Joseph, a descendant of Abraham, from the line of David, was chosen by God to be the husband of Mary and the putative father of Jesus. It was in the town of Nazareth in Galilee that the carpenter, the humble worker, fulfilled his mission.
Ancient tradition identifies the house and possible carpentry workshop in the crypt of the church dedicated to him, located in the complex of the Basilica of the Annunciation. It also includes the place where the angel of the Lord brought the announcement to Mary.
Br BRUNO VARRIANO, ofm
Guardian and Rector of the Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth
"That's why we find this memory of St. Joseph and the Holy Family who after returning from Egypt went here. And here Jesus had the family experience, the experience of having a father and a mother and having the experience of being a son, being educated, growing in age, wisdom and grace as the Gospel tells you."
The celebration of St. Joseph's Day was attended by Brother Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land, who presided over the solemn mass in the upper part of the Basilica in Nazareth. In his homily, the Custos stressed that Joseph had a very important role in the birth of Jesus, because he introduced him to the genealogy of Abraham and the lineage of David. He had the task of "naming him", that is, we would say today, of registering him and introducing him into the history of his people and therefore of humanity.
Br FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm
Custos of the Holy Land
"From Joseph we too must learn to trust God but also to trust what is happening inside the lives of many other people, to believe even when it is difficult to believe. From Joseph we learn to receive Jesus and Mary as a gift and to make room for them within our lives in such a way that the kingdom of God enters our lives. With Joseph we also learn to live in difficult situations, such as moments of exile, of distance. I am thinking at this moment of the millions of refugees, of exiles from the Ukraine in recent weeks, but for many years from Syria, from many countries in Africa and Asia, from Latin America. I would say that Joseph also teaches us to take care, as he did with Mary and the Child, of those who are living in this terrible and tremendous situation".
Franciscans, religious, local Christians and pilgrims participated in the celebration in honor of the Universal Patron of the Church. At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, the celebrants and the faithful made their way in procession to the Crypt of St. Joseph's Church, where the Custos of the Holy Land blessed everyone with an icon.
Fr SÓSTENES CHAVES
Canção Nova Community
"My experience today with St. Joseph is to feel like a son like Jesus, and also with him a son of hope and a son of faith as the Custos said in his homily, "that we are called in this time to have faith and know that the herodians will pass away but faith in God will last forever."
After the ceremony, the Nazareth Franciscans had another significant act of celebration.
Br BRUNO VARRIANO, ofm
Guardian and Rector of the Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth
"We also had the grace to renovate the convent with the help of many benefactors. We really entrusted to the caring custody of St. Joseph these restorations, these works, and providence did not fail us. That is why it was right to bless at the conclusion of these works precisely on the day of St. Joseph."
