ST. JOSEPH, A JUST MAN, A MODEL OF LIFE IN FAITH

VATICAN CITY, MAR 19, 2003 (VIS) - The focus of Pope John Paul's reflections at today's general audience, held in St. Peter's Square in the presence of 12,000 pilgrims, was St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, whose solemnity the Church celebrates today. The Pope noted that the liturgy refers to him as "the 'father' of Jesus, ready to fulfill the divine plan, even when it escapes human understanding."

"St. Joseph is defined in the Gospel," he continued, "as a 'just man', and he is for all believers a model of life in faith. The word 'just' recalls his moral rectitude, his sincere attachment to practicing the law and his behavior of total openness to the will of the heavenly Father. Even in difficult and sometimes dramatic moments, the humble carpenter from Nazareth never presumed he had a right to question God's project."

The Holy Father noted that St. Joseph followed God's call "with docile responsibility: he listened carefully to the angel when it was a question of taking the Virgin of Nazareth as his spouse, of fleeing into Egypt, of returning to Israel. In few but meaningful verses the evangelists describe him as the thoughtful guardian of Jesus, an attentive and faithful spouse, who exercises authority in the family in a constant attitude of service."

Because of his hard manual labor to provide for his family, added the Pope, "the Church justly calls St. Joseph the patron of workers. Thus, today's solemnity is a propitious occasion to reflect on the importance of work in the life of man, the family and the community. Man is the subject and the protagonist of work. ... Human activity, recalls Vatican Council II, derives from man and is ordered to man."

In closing remarks, John Paul II asked "St. Joseph, patron of the Universal Church, to watch over the entire ecclesial community and, man of peace that he was, to obtain for all of mankind, especially for the peoples threatened in these hours by war, the precious gift of harmony and peace."

The Pope reiterated those sentiments when, after the catechesis, he greeted in various languages the pilgrim groups present. He noted that "numerous faithful are here who have come with the Benedictine torch of peace that was lit in New Norcia in Australia and which today rests at the tomb of the Apostles, and will then proceed to Norcia. ... Dear Brothers and sisters, while I thank you for today's visit, I hope that this traditional initiative, in these hours of trepidation for peace, will contribute to reviving in souls a decisive will for harmony and reconciliation."

AG;ST JOSEPH; PEACE;...;...;VIS;20030320;Word: 420;