APPRAISAL
OF
THE PLIGHTS OF ST. JOSEPH (The Husband of Mary)
A Paper presentation at the Okigwe Diocesan Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Declaration of St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church.
Author: Rev. Fr. Prof. Jerome Ikechukwu Okonkwo
Publisher: Multi-Sectors Ltd., Owerri, Nigeria.
Year of Publication: July, 2021
Length: 63 pages
Reviewer: Rev. Fr. PiusRalph Effiong, SMMM
1.0 Introduction
The plights of St. Joseph (The Husband of Mary) arose out of the clarion call of the Holy Father, Pope Francis in his Apostolic Letter: Patris Corde published on December 8, 2020 to mark the 150th anniversary of the declaration of St. Joseph as the patron of the Universal Church; which he equally uses the letter to declare the Year of St. Joseph which will be culminated on December 8, 2021.
It is on this note, that the author on invitation by the Local Ordinary of the Diocese of Okigwe, Imo State, Nigeria – Most Rev. Solomon Amatu to present a paper on the theme which now served as the title of this systematic theological reflection: THE PLIGHTS OF ST. JOSEPH (The Husband of Mary). The author made the work explicitly clear, garnished with the local interpretations, thus bringing the study down to earth for the understanding of all. In his reflection, he established that, it was St. Joseph who opened the door of New Testament instead of St. John the Baptist as being recorded in some documents, since he was the protector of the Word incarnate.
Therefore, he deserves a pride of place in the heart of the Church.
He painstakingly gave an in-depth definition of what “plight” is; the tripartite dimensional sources of the plights of St. Joseph and the missing links in the pastoral traditions of the Church. Then finally, made some vital recommendations and conclusion which calls for deep reflection as the celebration of the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph as the Universal Patron of the Church progresses.
2.0 Explicating the concept of “Plights” in the light of St. Joseph
The term “plight” in general understanding expresses life situation, life condition or the state of life one finds himself, whereby such a state of life becomes difficult to understand or interprets existentially, especially when this type of plight defiles the laws of nature and existentialism.
In relating it to Igbo worldview, he avers that the term could be referred to “okechi”. Which this idea flows, and hope to drive the expected consonance from the Igbo socio-religious content-analytic-affinities and their common theological grounds with their English equivalents as already stated. He married the concept with other Igbo words such as “Okeechi or Okechukwu”, which are all in content, meaning and application alternative references for the following Igbo language and linguistic implicatures. Such as: Fate, destiny, the force behind destiny, misfortunes, disaster, resignation to God’s will etc.
However, this gave rise to what he described as “the tripartite dimensional sources of St. Joseph’s Plights.” – Okechi – Joseph Di Maria.
3.0 The three Tripartite Dimensional Sources of St. Joseph’s Plights
In his analysis, he came out with three dimensional sources of plights of St. Joseph.
The events surrounding the conception of Jesus Christ – God made flesh. Where Joseph intended to divorce Mary, the woman betrothed to her in private to save her dignity. A rare action among humanity in every culture.
The birth of Jesus Christ from a woman (Blessed Virgin Mary) betrothed to a certain lowly carpenter of Nazareth -St. Joseph. Which, he (Joseph) made everything possible for our Lord to have where to lay his head. As a loving father which the Holy Father in the introductory part of the Apostolic Letter (Patris Corde) captures. Here, St. Joseph played host to the shepherds and the magi on their visit to the new born baby despite the ordeals surrounding the conception of our Lord. Indeed, a symbol of obedience and resignation to God’s will.
The flight to Egypt. This particular event in the timeline history of our Lord, gives a deep interpretation of a “true fatherhood” in St. Joseph. Still a rare gesture of man. He did all these because He loves the child beyond boundaries, which portrays the love of God upon humanity devoid of our weakness and fragility. He lived in Egypt as a foreigner in order to serve and save God’s mission in Jesus and through Jesus the son of Joseph.
4.0 Missing Links in the Pastoral Traditions of the Church
Having realized St. Joseph to be inconspicuous model in Christendom. The author meticulously pinpoints the missing links in the pastoral traditions and teachings of the Church. Taking cognizance of the word of a polish writer Jan Dobraczynski in Pope Francis’ Patris Corde who described St. Joseph as “a father in the shadow.”
He asserted that, the life of St. Joseph is a credo that links theophany and theopathy. And that St. Joseph can be called God’s platform for the powers of heaven to actualize and perfect our redemption. The life of St. Joseph according to the author’s reflection, leads us to the providential harvests of divine promises and graces for all who make their prayers through St. Joseph. With all these and many other extolling qualities and attributes of St. Joseph, he captured with great interest missing links in the pastoral traditions of the Church.
Thus, called for the recognizing of St. Joseph as “the voluminous spiritual sanitary and the privy councilor who was appointed according to the orders of the courts of Heaven.”
Fr. Okonkwo observed the inclusion of the feast of St. Joseph in the breviary only in 1479 for the first time in the history of the Church in spite of the teachings and writings of the likes of St. Bernard, Pierre D’Ailly, Johannes Gerson, Hermann Josef, St. Teresa of Avila, etc. He also made reference to the effort of Pope Pius XII who in 1955 proclaimed St. Joseph as the patron of the workers on May 1. While Pope Benedict XV gave preface of St. Joseph for Masses in 1919.
He made allusion to the declaration of the Year of St. Joseph by the Holy Father in memento to mark the 150th anniversary of his pronouncement as the patron of Universal Church; as a right step in the right direction to fill in the gap created as a result of the missing links in the pastoral traditions of the Church.
5.0 Recommendations/Conclusion
He recommended that, a right place should be given to St. Joseph as the universal patron of the Church. Fr. Okonkwo also recommended that the intercession of St. Joseph should be made during Act of Contrition.
He established that the promulgation of the 150th anniversary of the declaration of St. Joseph as the universal patron of the Church is a solemn call on all Catholics to revamp the devotions to St. Joseph as the Patron of the universal Church. Having followed the mind of the Holy Father in the Apostolic Letter - Patris Corde, which he described as “Obinna/Obinna ya” meaning the Father’s heart. Thus, advocating for the celebration of the Solemnity of the Father’s Heart of Joseph on Sunday following, the solemnities Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary.
He further called for the return of Wednesday weekly celebration of St. Joseph as contained in Patris Corde and other historical books of the Church, alongside with the usual Saturday weekly memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary our Mother. In doing, this the pride of place suitable for St. Joseph will be properly accorded.
In conclusion, following the Holy Father, Pope Francis who described St. Joseph as a man who found happiness not in mere self-sacrifice but in self-gift. In him, there was no frustration but trust; which patient silence was the prelude to concrete expression of trust. Thus, he became “the Guardian of his own Redeemer” (cf. Redemtoris Custos AAS 82(1990), 5-34, August 15, 1998)
