Rev. Peter M.J. Stravinskas: St. Joseph: Food for Thought

The Church normally celebrates the Solemnity of St. Joseph on March 19 (transferred to March 20 this year), offering us a reprieve from Lenten penance as purple vestments yield to white; the Gloria makes a guest appearance; fasting gives way to the St. Joseph Table.  What food for thought might this happy celebration provide?

The Church had for a while exhibited a kind of skittishness with regard to St. Joseph. He had no feast in the Western Church until the seventeenth century and still has none exclusively his own in the East. This “nervousness” with giving too much prominence to Joseph was likely due to a concern that highlighting him might cause confusion regarding Mary’s perpetual virginity. …