By Sister Maria Olga, O.C.D.
Saint Joseph entered his shop early in the morning relishing the odor of the desert in the wood, and he contemplated the sunlight caught in his tools. As an act of worship, he prepared the day’s work by donning a leather apron, as a priest would do with his vestments entering the Holy of Holies. Yes, his silent and contemplative soul was always united to his God and the things of God. St. Joseph was a contemplative soul.
Each gesture and movement in his shop was made with a spirit of loving sacrifice. He hoped that his former work had suited his clients; that the cartwheel held up; that the doorframe did not warp. Their satisfaction was his! His carpentry work was never a hardship; for his days were filled with deep joy as he thought of the blessing of having Mary, the Mother of his God as his spouse. He took pride in caring for her and providing for her. St. Joseph was a chaste husband.
St. Joseph never complained of his calloused hands and of the sweat, he wiped from his brow. He sang at his work, as a good Jewish man would do…Joseph’s cymbal was a hatchet, his pipe…a yardstick, his timbrel… a plane, his harp… a saw, and his lyre… a file. While he played on them, his heart and soul were with his God, Yahweh. St. Joseph was such a holy and righteous man
His loving Son, Jesus respected and loved his father, St. Joseph. His greatest desire was to become like his father. As he learned the skill of carpentry, Jesus beckoned St. Joseph to retell the stories of the journey to Bethlehem and the flight to Egypt. Jesus aspired to become courageous and strong as his father. Joseph felt the love and admiration of his son, and deep in his soul, he felt so unworthy to be the father of the King of heaven. St. Joseph was a humble man.
At the end of the day’s work in the shop, both father and Son joined Mary, the heart of their home, to pray in thanksgiving for another day to praise their God and for the gift of being together as a loving family. St. Joseph fulfilled his role as head of the Holy Family.
Original watercolor paintings created by the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles
