ST. JOSEPH'S HOLY EXAMPLE OF ATTENTION AND RESPONSE TO GOD'S WILL..............

The Universal Call to Holiness is at the core of what Vatican II, the most recent and twenty first Ecumenical Council in the Catholic Church's History, primarily directs and forms us as Disciples of Jesus Christ to follow.  St. Joseph of Nazareth, the Universal Patron of the Church, whom we commemorate on this Solemnity, exemplifies for us the reality and quality of Holiness we must embrace as Catholic-Christians.  The fidelity to answering our Call to Holiness St. Joseph lived by as the Husband of Mary and the Foster Father of Jesus in the Holy Family, can no more be discounted or dismissed than the teachings of reform and renewal promulgated by the Second Vatican Council and our interpersonal and mutual response can be to the Universal Call to Holiness.  Listening to God in Prayer; Discerning God's Will by the formation of our Conscience; and Taking Action to increase the Sanctity of our individual and community-wide practices of being attentive to Self Revealing Love of the Lord, and in responding to what we are being welcomed to do by God, as St. Joseph did unconditionally; are the guiding lights we must incorporate in daily living the Call to Holiness.  May we adhere to to the holy example and faithfulness St. Joseph lived as we strive to become increasingly proactive persons of Holiness as the People of God..............fr.tdp