J.M.J.
March 19 is a date I never forget—the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Mary’s husband and the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since the time I consecrated myself to him, I have always considered him my father, my protector, and my guide. My whole family also made our consecration to him, both as a family and as individuals. Because of this, I see myself as Saint Joseph’s child and daughter, and I have always felt his constant presence in my life—as I’ve shared in my previous articles:
Love and Responsibility -Saint Joseph
Important Lessons for Christmas from “The Sleeping Saint Joseph”
Work on Life Challenges Like Saint Joseph Did
That’s why these dates—March 19, his Solemnity, and May 1, his Feast as Saint Joseph the Worker—are deeply meaningful to me. They are special days of celebration for the one whom I consider my Patron, my father in faith, and my intercessor.
Only recently did I realize something striking—his Solemnity always falls during Lent. And this is no coincidence. Lent is a time of interior silence, and Saint Joseph is a man of silence. Amidst the Church’s Lenten call to repentance, fasting, and prayer, we pause today to honor the silent guardian of Jesus and Mary, “the righteous man” whose life was a quiet surrender to God’s will.
The more I reflected on this, the more I saw how beautifully Saint Joseph’s Solemnity and the season of Lent are connected. It struck me that while many focus on these two separately, there is something profoundly meaningful in bringing them together. That’s why I am writing this reflection—to honor Saint Joseph and to see his life through the lens of Lent, recognizing how his silent, hidden holiness perfectly embodies the Lenten call to prayer, sacrifice, and interior conversion.
My Reflection
1. I want to focus on this part of Saint Joseph’s life—the moment of trial, the uncertainty, the silent suffering in his heart—as told in the Gospel today from Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a:
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife, into your home.” … When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.
2. Joseph was described in the Bible as a “righteous man.” But if you compare that to how most unrighteous men would act today, the difference is obvious. When faced with problems or confusion—especially with a loved one or within their family—many either panic, shut down completely, or even gossip about them with their friends—I have known some who do.
3. But not Joseph.
Joseph, in his righteousness, when faced with the deep suffering and uncertainty surrounding Mary’s virginity, did not run to others for advice, react out of fear, or try to justify himself. Instead, he turned inward—into silence, into prayer. His strength was not in loud declarations or impulsive reactions; his strength was in his silence, in his trust in God. And he was able to trust God because he prayed deeply and looked within—this is how he understood what God was asking of him.
4. We know that Saint Joseph had a deep prayer life based on Scripture, tradition, and Church teachings. As a devout Jewish man, he would have followed the religious customs of his time, which included praying the Psalms, reading the Torah, and attending synagogue. Jewish fathers were responsible for leading their families in prayer and teaching their children the Scriptures—so it’s clear that Joseph, as the foster father of Jesus and head of the Holy Family, lived a life rooted in prayer.
5. This is precisely why, when Joseph found that Mary was with child, he faced the most profound trial of his life. A man of the world might have reacted with pride, resentment, or self-justification—a weaker man might have turned away or sought human validation.
6. But Joseph, in his humility, did not accuse, did not demand explanations, did not react out of emotion. Instead, he entered into silence, into deep prayer, into total trust.
7. And in this silence, God spoke to him through a dream, in which the angel told him:
“Do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife, into your home.”
These words were not just about Joseph’s personal situation. They are words for us this Lent.
8. Saint Joseph’s obedience was immediate.
“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.”
He did not delay. He did not hesitate. He simply obeyed.
9. In Lent, the Church calls us to three things: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
These are the pillars of our Lenten observance, but they are meaningless unless they lead us to true interior conversion.
10. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1438) reminds us that the purpose of Lenten penance is to embrace true repentance.
11. Without true repentance, our fasting is just dieting, our almsgiving just philanthropy, and our prayers just words.
12. Admitting our sinfulness is the very heart of Lent.
13. By the way, when I speak of “silence,” I don’t mean physical silence as in simply eliminating noise. We live in the real world, surrounded by the unavoidable sounds of daily life—work, school, responsibilities, and the constant activity around us. We can’t just shut down from the world, nor are we meant to.
14. Not many Catholics can take time off from work or school, or have the money, to spend days in Catholic Retreat Centers, though some are fortunate enough to do so. I have personally known Catholics who frequently go on retreats, claiming that we can only hear the “voice of God” in silence—which, of course, makes sense; in silence, we can focus better.
15. But if that silence doesn’t transform the heart, then what good is it? I’ve seen those same people leave their Catholic retreats only to return to their lives acting in ways that are far from holy, even treating others unjustly.
16. That is why true silence is not about the absence of noise, but about listening to God in the interior of our hearts and souls. No retreat center can grant us that if we are not truly seeking Him from within. While I am not against retreats—and for those who can attend them, that’s a privilege—the reality is that modern life is filled with never-ending noise. But even amid the noise, we can still look interiorly, finding silence where it matters most.
17. I bet even Saint Joseph lived in a noisy neighborhood at times, yet he was able to pray in the silence of his heart, looking interiorly within himself, seeking God in every moment.
18. As I was saying, admitting our own sinfulness is the heart of Lent. But recognizing our need for repentance is not just about words—it requires a true transformation of the soul. We must let Jesus change our souls, just as Saint Joseph allowed Jesus to change the course of his life. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1426, 1431) teaches, conversion is not merely about external actions but a deep renewal of the soul—purified, sanctified, and conformed to Christ.
Saint Joseph’s life was marked by deep suffering, yet he never wavered in faith.
- He carried the suffering of Mary, sharing in her sorrows, fears, and hardships—especially when she was found with child and later when they had to flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15).
- He carried the suffering of Jesus, even before the Passion, knowing that His Son was destined for something extraordinary but also something painful (Luke 2:34-35).
- Even though he did not live to see Christ’s Passion, he knew suffering was coming. Simeon’s prophecy (Luke 2:25-35) spoke of a sword piercing Mary’s heart, and in that prophecy, Joseph saw a glimpse of the trials that awaited them all.
- Yet, he did not run from this burden. Instead, he embraced it in humility, preparing Jesus for His mission through his own silent example of obedience, sacrifice, and unwavering trust in God.
19. We, too, must pray and look within, like Joseph did, to see whether we are truly allowing Jesus to change the course of our lives in accordance with God’s will. Enjoying life does not mean living according to God’s plan. Not every life that is full of success and pleasure is necessarily aligned with His will. In fact, it could be leading a person—his or her very soul—toward spiritual destruction and, inevitably, to Hell.
20. But like Joseph, we are called to discern the true plan of God in our lives. Like him, are we following our true mission—the one God desires for us to fulfill? Do we seek to understand God’s will with the same purity of heart, mind, and intention that Saint Joseph exemplified, rather than being indifferent to morals and values? Do we recognize the sufferings of our family and others, just as Joseph stood by Mary, knowing the suffering her Son would endure? And when God asks something of us, do we respond in a timely manner, in obedience like Joseph did—without hesitation, without delay, and without derailing from His plan?
21. Lent is the perfect time to examine our lives—whether our path truly follows God’s will. It is the season the Church sets apart for conversion, a time of prayer, fasting, and repentance that mirrors Jesus’ forty days in the desert, calling us to turn away from sin and deepen our relationship with God.
22. And like Saint Joseph, humility leads us to confession and a conversion of heart. Joseph never placed himself at the center; his life was one of silent obedience and self-denial, fully surrendered to God’s plan.
23. Though he lived firsthand with Jesus and Mary, he never boasted of his mission and crucial role nor sought recognition for the part he was given in Salvation History. Instead, he remained hidden, humble, and obedient.
24. The Gospels do not record a single word from Saint Joseph. This is not a mere omission but a reflection of his profound humility—he did not seek to assert himself, justify his actions, or make himself known. His silence was not emptiness but a testimony to his interior life of deep faith, unwavering trust, and total obedience to God’s will. He did not need to speak to prove his righteousness; his actions were his confession, his obedience was his testimony, and his trust in God was his response.
25. This is the humility that leads to true conversion—a heart that acknowledges its own need for God, seeks forgiveness, and desires to be conformed to His will. Just as Saint Joseph was never self-reliant but depended entirely on God, so too must we approach Lent with the same humility, allowing God to transform our hearts through confession and renewal of faith.
Conclusion
The world chases after success, pleasure, and wealth, yet the true meaning of life is not found in these things. On social media, like X (formerly Twitter), I always see posts by secular people asking what life is truly about—what the meaning of all this is.
But for faithful Catholics like me, we know better and feel it inside our hearts: this is what life is truly about—loving God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength. Lent reminds us that our purpose is not in the fleeting things of this world but in living each day for God—choosing Him in our decisions, trusting Him in our struggles, and loving Him in the way we live. This is what prepares us for eternal life in Heaven after the end of the world.
Saint Joseph understood this better than anyone. Though he did not see the Passion or Resurrection of Jesus with his earthly eyes, he believed, trusted in God’s promise—the coming of the Messiah, the redemption of mankind, and the fulfillment of salvation—and surrendered his life completely to Him. At the end of his earthly life, Saint Joseph—who is now the Patron Saint of a Happy Death—died resting in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
Lent is the time to detach from the things that pass away and prepare the soul for what is eternal, so that we, too, may one day die in the arms of Jesus and Mary, like Saint Joseph did. Though we may not physically rest in their embrace, we truly die in their arms when we die in God’s friendship, in a state of grace.
For today, though, even in the midst of Lent, we fully celebrate Saint Joseph—Spouse of Mary, Guardian of the Redeemer. And we do so as Saint Joseph himself would—rejoicing quietly, loving deeply, and trusting God completely.
We love you, San Jose.
Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us!
Mama Mary, pray for us!
Amen.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
Email: mary@thebestcatholic.com
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- Lenten Reflection on the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (A.D. 2025) - March 19, 2025
- My Reflection on the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph 2024 - December 29, 2024
- Tragedy at the Magdeburg Christmas Market in Germany: A Saudi’s Terrorist Act and the Evils of Islam - December 21, 2024
Fascinating Saint Joseph life!! Totally devoted to God and soul and body!! He was the father of Jesus Crist son’s God!!
What a big mission he completed here in earth!!
Your words always speak to my soul right when i need them. Thank you. God bless you.