The Enduring Strength of Joseph’s Silent Fidelity
The silent Advent hero, St. Joseph, teaches us restraint, discernment, and moral clarity.
Dear friends —
This Advent, all paid subscribers are receiving the Letters from Leo Advent Reflection Series: a daily companion to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas — and to reckon with what his arrival demands of us, personally and publicly, in a moment of deep moral and political crisis.
It’s not too late to join us. Today’s reflection is below.
To give you a sense of what you’ll encounter, I’ve unlocked two pieces for all readers.
The first is our opening Sunday reflection, which sets the tone for the season. The second is a reflection from last week, where I wrote candidly about the isolating pain me and so many others experience during the holidays — and how Advent meets us there, not to deny the loneliness, but to reveal God’s quiet presence within it.
These reflections will continue each day through Christmas.
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“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid.” (Matthew 1:20)
Today’s Gospel recalls how St. Joseph faced a bewildering situation. Discovering Mary was pregnant before they lived together, he resolved to divorce her quietly to spare her shame.
Yet Joseph was interiorly free enough to let God change his plan. In a dream an angel told him the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and he obeyed.
He trusted this sign from God and took Mary into his home. With his quiet “yes,” Joseph became the protector of Mary and the unborn Christ, thus fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy: Emmanuel, “God is with us.”
The late Pope Francis had a deep devotion to St. Joseph. In fact, his first liturgical act as pope was to add Joseph’s name to all Eucharistic Prayers.
Francis called Joseph “a strong man of silence” who carried out his mission with humble, unfailing presence even when he found it hard to understand.
By protecting Jesus, Joseph also protected Mary, the Church, and creation itself.
St. Joseph’s life offers a blueprint to us engaging in today’s chaotic, morally rudderless world.
