In Honor of St. Joseph

 Looking up at the large statue of St. Joseph with Jesus beside him was a moment to take in. Here I was at the basilica of St. Joseph on the cusp of finishing out my Masters program with SJSU. It has all been aligned with St. Joseph since the very start. He has been one of the main intercessors for me as a student. The many prayers have been directed towards him to help and carry me through the challenges, the demands, the grades, the tasks, (and of course God and the Holy Spirit as well.)

Gazing up at him provoked emotions from these past few years. In some ways it all feels like a blur, but then again, I can easily recall the hard work, constant assignments, papers, projects and burnout.  And today being his feast day- St. Joseph the Worker, celebrating and remembering his example in his work and spiritualty as the foster Father of Jesus, there's a depth of gratitude and honor for him. 

St. Joseph is a great and powerful intercessor for many things, but particularly work, housing, relationships/spouses I've heard, and prayers have been answered from many people in various areas. I can attest to many times him interceding for me for yet again another assignment or paper or my final project for my Master's and he always pulled through. 

I prayed the novena to him at the beginning of the year specifically for a job and after the 9th day heard back from a job I applied to! That was quick, I thought. I calculated the rest, and it was 9 days apart from the second interview to my first day training- all due to St. Joseph!

St. Joseph has been a bedrock and inspiration in my past jobs as well. I would look to him at the statue in the back of the church after mass in the early morning and sigh and always ask for his help and intercession when the days just felt long, mundane and wasn't sure when I should leave or not. I'd place my hands on his which, knowing he was a carpenter and used his hands for his work and could help me in mine (often had a chromebook in front of me and thought of him). 

Last summer, when my dad and I went out to lunch for an early birthday, we made a stop at a local church inside the chapel. I hadn't seen the renovation of it, yet the chapel looked different and much more beautiful and prayerful. Upon entering, I saw a St. Joseph statue and I felt like the statue blinked at me instantly, and I did a double take. Good ol' St. Joseph, always around to help us in our prayer life. 

St. Joseph, terror of demons. I have this prayer card on my desk and would look to it often as a reminder of his help and presence, particularly during these last months of my studies. 

I look to St. Joseph as a powerful model of faith, trust, humility, prayer, perseverance and joy. Wednesdays are the days devoted to him (todays' a Wednesday and it's his feast day!) and the inspiration of others' witness of prayers to him are powerful. I can think of prayers for a house as my sister and brother-in-law's housing situation and buying their house, my other sister and brother-in-law buying their house after renting and so many others' testimonies. 

St. Joseph, pray for us.