To begin the Third day of the Plenary Assembly on Wednesday, September 25, Bishop Joseph celebrated the Votive Mass for St. Joseph at 7:30 am. Bishop Joseph’s inspiring homily is shown below.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/z38uaRP41sRFWfMeA
CCCB Plenary – Quebec City – September 25, 2024
Gospel – Luke 2.41-51a
Dear Brothers – chers confrères dans l’Episcopat,
Dear Friends in Christ,
I am grateful for this opportunity to share some reflections on St. Joseph – a saint who is very dear to me for some obvious reasons! I have been connected to him since my youth! I was baptized Joseph in my home Church of St. Joseph in Poland and there received all the Sacraments of Initiation. Also, I made my final vows and was ordained to the order of deacons and priesthood at the Basilica of Saint Joseph in Castel Sant’ Elia, Italy. My parents had a great devotion to St. Joseph and fostered that devotion in us.
Today, we celebrate the Votive Mass for St. Joseph, who has been patron of the Church in Canada for 400 years.
The tradition of devotion to St. Joseph in Canada goes back to the very beginning of the founding of our country. The Jesuit Relations reveal how popular this devotion was in New France. A study of the mandates of the bishops of Quebec also shows that the encouragement of devotion to Saint Joseph is a constant in our history.
Though the Feast of St. Joseph has been celebrated since the 10th century, it was only in 1847 that Pope Pius IX extended the Solemnity of St. Joseph as a feast for the universal Church. History tells us that the Consecration of Canada to St. Joseph took place in 1624. Father Le Jeune wrote in the Jesuit Relations that “There is no place in the world where the Feast of St. Joseph is celebrated with more pomp and rejoicing than in Canada.”
Even before coming to Canada, Sainte Marie de l’Incarnation saw St. Joseph, along with “the great country” that was shown to her: “Joseph was the guardian of this place.” Blessed Catherine of St. Augustine herself confided “having, in different circumstances of her life, seen St. Joseph and heard from his mouth the affirmation that God had constituted him father, guardian and defender of the country of Canada.”
We all know that Canadians have played an important part in the development of devotion to St. Joseph, perhaps the most neglected member of the Holy Family! How can we forget the importance that St. André Bessette gave to St. Joseph in Montreal?
Pope John XXIII added Joseph’s name to the Roman canon in 1962. Pope John Paul II referred to St. Joseph as “Guardian of the Redeemer” (Redemptor Custos) and Pope Benedict XVI entrusted all pastors to Joseph in 2010. At the inauguration of his Petrine Ministry, on the Feast of St. Joseph in 2013, Pope Francis named Joseph “the special patron of all those forced to leave their native lands because of war, hatred, persecution and poverty.” Pope Francis then inserted Joseph’s name into the other Eucharistic Prayers in 2013. In his beautiful Apostolic letter, Patris Corde, Pope Francis presents St. Joseph as someone who accepts reality. Sometimes, the temptation for us is that we do not accept reality. St. Joseph accepted reality and, in that acceptance, heard the Word of God and courageously acted to transform that reality. St. Joseph protected and provided for Jesus and Mary. While no words or texts are attributed to him, we can be sure that Joseph pronounced two of the most important words that could ever be spoken when he named his son “Jesus” and called him “Emmanuel.”
Silence is the style that characterizes Joseph’s whole existence, both before finding himself before the mystery of God’s action in his spouse, as well as when – conscious of this mystery – he is with Mary at the Nativity in Bethlehem. Joseph is compelled to quickly leave his homeland with his family and flee to Egypt to escape the violence of Herod.
Today’s Gospel passage presents us with a family emergency – a very symbolic story of Joseph in anguish as he and his wife search for their lost son, Jesus. Mary and Joseph had relatives and friends in Jerusalem. At the end of the festival, Mary and Joseph headed back to Nazareth. They went a day’s journey without checking on their son, assuming he was in the group of travelers. They frantically searched for Jesus in all the places they thought they might find him.
They were searching for Jesus in the wrong places! Luke describes their anxious search and their astonishment at finding him in the Temple. The twelve-year-old boy impressed skillful religious teachers and leaders with his knowledge. When Mary and Joseph found their young son in the temple, Mary said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety…” (v 48). Mary and Joseph surprised Jesus with their reproach. I do not think that Mary was talking to him with a calm and soft voice! We hear the mysterious response of Jesus: “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (v. 49). Reminding his own parents of the primacy of the One he calls “my Father,” Jesus affirms the primacy of the will of God and reveals to his parents the profound truth that they, too, are called to be disciples of Jesus, in obedience to the Heavenly Father.
This is not a rejection of Jesus’ earthly parents but a re-prioritizing of relationships. It is what the adult Jesus would ask of Simon and Andrew, James and John. “Follow me” would be the invitation for them to leave their homes, their nets, their fathers and move to a different place, live a different life, see with different eyes.
Luke tells us that Jesus went home and was obedient to his parents. And he continued to grow in wisdom, stature, in favor with God, and favor with others. Growing up spiritually involves leaving our comfort zone, letting go of what is safe and familiar, and moving to a bigger place, immersing ourselves in the “things and places of the Father.” It means creating relationships, setting priorities, making courageous decisions.
Finally, let us ask what Joseph’s faith says to the Church, now engaged in the synodal process. The Gospels do not record any of Joseph’s words, but he preserved the Word of God in his patient listening and silence. Over the past few years, we have learned that the synodal process is an invitation for us to walk together, to journey together and to listen more. St. Joseph traces a journey for us. He walked dangerous paths with Mary and Jesus, guided by the direction of the angel of God. It is a walking that means protection, caring and patient listening. How have we learned to be better listeners during the Synodal process? How has our capacity to love Jesus and the Church deepened during this Synodal journey?
Let us ask St. Joseph for the courage to remain in the shadows, especially when we feel that we have the right idea and we want to propose it. We think that we may have the right solution, but how often do we purify our intentions and say: “Am I really listening to others?”
As bishops we are teachers, and we have a great desire to speak, speak, speak and to teach, teach and teach! But, Sometimes, silence is the most powerful speech.
When Jesus was being interrogated by Pontius Pilate in John’s Passion Narrative, at a certain point, he remained quiet. But in his silence, who was being judged? It was Pilate. Jesus learned this silence from St. Joseph.
Pope Benedict XVI once said of St. Joseph: “For the sake of Christ, Joseph experienced persecution, exile and the poverty which this entails. He had to settle far from his native town. His only reward was to be with Christ. His readiness to do all these things illustrates the words of Saint Paul: “It is Christ the Lord whom you serve” (Col 3:24). What is important is not to be a useless servant, but rather a “faithful and wise servant.” The pairing of the two adjectives is not by chance. It suggests that understanding without fidelity, and fidelity without wisdom, are insufficient. One quality alone, without the other, would not enable us to assume fully the responsibility which God entrusts to us.”
“Finally, let us ask what Joseph’s faith says to the Church, now engaged in the synodal process. The Gospels do not record any of Joseph’s words, but he preserved the Word of God in his patient listening and silence. Over the past few years, we have learned that the synodal process is an invitation for us to walk together, to journey together and to listen more. St. Joseph traces a journey for us. He walked dangerous paths with Mary and Jesus, guided by the direction of the angel of God. It is a walking that means protection, caring and patient listening. How have we learned to be better listeners during the Synodal process? How has our capacity to love Jesus and the Church deepened during this Synodal journey?” — Bishop Joseph Dabrowski, CSMA
At the inauguration of his Petrine Ministry in 2013, Pope Francis told us: “…In the Gospels, Saint Joseph appears as a strong and courageous man, a working man, yet in his heart we see great tenderness, which is not the virtue of the weak but rather a sign of strength of spirit and a capacity for concern, for compassion, for genuine openness to others, for love. We must not be afraid of goodness, of tenderness!”
…To Joseph’s intercession, let us entrust the hopes of the Church in Canada and the hopes of the universal Church. May St. Joseph increase our understanding and fidelity. Together with the Virgin Mary, his spouse, may Joseph guide our ways and our growth in wisdom, so that we can be joyful instruments of goodness and tenderness, of peace and of salvation. Amen.
All Photos courtesy of Salt + Light Media
Highlights from the third day of the CCCB Plenary Assembly meeting has been produced in partnership with Salt and Light Media.
In English: https://youtu.be/Xm4Yt-bESQc
In French: https://youtu.be/aXN3kiqb0UI
Highlights from the second day of the CCCB Plenary Assembly meeting has been produced in partnership with Salt and Light Media.
In English: https://youtu.be/RmlpybZIvaU?si=b2Iu1TcjmHDCYdg0