WEEKLY E-MAGAZINE 50/ 20/3/2021

Carlo Voice

AA WWeeeekklllyy EE---MMaaggaazziiinnee,,, ppuubbllliiissshheedd iiinn vviiieeww oofff fffoosssttteerriiinngg TTrruuee TTeeaacchhiiinnggsss oofff CCaattthhoollliiicc CChhuurrcchh Chief Editors- Bro. Ephrem Kunnappally and Bro. John Kanayankal

Contributing Editors Very Rev.Joychen Paranjattu, Vicar General- Diocese of Rajkot Rev.Fr. Shanthi Puthusherry, PIME Rev. Fr. Sunny Kuttikkattu CMI Rev. Fr. Philip Kunnumpurath

Spiritual Patrons His Holiness Francis HB Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak Coptic Catholic HB Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-RahiMarionite Patriarch HB Ignace Joseph III Younan Syriac Catholic Patriarch HB Joseph AbsiMelkite Catholic Patriarch HB Louis Raphaël I Cardinal Sako Chaldean Patriarch HB Gregoire Pierre XX Ghabroyan of Cilicia Armenian Catholic Patriarch HB George Alencherry- Major of Syro-Malabar Church HE Moran Mor Cardinal Cleemis Mar Baselius Catholicos HB Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa Jeruslem Catholic Patriarch HE Cardinal , CBCI- Chairman and Archbishop of Bombay HG Joshua Mar Ignatius, Vice Chairman CBCI- Mavelikara Metropolitan Bishop HG Domenico Sorrentino, Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino HE Philiopose Mar Stephanose, Syro- Malankara Bishop of Canada HE Mar George Madathikandathil Bishop of Kothamagalam HE Mar Prince Antony Panengadan Bishop of Adilabad HE Thomas Dabre, Bishop of Poone Dr.Nicola Ghori, Postulator Cause of Carlo Acutis Madam Antonia Salzano, Madre de Carlo Acutis

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Testimonies

With great Joy Holy Father sends his wishes on the 50th Volume publication of Carlo Voice. Dear brothers the time you dedicate for Jesus even in your Formation period is more praiseworthy. On this occasion of issuing 50th Carlo Voice E Magazine Holy Father imparts His Apostolic Blessings upon all especially beloved Carlo Brothers and Carlo Voice Readers

I am Happy to know that Carlo Voice Team is Publishing 50th edition of E- Magazine. I congratulate Bro. Ephrem Kunnappally and Bro. John Kanayankal, students of St. Ephrem’s Theological College, Satna for their intitiative and i admire them for their commitment and enthusiasm.

Very.Rev.Fr.Joseph Ottapurackal, Rector, St. Ephrem’s Theological College, Satna

HHoommiillyy ooff HHiiss BBeeaattiittuuddee PPaattrriiaarrcchh PPiieerrbbaattttiissttaa PPiizzzzaabbaallllaa

March 21, 2021

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year B

With today’s Gospel passage we move to chapter 12 of John.

By now, we are in the proximity of the passion, which begins at chapter 13 with the last supper of Jesus with His disciples. In chapter 12, instead, we find the event of Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus’ feet (vv. 1-11) and then the triumphal entry of Jesus into (vv.12-19). The latter piece ends with a dejected and annoyed reflection by the Pharisees, who seem resigned to the “success” of Jesus: “the Pharisees said to one another, “Do you see that you are gaining nothing? Look, the whole world has gone after him!” (Jn 12:19).

Today’s Gospel also speaks of this capacity of Jesus to attract people: the context is that of the Paschal feast, in which, among the many going up to Jerusalem, there are also some Greeks who want to see Jesus.

The story is quite unique: the Greeks talk about it with Philip, Philip speaks with Andrew about it, then Philip and Andrew told it to Jesus (Jn 12:21-22). And eventually all the characters disappear, and we don’t know how the story ended, whether the Greeks did or did not meet Jesus. The answer however is there and it is precisely the passage we have heard and above all towards the conclusion at v. 32 (“I will draw all to myself”). To the request of being able to see Him, Jesus responds by saying that all will see Him when He will be lifted up from the earth and He will draw all to Himself. Jesus reveals the profound logic that has animated His entire existence and that will end in the hour of His passion, which has almost come (cf. 2,4; 7,30). He does it by recounting a very short parable, that of the grain of wheat: “unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (Jn 12:24).

In these few lines is hidden a novelty that surprises us, one for which Jesus says there are two logics with which it is possible to live: one is the logic of solitude, the other is that of communion. Within this perspective, Jesus interprets His passion and resurrection.

A life held fast, a life closed in on and concentrated on self, is a life that remains alone, which knows only the narrow spaces of one’s self. And it is destined to end. A life lost for others, a life that loves and gives itself, is a life that enters into the logic of relationship, and it is a life that is fulfilled.

Jesus knows well that to choose the logic of communion has a price, and the price is His death, the surrendering of Himself to the hands of those who can do with Him what they will do; and facing this prospect He is deeply troubled (Jn 12:27).

But He also knows that He is in greater and stronger hands, in the hand of the Father, hands faithful to true glory, to true life: in the face of Jesus choice to go to the end of the way of communion, the Father confirms the choice to not abandon the only beloved Son, and makes His voice heard (Jn 12:28). He glorified His own name, and will continue to do so.

What does it mean? What is this name? The name of God is “Father”: Jesus, in the Gospel of John, repeats it countless times. Well, God will continue to be Father, to be The One who gives life. He will not leave the Son alone, because with the Son He shares the same logic of communion and love, which is why their relationship cannot die.

The hour of the passion, at this point, becomes the hour of glory (Jn 12:23), the hour of full revelation of truth, that is of the love of God: a love so great and strong as to be able to change death into life, the end into a new beginning. Jesus will be “lifted up” (Jn 13:32): a single word to say both the cross and the glory, because cross and glory are, from now on, inseparable.

And from this lifting up a new people will be born, to which all can join: “And I, when I will be lifted from earth, I will draw all to me” (Jn 12:32).

All those who feel in the intimacy of their heart the profound attraction that a love like this can arouse, beyond every apparent defeat and failure, enter a new logic of life, and follow the Lord, there where He is (Jn 12:26).

Last Sunday we were invited to look upon the serpent lifted up in the desert (Jn 3:14), to obtain healing and life. Today, we are asked to look once again on Jesus raised on the cross, our salvation.

If the gaze remains fixed on Him, in this continual need of salvation, we will experience its power of at-traction, which saves us from the many dis- tractions of life and unites us in the single profound desire of communion and love, with Him and among us.

BBiibblliiccaall RReefflleeccttiioonn ooff tthhiiss wweeeekk::

Very.Rev.Fr.Joychen Paranjattu, Rajkot Diocese

Jn 10 I am the good Shepherd

Jesus says: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”. These words are spoken with great authority that Jesus would lay down his life to save everyone from eternal damnation. We know that it is the duty of the shepherd to take care of the sheep: viz., to feed the sheep, to protect the sheep and to lead it towards the pasture. He guides the sheep. The sheep recognises the voice of the shepherd only. Jesus considers himself as the good shepherd. He was ready to give his life for the sheep. His fed his sheep with his own body and blood and gave them eternal life. He protected and guarded his sheep and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost (cf. Jn 18:9; 17:12). His teachings were the guiding lamps for every disciple. He taught them to be the light of the world that they would not walk in the darkness.

Jesus says: “I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father”. This speaks immensely of Jesus’ relationship with the believers. He knows everyone by name and calls them by name. It is almost equal to the relationship of Jesus with the Father. Just as they are one, so too, there is an intimate relationship between Jesus and the disciples. There is an invitation to belong to Jesus and to be known by him. If we go away from Jesus and if we reject his teachings, we ourselves prevent Jesus from knowing us. Such a person would fall into the traps set by the wolves and they would be lost forever. To be part of the divine plan of salvation, we need to belong to Jesus. Father had sent the son into the world to save us from the clutches of the evil one.

Jesus is ready to die to protect the sheep from the hands of the wolves. There is no feeling of belongingness for the hired servant. The hired hand has no personal contact with every sheep. If many wolves come to attack the sheep, he is not able to chase the wolves with the limited resources he has. He would leave the sheep and run away, and his sheep would be caught while others will be scattered. Jesus as the good shepherd wants everyone to be united and would not want divisions within the believers. However, in today’s world, we see a lot of divisions withinmany denominations of the Church. In 2019, a total of 272,771 German Catholics formally left the Church — more than ever before in the face of a “growing erosion and deterioration of faith”. It is here that we need to strengthen the faith of the believers and lead them to authentic pastures. The teachings of Jesus are before us in the form of the Scriptures. They are written down from his words and deeds. They give life to us and strengthen our relationship with the Lord. If we belong to him, we will really allow our souls to be fed by the word of God daily.

Jesus says: “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd”. The Israelites were led by various prophets and Kings. However, many of them were false prophets. The Kings who were also like shepherds to the people often fed themselves and did not protect the people that they were scattered and lost. It was to be by the death and Resurrection of Jesus that the Gentiles were to listen to God’s word through the chosen apostles; that they too would-be part of the sheepfold. Unlike the prophets of the Old Testament, Jesus, who was even called ‘King of the Jews’ did not feed himself, but rather, emptied himself. He broke his own body and shed his blood to give life to all those who believe in him. He made them children of God. The gift of the Holy Eucharist and the sacraments have become green pastures upon which the believers can nourish their soul daily. Jesus invites us to the Eucharist and tells us: “Take, eat this is my body”, “Take, drink from this cup, this is my blood shed for you”. Jesus the good shepherd teaches us to empty ourselves like him to give life to our families, to our society, and to the world at large. Amen!

Vox Fidei- True Voice of Catholic Faith

WHO FOUNDED THE HOLY ?

Out of the greatest figures in Christian history, one of the most misconstrued and slandered is the late Roman Emperor Constantine. Critics say that he founded the Catholic Church and he bonded it with paganism mixed with Christianity. This assertion has been used to wrongly deceive countless Christians and bring false information to Messianics and Evangelicals. It was first originated by anti-Christian writers, such as Franz Cumont, who introduced the theory, from an anti-Christian perspective, that Christianity took from its opponents their own weapons, and used them; the better elements of paganism were transferred to the new religion. However, this accusation has no historical foundation because the Holy Catholic Church has already existed even BEFORE Constantine’s ascension to the Roman imperial throne in AD 324 or his birth on February 7, AD 272 in Naissus, Moesia Superior (present-day Serbia). The pre-Constantinopolitan Christians testified to it, as follows:

Ignatius, bishop of Antioch (AD 35-107)

“Follow your bishop, every one of you, as obediently as Jesus Christ followed the Father. Obey your clergy too as you would the apostles; give your deacons the same reverence that you would to a command of God. Make sure that no step affecting the Church is ever taken by anyone without the bishop’s sanction. The sole Eucharist you should consider valid is one that is celebrated by the bishop himself, or by some person authorized by him. Where the bishop is to be seen, there let all his people be; just as, wherever Jesus Christ is present, there is the Catholic Church (Letter to the Smyrneans 8:2 [A.D. 110]).” “In like manner let everyone respect the deacons as they would respect Jesus Christ, and just as they respect the bishop as a type of the Father, and the presbyters as the council of God and college of the apostles. Without these, it cannot be called a Church. I am confident that you accept this, for I have received the exemplar of your love and have it with me in the person of your bishop. His very demeanor is a great lesson and his meekness is his strength. I believe that even the godless do respect him (Letter to the Trallians 3:1-2 [A. D. 110]).”

Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna (AD 80-167)

“When finally he concluded his prayer, after remembering all who had at any time come his way – small folk and great folk, distinguished and undistinguished, and the whole Catholic Church throughout the world – the time for departure came. So they placed him on an ass, and brought him into the city on a great Sabbath (The Martyrdom of Polycarp 8 [A.D. 110]).”

Irenaeus, bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul (AD 125-202)

“The Catholic Church possesses one and the same faith throughout the whole world, as we have already said (Against Heresies 1:10 [A.D. 189]).” “Since therefore we have such proofs, it is not necessary to seek the truth among others which it is easy to obtain from the Church; since the apostles, like a rich man [depositing his money] in a bank, lodged in her hands most copiously all things pertaining to the truth: so that every man, whosoever will, can draw from her the water of life. For she is the entrance to life; all others are thieves and robbers. On this account we are bound to avoid them, but to make choice of the things pertaining to the Church with the utmost diligence, and to lay hold of the tradition of the truth. For how stands the case? Suppose there should arise a dispute relative to some important question among us. Should we not have recourse to the most ancient churches with which the apostles held constant intercourse, and learn from them what is certain and clear in regard to the present question? For how should it be if the apostles themselves had not left us writings? Would it not be necessary [in that case] to follow the course of the tradition which they handed down to those to whom they did commit the churches? (ibid. 3:4).”

Tertullian, theologian (AD 150-225)

“Where was Marcion then, that shipmaster of Pontus, the zealous student of Stoicism? Where was Valentinus then, the disciple of Platonism? For it is evident that those men lived not so long ago – in the reign of Antoninus for the most part – and that they at first were believers in the doctrine of the Catholic Church, in the church of under the episcopate of the blessed Eleutherus, until on account of their ever restless curiosity, with which they even infected the brethren, they were more than once expelled (On the Prescription Against Heretics 22,30 [A.D.200])”

Pius I, bishop of Rome (AD 142-157)

“Besides these [letters of Paul] there is one to Philemon, and one to Titus, and two to Timothy, in affection and love, but nevertheless regarded as holy in the Catholic Church, in the ordering of churchly discipline. There is also one [letter] to the Laodiceans and another to the Alexandrians, forged under the name of Paul, in regard to the heresy of Marcion, and there are several others which cannot be received by the Church, for it is not suitable that gall be mixed with honey. The epistle of Jude, indeed, and the two ascribed to John are received by the Catholic Church (The Muratorian Canon [A.D. 177]).

Cyprian, bishop of Carthage (AD 200-258)

“The spouse of Christ cannot be defiled; she is uncorrupted and chaste. She knows one home . . . Does anyone believe that this unity which comes from divine strength, which is closely connected with the divine sacraments, can be broken asunder in the Church and be separated by the divisions of colliding wills? He who does not hold this unity, does not hold the law of God, does not hold the faith of the Father and the Son, does not hold life and salvation (On the Unity of the Catholic Church 6 [A.D. 251]).” “Peter speaks there, on whom the Church was to be built, teaching and showing in the name of the Church, that although a rebellious and arrogant multitude of those who will not hear or obey may depart, yet the Church does not depart from Christ; and they are the Church who are a people united to the priest, and the flock which adheres to its pastor. Whence you ought to know that the bishop is in the Church, and the Church in the bishop; and if any one be not with the bishop, that he is not in the Church, and that those flatter themselves in vain who creep in, not having peace with God’s priests, and think that they communicate secretly with some; while the Church which is Catholic and one, is not cut nor divided, but is indeed connected and bound together by the cement of priests who cohere with one another (Letters 66 [A.D. 253]).”

Notice that those Christians did live years before Contanstine. But was Constantine the first Pope? Of course NOT! Since the Church has already existed even before the Emperor, the Church has already been governed by the Successor of Peter, as follows: Peter (33-67) Linus (67-76) Anacletus (Cletus) (76-88) Clement I (88-97) Evaristus (97-105) Alexander I (105-115) Sixtus I also called Xystus I (115-125) Telesphorus (125-136) Hyginus (136-140) Pius I (140-155) Anicetus (155-166) Soter (166-175) Eleutherius (175-189) Victor I (189-199) Zephyrinus (199-217) Callistus I (217-22) Urban I (222-30) Pontain (230-35) Anterus (235-36) Fabian (236-50) Cornelius (251-53) Lucius I (253-54) Stephen I (254-257) Sixtus II (257-258) Dionysius (260-268) Felix I (269-274) Eutychian (275-283) Caius also called Gaius (283-296) Marcellinus (296-304) Marcellus I (308-309) Eusebius (309 or 310) Miltiades (311-14) Sylvester I (314-35) Why would Constantine govern a Church who was already headed by the Vicar of Christ in his times?! Remember, he was a Roman Emperor and NOT a Bishop of Rome. Now, the question would be: If not Constantine, Who, then, founded the Holy Catholic Church? In the Gospel of Jesus according to St. Matthew (16:18 KJV), it is written: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Undoubtedly, our Lord Jesus Christ indeed founded a Church (not churches) upon the rock. However, what is that Church which He established? “And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer FOR ALL NATIONS? (Mark 11:17 NIV)”

But what is that house which was being referred to by the Lord? “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the HOUSE of God, which is the CHURCH of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:5 KJV)”

And the divine prophecy was fulfilled because the Church was preached to all nations in accordance to His command (Matthew 28:19-20). The church was called Catholic as it is present in all nations. (NOTE: the term “catholic” was derived from a joint Greek words “kata-” and “holos” which literally mean “according to the whole”, “throughout all”, or “universal”.) “HĒ men oun EKKLESIA KATH’ HOLES tēs Ioudaias kai Galilaias kai Samarias eichen eirēnēn oikodomoumenē kai poreuomenē tō phobō tou Kyriou, kai tē paraklēsei tou Hagiou Pneumatos eplēthyneto. (Acts 9:31 Greek)” REPORT THIS AD As what Augustine, bishop of Hippo reminded the followers of Christ: “We must hold to the Christian religion and to communication in her Church, which is catholic and which is called catholic not only by her own members but even by all her enemies. For when heretics or the adherents of schisms talk about her, not among themselves but with strangers, willy-nilly they call her nothing else but Catholic. For they will not be understood unless they distinguish her by this name which the whole world employs in her regard (The True Religion 7:12 [A.D. 390]).”

As affirmed by the heretics: “Ang Iglesia Katolika sa pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni Cristo” (PASUGO, Abril 1966, ph. 46, INC)

In the late 11th century, Pope Gregory VII was embroiled in the Investiture Controversy with King Henry IV over who had the power to choose and install bishops and abbots. Under his Gregorian reform, Pope Gregory VII wrote his dictatus papae, “papal dictation,” showing he composed the piece himself, found in his papal register under the year 1075.

The Dictatus papae was an unpublished document in the sense it was not known outside of the immediate circle of the Roman curia and was not widely copied or circulated. It contained a compilation of 27 statements of powers reserved for the pope alone.

The document was seen as the strongest argument for papal infallibility and papal supremacy at a time when the Church’s authority to appoint it’s own bishops was being challenged by Henry IV.

The document famously outlined the power of the pope to depose emperors, practically affirmingauctoritas, spiritual power, to be greater than imperium, temporal power.

Read below all 27 rights reserved just for the pope:

1. The Roman Church was founded solely by God. 2. Only the Pope can with right be called “Universal”. 3. He alone can depose or reinstate bishops. 4. All bishops are below his Legate in council, even if a lower grade, and he can pass sentence of deposition against them. 5. The Pope may depose the absent. 6. Among other things, we ought not to remain in the same house with those excommunicated by him. 7. For him alone is it lawful, according to the needs of the time, to make new laws, to assemble together new congregations, to make an abbey of a canonry, and, on the other hand, to divide a rich bishopric and unite the poor ones. 8. He alone may use the Imperial Insignia. 9. All princes shall kiss the feet of the Pope alone. 10. His name alone shall be spoken in the churches. 11. His title is unique in the world. 12. It may be permitted to him to depose emperors. 13. It may be permitted to him to transfer bishops, if need be. 14. He has the power to ordain the clerk of any parish he wishes. 15. He who is ordained by the Pope may preside over another church, but may not hold a 16. subordinate position. Such a person may not receive a higher clerical grade from any other bishop. 17. No shall be called a “General Synod” without his order. 18. No chapter and no book shall be considered canonical without his authority. 19. A sentence passed by him may be retracted by no one. He alone may retract it. 20. He himself may be judged by no one. 21. No one shall dare to condemn any person who appeals to the Apostolic Chair. 22. The more important cases of every church should be referred to the . 23. The Roman Church has never erred. Nor will it err, to all eternity– Scripture being witness. 24. The Roman Pontiff, if he has been canonically ordained, is undoubtedly made holy by the merits of St. Peter, St. Ennodius Bishop of Pavia bearing witness, and many holy fathers agreeing with him. As it is contained in the decrees of Pope St. Symmachus. By his command and consent, it may be lawful for subordinates to bring accusations. 25. He may depose and reinstate bishops without assembling a Synod. 26. He who is not at peace with the Roman Church shall not be considered “catholic”. 27. He may absolve subjects from their fealty to wicked men.

Five Reflections on St. Joseph

By Fr. Victor Feltes

This week, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as patron of the Universal (that is, the entire) Church, declared this “The Year of St. Joseph” through December 8th, 2021. The Holy Father also published an apostolic letter about Jesus’ beloved foster-father entitled “Patris Corde” (or “With a Father’s Heart”). In it, Pope Francis writes about Christian devotion to this great saint and mentions how the phrase “Go to Joseph” has an Old Testament origin. These are five of my personal reflections on St. Joseph.

Go to Joseph

In the Book of Genesis, during a time of famine across the known world, the Egyptians begged their pharaoh for bread. He in turn replied, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.” Pharaoh was referring to Joseph the son of Jacob who had risen from a very lowly state to become the viceroy of the kingdom. Enlighted by divinely-inspired dreams, this Joseph’s leadership went on to feed and save the whole world from death, including his own family. According to the genealogy at the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel, the New Testament’s Joseph also had a father named Jacob. Though poor and obscure, St. Joseph’s heaven-sent dreams enabled him to guide and protect his Holy Family, leading to the world’s salvation through the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ. Today, as a powerful intercessor in the Kingdom of God, we are wise to “go to Joseph” for needed help.

His One Word

Within the Gospels, St. Joseph has no recorded words. There is no indication the foster-father of Jesus and spouse of the Virgin Mary was physically unable to speak or ever took a vow of silence; he is simply never quoted. Yet the Gospels suggest he said at least one specific word.

Matthew’s Gospel records how an angel (probably the Archangel Gabriel though perhaps another) told Joseph in a dream: “‘[Mary, your wife,] will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus…’ When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.” Just as John’s Gospel tells us “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book,” so St. Joseph almost certainly said many unrecorded things. But the one word that Scripture most clearly suggests St. Joseph said is “Jesus.” The name of Jesus is the sum total proclamation of St. Joseph’s life. May it be so for us as well.

Image of the Father

The Letter to the Colossians says of Christ, “He is the image of the invisible God.” Something analogous was true of St. Joseph for Jesus in being the earthly image of his Father in Heaven. Joseph’s life has no recorded beginning or end in the Bible. We know that he was a carpenter craftsman – a creator of many things to be blessing for others. Perhaps he looked at everything he made and found it very good. Alongside Mary, Jesus was obedient to Joseph; he was Jesus’ boyhood teacher, deliverer, and role-model. Jesus lovingly called him, “Abba, father.” St. Joseph was a holy and loving image of God the Father for his Son. Though imperfect, may we likewise be images of God for each of our biological and spiritual children.

The Hour of his Death

When did St. Joseph die? Luke’s Gospel tells us that when 12-year-old Jesus was found at the Temple in Jerusalem he went down with his parents to Nazareth and was obedient to them. After that joyful reunion, St. Joseph makes no further personal appearances in the Gospels. Joseph had apparently passed away by the time of Christ’s Passion since Jesus on the Cross does not entrust his blessed mother’s care to her faithful husband but to a beloved disciple. Other episodes in the Gospels suggest that Joseph died before the start of Jesus’ public ministry.

How did St. Joseph die? If Joseph, the heir to the throne of David, had been murdered we would expect this prefigurement of Jesus’ own death to be described in the Gospels like the death of St. John the Baptist. Unless some sudden catastrophe befell him, an ailing Joseph would have reached his deathbed. And who would have been compassionately comforting him and powerfully praying for him at his bedside as he reached his hour of death? His having most likely died peacefully in the loving presence of Jesus and Mary makes St. Joseph the patron saint of a happy death. The Terror of Demons

St. Joseph is called “the Terror of Demons” and his spouse “the Queen of Angels.” Yet the Virgin Mary at the Annunciation was greatly troubled and afraid at the Archangel Gabriel’s greeting, and when resettling his Holy Family from Egypt Joseph feared mere flesh and blood – avoiding Judea because Herod’s son ruled there. How can this man and woman now be leaders of awesome angels or banes of dangerous demons?

One key trait Joseph and Mary shared is obedience. The Book of Exodus displays Moses’ obedience by recording God’s instructions to him and then repeatedly presenting Moses doing “just as the Lord had commanded.” Whenever St. Joseph receives instructions from God (to take Mary into his home, to escape to Egypt, or to return to Israel) the text that follows has Joseph doing exactly as God commanded. Mary was also radically open to God’s will, as when she famously said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” The demons, for their part, fell from Heaven’s glory because they refused to do God’s will.

Joseph and Mary were also among the first on earth to accept and love the (then still-unborn) baby Jesus. The demons, in contrast, were the first to reject the Son of God. We do not know the exact reasons for their primordial rebellion but some theorize the demons took offense at God’s plan that the Eternal Son would become an incarnate human being, crowning that creature with a greater glory than the angels. “By the envy of the devil, death entered the world,” says the Book of Wisdom.

Joseph and Mary’s obedience to God’s will and their love for Jesus on earth lead to them being gloriously empowered in Heaven. Jesus told his disciples, “you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel,” and St. Paul reminded the Corinthians “we will judge angels.” It seems that faithful human creatures who, by God’s grace, love and serve the Lord in the likeness of Christ himself are best suited to become powerful, humble, servant rulers in the Kingdom of Heaven.

St. Joseph, patron of the Universal Church, pray for us throughout this holy year!

TThhaannkk YYoouu aallll ……ffoorr yyoouurr ssuuppppoorrtt aanndd pprroommoottiioonn ooff CCaarrlloo VVooiiccee IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall CCaatthhoolliicc EE --MMaaggaazziinnee