Monday, March 18, 2002

ANGELUS: ST. JOSEPH MASTER OF FAITH AND MILDNESS


VATICAN CITY, MAR 17, 2002 (VIS) - At midday today, fifth Sunday of Lent, the Pope appeared at the window of his private study overlooking St. Peter's Square, in order to pray the angelus with the faithful gathered below.

John Paul II recalled that Tuesday is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary and patron of the Universal Church. "The extreme discretion with which St. Joseph carried out the role that God entrusted to him gives evidence, above all, of his faith. This faith consisted in his being docile to the Lord, in seeking to understand His will so as to obey with all his heart and strength."

"Faith, nourished by prayer: This is the most precious treasure that St. Joseph transmits to us. His example has been followed by generations of parents who, with the example of a simple and industrious life, have engraved in their children's souls the priceless mark of faith, without which all other wealth risks becoming worthless. Here and now I would like to give my assurance of a special prayer for all fathers on the day dedicated to them. I ask God that they be men of robust interior life in order to fulfill in an exemplary fashion their mission in the family and in society."

The Holy Father announced that on Thursday afternoon, March 21 he will meet with young people in St. Peter's Square in preparation for Palm Sunday and World Youth Day, and he addressed an invitation to boys and girls from all parishes and dioceses to join him there.

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