Saint Joseph: Foster Father of Jesus

According to St. Ephrem the Syrian, “No one will ever be able worthily to praise to Joseph, whom thou, O true only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, has deigned to have for thy foster father.” St. Joseph was a legal spiritual and foster father of Jesus. The Angel of the Lord appeared to St. Joseph in a dream and proclaimed to him not to be afraid to take Mary and the child in her womb.

I interviewed a layman named Mr. Joselito Bisnar, 82 years old, during the launching of the Gallery of Saints at NCCC Mall, VP. I asked him about his favorite Saint who was Saint Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. He said, “Saint Joseph was chosen by God to be the foster father of the incarnate word, the God who became man.” He is the spiritual father of the redeemer, Jesus Christ. Also, he was an earthly father. He added, “Saint Joseph was a just man. He is good enough of everybody else. He is good for me and our family.”

I was touched about his personal devotion to saint Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. I also have a personal devotion to Saint Joseph. He is my loving educator, and protector. He is my spiritual father and the terror of demons. I go to St. Joseph and asked his intercession to remain faithful to God and live a pure and simple life.

In the seminary, we have a group called confraternity of Saint Joseph. We prayed the novena every Monday and Wednesday night. It helped and protected us in our spiritual journey and inspired us to remain faithful to God and to be compassionate especially to the last, the lost, and the least. Saint Joseph, foster Father of the Son of God, pray for us. Amen. (Sem. Garrey Daguplo)