MANDALUYONG City, Aug. 13, 2015—Everyone who has a few hours to spare this coming weekend is invited to attend yet another talk inspired by Pope Francis’ unexpected tribute he gave early this year to his favorite “sleeping” saint: the Glorious St. Joseph.
‘Family and St. Joseph’
Entitled “Family and St. Joseph,” the lecture will be on Aug. 15, Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Santuario de San José Parish Hall, Buffalo corner Duke Streets, East Greenhills, Mandaluyong City.
Organized by the Santuario de San José Parish and the Defensores Fidei Foundation (DFF), with Fr. Jason Endaya of the Oblates of St. Joseph (OSJ) as speaker, the event is open to the public.
In his January speech, the Holy Father told assembled Filipino families that the few Scripture verses that speak of St. Joseph are of him resting, “as an angel reveals God’s will to him in his dreams.”
Dreaming on
Pope Francis pointed out that one cannot have a family without dreams, pleading with his audience not to lose the capacity to dream.
“When you lose the capacity to dream, then you lose the capacity to love. And this energy to love is lost. So I ask you each evening, when you make your examination of conscience, to also ask yourselves this question: Today did I dream about my children’s future? Today did I dream about the love of my husband, my wife? Did I dream about my parents and grandparents who have gone before me? Dreaming is very important. Especially dreaming in families. Do not lose this ability to dream!” he said in his native Spanish.
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St. Joseph revival
The papal speech has since revived interest in and popular devotion to St. Joseph, with artists making their own version of “San José Dormido,” the image under which Pope Francis allegedly places his petition.
“I have great love for St. Joseph, because he is a man of silence and strength. On my table I have an image of St. Joseph sleeping. Even when he is asleep, he is taking care of the Church! Yes! We know that he can do that. So when I have a problem, a difficulty, I write a little note and I put it underneath St. Joseph, so that he can dream about it! In other words I tell him: pray for this problem!” he added.
Guardian, protector
Religious sculptor Joseph Vincent Atanacio credits St. Joseph’s intercession for giving him the strength to defend the Blessed Virgin from people who would rather have none of her, claiming the Mother of God leads them to her son, Jesus.
He shared, “St. Joseph is my dad’s primary patron. He named me after him. This also explains why I am such a staunch Marian defender … in imitation of him … And since the fathers of my three nephews are not around, I’m like a foster father to them .. like St. Joseph was to Jesus.”
For further information, interested parties are advised to contact (02)723-43-26. (Raymond A. Sebastián/CBCP News)
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