Dear Parishioners of Mary Immaculate and Saint Rose,
Perhaps one of the most important, but relatively under-appreciated, figures in the Christmas story is Saint Joseph. He is the strong, quiet presence in the Gospel accounts of the birth of Jesus. In all the Scripture, there is not one recorded instance of a word spoken by Saint Joseph, but his affirmation of doing the will of God and accepting the role of serving as father for the Son of God rings loud and clear.
It is somewhat ironic that the Advent warning is, “Stay Awake,” as Joseph encounters God in his sleep.  Unlike Mary, who sees the Angel Gabriel face to face, Joseph hears the voice of the Angel in a dream.
When Joseph is confronted with the pregnancy of Mary, he knows that he is not the father of the unborn child. He comes to the only conclusion humanly possible, that Mary has been unfaithful to him. In what follows, we see the character of Joseph, who does not respond in anger or vengeance but with utmost compassion. Joseph decides on a quiet divorce.  At this point he has a dream.  In this dream, Gabriel reveals to Joseph that Mary is very faithful and the child she carries is the Son of God.  And God wants Saint Joseph to care for both the Virgin Mary and for the infant Christ.
Joseph has another dream when he is warned to flee with his family to escape the wrath of King Herod, who slaughtered all the infant boys in an effort to destroy the Christ Child.
His final dream message was when he was told it was safe to return to Israel.  So we almost know more about Saint Joseph asleep than awake!
What we do know is that Joseph was very much aware of the presence of God in his life. He was a man of deep faith;  he would not have been able to hear the voice of God, awake or asleep, if he were not. Joseph is the silent but powerful guardian of the Virgin Mary and the Son of God, Jesus.
We pray that through the intercession of Saint Joseph, we too may be people of faith.  May we be strong in our care for the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus.  May we be vigilant and “Awake” as we await the coming of the Lord!               Saint Joseph, pray for us!                    Msgr. Cox          

The Dream of St. Joseph by Domingo Martinez (1688‐1749)