St. Joseph - Saint of the Month

Saint of the Month: St. Joseph

He is one of the most important figures in salvation history. He is the most powerful saint in heaven, beloved and honored by Catholics for centuries. Yet little is known of the life of St. Joseph outside of tradition and private revelation.  He is a spiritual father; a protector and provider; a pattern for a life hidden in Christ and cloaked in docility. His divine call by God the Father was a great and mysterious grace that cannot be easily reduced to a list of specific qualities; there would not be enough space to contain them.  Such is the generosity of God when He asks something tremendous of His beloved children. Of his many titles in the Litany of St. Joseph, Terror of Demons has enjoyed wide recognition recently. It's an ancient title, uniquely relevant to our times. But why do demons fear this humble and quiet saint?    

1. The Significance of His Mission: God chose St. Joseph for a highly exalted role in our salvation - protecting the Sacred Humanity of Christ. The extraordinary nature of St. Joseph's vocation as head of the Holy Family meant he was the earthly protector of both the Blessed Virgin and Jesus.     

2. His Supreme Obedience: God endowed St. Joseph with graces proportionate to his high calling because only a strong, faithful, and obedient man could fulfill the will of God in raising His Son to manhood. St. Joseph's life was wholly devoted to God's will, just like the lives of Christ and the Blessed Mother.    

3. His Blessed Purity: God chose the most chaste of spouses to protect the purity of the Mother of God and guard her perpetual virginity. This same purity of heart was necessary for the man who would be the father, teacher, and protector of the Messiah.  The way to spiritual perfection is to image God, who is all pure. Purity protects us from the snares of darkness and enables us to surrender to Him in childlike trust.    

4. His Protection of the Universal Church: The Church was born from the Blood and water that gushed forth from the side of Christ. Who better to guard what was so precious to his Divine Son than St. Joseph? Who better to understand the worth of such a perfect sacrifice and intercede for the needs of the Church?     

5. His Patronage of a Good & Happy Death:  After devoting his life to Our Lady and Jesus, St. Joseph died in the love, peace, and comfort of their presence. Death is the final opportunity for the devil to snatch a soul from Christ. At the end of life, souls are susceptible to despair, fear, guilt, and regret. These and other emotions can become a foothold for the Evil One.     

6. His Paternal Care for the Domestic Church: God placed Joseph at the head of the Holy Family, and Jesus called him "Abba" or Father. When St. Joseph appeals to Jesus on our behalf, it is a paternal petition. No one else in the history of our Faith can make that claim. It is his alone.

“Prayer to St. Joseph, Terror of Demons” — St. Joseph is called the “Terror of Demons” due to his exceptional holiness and powerful intercessory role. As the earthly father of Jesus and husband of Mary, Joseph’s unwavering faith, obedience to God, and his role in protecting the Holy Family made him a formidable adversary to evil forces. His quiet strength and righteousness are believed to strike fear into demons, making him a powerful patron for those seeking protection against spiritual warfare.

 In Christ,

Fr. Luke Fleck