Jesus when it is pleasant, but not many are willing to follow Jesus when it is difficult and filled with sorrow. Saint Joseph was always faithful, always courageous.

In different translations of the Litany of St. Joseph, the title “Most Courageous” is sometimes rendered as “Most Valiant” or “Most Strong.” The three titles have the same essential meaning: Saint Joseph was courageous and fearless. He feared nothing other than offending God and exercised tremendous fortitude in his protec-tion of Jesus and Mary. Fortitude is a cardinal virtue that strengthens the will and gives a person courage and a firm resolve to do God’s will, even in the midst of great suffering.

Saint Joseph is a man of courage. The root word of courage is “cour,” meaning “heart.” To be courageous is to love the good more than you fear evil and suffering. The courageous man is stouthearted, bold, and brave in the midst of trials. That St. Joseph was courageous, no one can deny. It took courage for St. Joseph to take his family into enemy territory (Egypt). He knew that he might need to defend his wife and Child against physical assaults, and he was willing to do it. No man who is easily intimidated would embark on such a journey. Saint Joseph is intimidated by no one.

Saint Joseph will help you to be courageous. To be a saint, you must be courageous. If you imitate St. Joseph, you will not hesitate to enter enemy territory or undergo spiritual combat. Egypt was a land notorious for thieves, pagan rituals, idols, and sorcerers. Saint Joseph fears no man because God is with him. Your spiritual father is a man on fire with love for God! “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31).

Saint Joseph will inCrease the virtue of fortitude in you. Do you remember the passage in Scripture when Jesus came walking on the water to his disciples? The disciples were terrified, and Jesus had to calm their spirits, saying: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid” (Mt 14:27). What about you? What are you afraid of? Losing your job? Sacrificing your good name and worldly honors? Saint Joseph sacrificed everything for love of Jesus and Mary. Your spiritual father was a poor man and of no esteem in the world. Yet demons and the sorcerers of Egypt were terrified of the courageous heart of St. Joseph.

Jesus himself learned courage from the example of St. Joseph. Jesus witnessed his father’s courage in Egypt, Nazareth, Jerusalem, and the many other places they traveled together. Saint Joseph gave his Son an example of manly love, courage, strength, and fortitude. With St. Joseph as your spiritual father, you also have nothing to be afraid of. Our Lord himself, immediately before his suffering and death, instructed his disciples to exercise manly courage, telling them, “In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world” (Jn 16:33). Set your face toward the heavenly Jerusalem and never look back!

O Joseph, virgin father of Jesus, most pure spouse of the Virgin Mary, pray for us daily to the Son of God, that, armed with the weapons of his grace, we may fight as we ought in life, and be crowned by him in death.— St. Bernardine of Siena

Old Men Don’t Walk to Egypt

We wonder why the Gospel makes so little mention of St. Joseph. But did it not say everything when it taught us that he was the husband of Mary? — Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

In 1981, Mother Angelica founded the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). Her blessed network is an extremely successful and fruitful Catholic media apostolate. Mother Angelica’s common sense, simple wisdom, and unwavering orthodoxy have catechized the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world. Mother Angelica died in 2016, but EWTN continues to lead many people to Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church.

Mother Angelica loved St. Joseph. On one occasion, during a live telecast, a caller asked her a question about St. Joseph. The question went something like this: “Mother Angelica, do you think St. Joseph was old or young?”

Mother Angelica answered with her classic wit, responding: “Well, my dear, that’s a good question. There is no official Church teaching on whether or not St. Joseph was old or young, but I prefer a young Joseph. All I know, sweetie, is old men don’t walk to Egypt!”

Mother Angelica’s straightforward answer makes a lot of sense. Not only would an elderly man not be capable of walking to Egypt, but an old man wouldn’t be able to walk from Nazareth to Bethle-hem, either; Bethlehem is 80 miles from Nazareth, and the journey would have been across rough desert terrain.

Saint Joseph was required to walk a lot to support the Holy Family. After walking 80 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, St. Joseph was instructed by an angel to take the Child and his mother to Egypt. This required St. Joseph to take his family on another very long journey. The distance from Bethlehem to the border of Egypt is 40 miles. No historian believes that the Holy Family lived on the border. Rather, they went much farther into Egypt where there was the possibility of work, food, and some semblance of civilization. We don’t know exactly where Jesus, Mary, and Joseph settled down in Egypt, but it did require them to walk farther than the border.

Have you ever been to the Holy Land or North Africa? If you have, you know that the terrain is rough, the heat intense, and the dangers many. Walking to Egypt, being there for years without knowing anyone, and trying to make a living are not things associated with elderly men.

And then, after many years of living in Egypt, St. Joseph learned from the angel that Herod was dead. Saint Joseph was now required to pack up his family and walk from Egypt all the way back to Nazareth. That’s more than 120 miles! The distance from New York City to Philadelphia is 92 miles. Add another 30 miles, and that’s what St. Joseph had to do. There was no Jersey Turnpike, with smooth roads and cozy rest stops along the way. It was uphill, downhill, and around hills.

The endless walking didn’t stop once the Holy Family reached Nazareth either. As faithful Jews, the men of the household were required to travel to Jerusalem three times a year to fulfill the Law of the Lord. “Three times a year all your men shall appear before the Lord, the God of Israel” (Ex 34:23). Remember: That’s 80 miles one way. That is a lot of walking!

Saint Joseph could not have been an old man when he espoused Mary. Old men don’t walk to Egypt. They don’t walk three times a year from Nazareth to Jerusalem either.

Good Father [St. Joseph], I thank you for having watched over my Mother Mary while you were on earth. — Servant of God Sr. Mary Martha Chambon

Pray the Litany of St. Joseph:

Lord, have mercy.  Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.  Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven,  have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Noble Offspring of David,  pray for us.
Light of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us.
Chaste Guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster-Father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Zealous Defender of Christ, pray for us.
Servant of Christ, pray for us.
Minister of Salvation, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.

Joseph Most Just, pray for us.
Joseph Most Chaste,  pray for us.
Joseph Most Prudent,  pray for us.
Joseph Most Courageous,  pray for us.
Joseph Most Obedient, pray for us.
Joseph Most Faithful, pray for us.

Mirror of Patience, pray for us.
Lover of Poverty, pray for us.
Model of Workmen, pray for us.
Glory of Domestic Life, pray for us.
Guardian of Virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of Families, pray for us.
Support in Difficulties, pray for us.
Comfort of the Afflicted, pray for us.
Hope of the Sick, pray for us.
Patron of Exiles,  pray for us.
Patron of the Afflicted, pray for us.
Patron of the Poor, pray for us.
Patron of the Dying, pray for us.
Terror of Demons,  pray for us.
Protector of the Holy Church, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

V. He has made him lord of his household,
R. And prince over all his possessions.

Let us pray. O God, who, in your loving providence, chose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most Holy Mother, grant us the favor of having him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our protector. You, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

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