Joseph and Jesus the Builders
Joseph was a royal figure, descended from David, and, therefore, able to make the claim to be the Messiah: the Lord’s anointed king. David had said that he wanted to build a temple or house for the Lord, but the Lord replied: “You shall not build me a house to dwell in. . . . Moreover I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house. ...
Ite Ad Joseph. “Go To Joseph.” Literally.
The foster father of Our Lord, St. Joseph, famously doesn’t have a single word recorded in scripture. Yet, devotion to him is an ancient tradition within the Church. “Ite ad Joseph” goes the old saying. Go to Joseph. In particular, we men should heed this advice. Go to Joseph in times of trial. Go to Joseph for guidance. Go to Joseph in humi...
Day 91 Event: St. Joseph Pilgrimage in St. Louis
The Most Reverend Thomas Olmstead, Bishop of Phoenix, Arizona, made clear in Into the Breach, his prescient 2015 apostolic exhortation to men, that we are facing a very real battle in our world today. “[M]y sons and brothers in Christ: Men, do not hesitate to engage in the battle that is raging around you,” he writes. The letter is a roadmap of...
TCM Reader Feedback Needed: New Prayer to St. Joseph
This post will be very different, because I’d like to ask for your help. Last year I felt inspired to begin composing a short scriptural prayer to St. Joseph, similar to the Hail Mary, which is principally composed from direct scripture quotes. I’m unveiling the first draft here in this post and I’m wondering if you would be willing to pray i...
This Is Your Invitation To Retreat On The Farm
This article is an invitation to St. Joseph’s Farm. For now, this event is limited to Exodus 90 men, preferably groups of brothers that went through Exodus together. Spots are open for Memorial Day weekend, May 26-29. The cost is $280 and includes lodging and food alongside The Green River in Western, NC. My wife and I began our littl...
“Get Up!”: Spring Is the Time for Pilgrimage
“Get Up!” These are the words of the angel, given to St. Joseph to flee to Egypt (Mt 2:13). This was no ordinary flight, but a pilgrimage by which the Holy Family relived, recapitulated the Exodus of Israel. “Out of Egypt I have called my son.” Following St. Joseph, we too are called to go on pilgrimage, giving us the opportunity to rec...
Models of Masculinity: St. Joseph and St. Zechariah
We typically think of the story of St. Zechariah, the father of St. John the Baptist, in light of the Blessed Mother, and rightfully so. Scripture scholars often comment on St. Luke’s depictions of the visitations of Gabriel to Mary and Zechariah. These discussions usually focus on contrasting Zechariah’s reaction of doubt to the angel’s word...
This Christmas: Become like St. Joseph – the Faithful Father
“It’s no mistake” I said to Mike, “that every Catholic church has an image of St. Joseph up front.” Mike had come for confession and counseling over his failures as a husband and father. He had got caught up in the trap of pornography and ambition. He made some bad, short cut decisions. Stress built up and workaholism began to bite. Mi...