May 1, St. Joseph the Worker: Who was the father of Jesus?

St. Joseph has several feast days on our calendar. In May, on the first day of the month, we celebrate St. Joseph the Worker, patron saint of workers. He was the one who supported and cared for Jesus and Mary with his carpentry skills. On his feast of March 19, Pope Leo XIV invited us to pay special attention to the figure of St. Joseph. To this end, he pointed out the two unique virtues that define the father of Jesus: «Joseph shows us that presence and guardianship are inseparable dimensions.» y «In it we recognize that to welcome, in addition to being present, is also to take care. To be a guardian means to be attentive to others, to respect their choices and to take care of them».

«Love St. Joseph very much, love him with all your soul, because he is the person who, with Jesus, has loved St. Mary the most and the one who has treated God the most: the one who has loved Him the most, after our Mother. He deserves your affection, and it is good for you to treat him, because he is a Master of interior life, and he can do much before the Lord and before the Mother of God», Forge, 554.

Biography of St. Joseph the Worker of Nazareth

Both St. Matthew and St. Luke speak of St. Joseph as a man descended from an illustrious lineage: that of David and Solomon, kings of Israel. The details of this ancestry are historically somewhat confusing: we do not know which of the two genealogies, which the evangelists bring, corresponds to Mary and which to St. Joseph, who was her father according to Jewish law. We do not know if his hometown was Bethlehem, where he went to register, or Nazareth, where he lived and worked.

We know, however, that he was not a rich person: he was a worker, like millions of other men throughout the world; he exercised the laborious and humble office that God had chosen for himself, by taking our flesh and wanting to live thirty years as one more among us.

Sacred Scripture says that Joseph was a craftsman. Several Fathers add that he was a carpenter. St. Justin, speaking of Jesus' life of work, affirms that he made plows and yokes. (St. Justin, Dialogus cum Tryphone, 88, 2, 8 (PG 6, 687).Perhaps, based on these words, St. Isidore of Seville concludes that Joseph was a blacksmith. In any case, a worker who worked in the service of his fellow citizens, who had a manual skill, the fruit of years of effort and sweat.

Joseph's great human personality is evident from the Gospel narratives: at no time does he appear to us as a man who is timid or afraid of life; on the contrary, knows how to deal with problems, to get ahead in difficult situations, to assume with responsibility and initiative the tasks entrusted to him/her.

Siete domingos de san José

Who was St. Joseph the Worker in the Catholic Church?

The whole Church recognizes in St. Joseph her protector and patron. Throughout the centuries he has been spoken of, highlighting various aspects of his life, continually faithful to the mission entrusted to him by God.

In the words of St. Josemaría, St. Joseph is really Father and Lord, who protects and accompanies on his earthly journey those who venerate him, as he protected and accompanied Jesus as he grew and became man. In dealing with him, we discover that the Holy Patriarch is also a Master of interior life: because teaches us to know Jesus, to live together with Himto know that we are part of the family of God. This Saint gives us these lessons being, as he was, an ordinary man, a father of a family, a worker who earned his living with the effort of his hands.

The virtues of Joseph of Nazareth

Who is St. Joseph the Worker? He was a craftsman from Galilee, a man like so many others. In his day he had only parenting and workevery day, always with the same effort. And, at the end of the day, a poor and small house, to regain strength and start again.

But Joseph's name means, in Hebrew, God will add. God adds, to the holy life of those who fulfill his will, unsuspected dimensions: what is important, what gives value to everything, the divine. God, to the humble and holy life of Joseph, added the life of the Virgin Mary and that of Jesus, our Lord.

To live by faith, these words were fully realized in St. Joseph. Its fulfillment of God's will is spontaneous and profound..

For the story of the Holy Patriarch was a simple life, but not an easy life. After anguishing moments, he knows that the Son of Mary has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And that Child, Son of God, descendant of David according to the flesh, is born in a cave. Angels celebrate his birth and personalities from distant lands come to adore him, but the King of Judea desires his death and it becomes necessary to flee. The son of God is, in appearance, a helpless child, who will live in Egypt.

In his Gospel, St. Matthew constantly emphasizes Joseph's faithfulness, who fulfills God's commands without hesitation, even though at times the meaning of these mandates might seem obscure or their connection to the rest of the divine plans might be hidden from him.

Faith and hope

On many occasions the Fathers of the Church emphasize the firmness of St. Joseph's faith. Joseph's faith does not waver, his obedience is always strict and prompt.

In order to better understand this lesson given to us here by the Holy Patriarch, it is good to consider that their faith is active. Because the Christian faith is the opposite of conformism, or lack of inner activity and energy.

In the various circumstances of his life, the Patriarch does not give up thinking, nor does he abandon his responsibility. On the contrary, it places all its human experience at the service of faith..

Faith, love, hope: these are the axes of the Saint's life and those of every Christian life.. Joseph of Nazareth's dedication appears woven from this interweaving of faithful love, loving faith and confident hope.

This is what St. Joseph's life teaches us: simple, normal and ordinary, made up of years of work, always the same, of humanly monotonous days that follow one after the other.

Siete domingos de san José

St. Joseph the father of Jesus

«Treat Joseph and you will find Jesus.», saint Josemaría Escriva de Balaguer.

 Through the angel, God himself confides to Joseph what his plans are and how he is counting on him to carry them out. Joseph is called to be the father of Jesus; that will be his vocation, his mission.

Joseph has been, in the human aspect, Jesus' teacher; he has treated Him daily, with delicate affection, and has cared for Him with joyful abnegation.

With St. Joseph, we learn what it is to belong to God and to be fully among men, sanctifying the world. Treat Joseph and you will find Jesus. Treat Joseph and you will find Mary, who always filled the kindly workshop of Nazareth with peace.

Joseph of Nazareth took care of the Son of God and, as a man, introduced him to the hope of the people of Israel. And that is what he does with us: with his powerful intercession he brings us to Jesus. St. Josemaría, whose devotion to St. Joseph grew throughout his life, said that he is truly Father and Lord, who protects and accompanies those who venerate him on their earthly journey, just as he protected and accompanied Jesus as he grew and became man.

God continually demands more, and His ways are not our human ways. St. Joseph, like no man before or after him, learned from Jesus to be attentive to recognize the wonders of God, to have an open heart and soul.

The Feast of St. Joseph

On March 19, the Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Patriarch, patron of the Church and of the Work, a date on which we in Opus Dei renew the commitment of love that unites us to our Lord. But throughout the world we also celebrate on May 1 the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, patron of all workers.

The feast of St. Joseph brings before our eyes the beauty of a faithful life. Joseph trusted God: that is why he was able to be his trusted man on earth to take care of Mary and Jesus, and from heaven he is a good father who takes care of Christian fidelity.

The seven Sundays of St. Joseph

They are a custom of the Church to prepare for the feast of March 19. Dedicating to the Holy Patriarch the seven Sundays prior to that feast in memory of the main joys and sorrows of his life.

The meditation of the Sorrows and joys of St. Joseph helps to get to know the holy Patriarch better and to remember that he too faced joys and difficulties.

It was Pope Gregory XVI who encouraged the devotion of the seven Sundays of St. Joseph, granting him many indulgences; but Pius IX gave them perennial topicality with his desire that the saint should be called upon to alleviate the then afflictive situation of the universal Church.

One day, someone asked St. Josemaría how to get closer to Jesus: "Think of that wonderful man, chosen by God to be his father on earth; think of his sorrows and his joys. Do you do the seven Sundays? If not, I advise you to do them.

How great is the silent and hidden figure of St. Joseph," said St. John XXIII, "because of the spirit with which he fulfilled the mission entrusted to him by God. For the true dignity of man is not measured by the tinsel of showy results, but by the interior dispositions of order and good will."

Curiosities of St. Joseph the Worker

Devotion of Pope Leo XIV

«Joseph leaves behind his human securities and abandons himself completely to God, sailing “out to sea” towards a future entrusted entirely to Providence. St. Augustine describes his consent thus: "«"To the piety and charity of Joseph a son was born of the Virgin Mary, the Son of God at the same time" (Sermon 51, 30)».

Devotion of Pope Francis

"I would also like to tell you something very personal. I love St. Joseph very much. Because he is a strong and silent man. And I have a picture of St. Joseph sleeping on my desk. And while he sleeps he takes care of the Church. Yes, he can do it. We can't. And when I have a problem, a difficulty. And when I have a problem, a difficulty, I write a little piece of paper and I put it under the figure of the Saint so that he will dream it. This means to pray for that problem".

Devotion of St. Josemaría

St. Joseph is the patron of this family that is the Work. In the early years, St. Josemaría had special recourse to him so that Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament could be present in the first center of Opus Dei. Through his intercession, in March 1935 it was possible to have our Lord reserved in the oratory of the DYA Academy-Residence on Ferraz Street in Madrid.

Since then, the founder of the Work wanted the key of the tabernacles of the centers of Opus Dei to have a small medal of St. Joseph with the inscription Ite ad IosephThe reason is to remember that, in a similar way as the Joseph of the Old Testament does with his people, the holy patriarch had provided us with the most precious food: the Eucharist.

St. Joseph the Worker, the saint of silence, the protector

We do not know words expressed by him, we only know his works, his acts of faith, love and protection. He protected the Immaculate Mother of God and was the father of Jesus on earth. However, there is no mention of him in the Gospels. Rather, he was a quiet and humble servant of God who played his role to the full. Working hard to support the Holy Family.

One of the first titles they used to honor him was Nutritor DominiThe "Lord's feeder" dates back to at least the ninth century.

Celebrations in his honor

The Solemnity of St. Joseph is on March 19 and the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker (International Labor Day) is on May 1. It is also included in the Feast of the Holy Family (December 30) and is certainly part of the Christmas story.

St. Joseph has multiple patronages

He is the patron of the Universal Church, the good death, families, parents, pregnant women, travelers, immigrants, artisans, engineers and workers. He is also the patron of the Americas, Canada, China, Croatia, Mexico, Korea, Austria, Belgium, Peru, Philippines and Vietnam.

Let us ask St. Joseph the Worker to continue helping us to draw closer to Jesus in the Sacrament, who is the nourishment that nourishes the Church. This is what he did with Mary in Nazareth, and this is what he will do with her in our homes.

Why 31 days of May for the Virgin Mary?

The Church grants this month to Mary to know and love her more. In Europe, May is the month of flowers, of spring. This is an ideal month to be outdoors, surrounded by the beauty of nature. Precisely because of this, everything around us should remind us of our Creator, we dedicate this month to the Blessed Virgin Mary, a delicate soul who offered her life to the care and service of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

«In a spontaneous, natural way, there arises in us the desire to treat the Mother of God, who is also our Mother. To treat her as one treats a living person: because death has not triumphed over her, but she is body and soul with God the Father, with her Son, with the Holy Spirit. To understand the role that Mary plays in the Christian life, to feel attracted to her, to seek her kindly company with filial affection, no great disquisitions are necessary, even though the mystery of the divine Maternity has a richness of content on which we can never reflect enough.» (St. Josemaría, Christ Is Passing By, 142).

May, month of the Virgin Mary. The Founder of Opus Dei explains how our love for Our Lady can be.

Why is May the month of the Virgin Mary?

This Christian custom has been in force for two centuries and coincides with the beginning of spring and the end of winter. The "triumph of life" symbolized by spring is one of the reasons why May is the month of the Virgin, Mother of Life, of Jesus. This beauty of nature also speaks to us of Mary, of her inner beauty and virtue.

In ancient Greece, the month of May was dedicated to Artemis, the goddess of fertility. Something similar happened in ancient Rome, as May was dedicated to Flora, the goddess of vegetation. At that time they celebrated the ludi florals or the floral games at the end of April and asked for her intercession.

Later, in medieval times, similar customs abounded, all centered on the arrival of good weather and the departure of winter. May 1st was considered the peak of spring.

Before the 12th century, the feast of the "Thirty Days" Devotion to Mary" was celebrated. Tricesimum, which took place between the second half of August and the first 14 days of September.

The idea of the month of May, month of Mary dates back to the baroque time or XVII century. It included thirty daily spiritual exercises in honor of the Mother of God. This custom spread especially during the 19th century and is practiced until today, making this celebration count with special devotions organized every day during the whole month.

Celebrate this month of May is more than a Christian tradition, it is a tribute and a thanksgiving to the one who is our Mother.. Many and varied details can be offered. Among the most common are the family prayerThe prayer of the Rosary, the floral offerings and the meditation of its dogmas.

Devotion to the Virgin Mary in May

The ways in which Mary is honored in May are as varied as the people and customs of those who honor her. It is common for parishes to have a daily recitation of the Holy Rosary in May and many erect a special altar with a statue or image of Mary.

In addition, it is a long-standing tradition to crown her statue, a custom known as the May Crowning. Often the crown is made of beautiful flowers that represent Mary's beauty and virtue and is also a reminder to the faithful to strive to imitate her virtues. This coronation is in some areas a great celebration and usually takes place outside of Mass.

The altars and coronations during this month are not only privileges of the parish. At home, one can also participate fully in the life of the Church. We should give a special place to Mary not because it is a tradition or because of the special graces that can be obtained, but because Mary is our Mother, the mother of the whole world and because she cares for all of us, interceding even in the smallest matters.

How does a son behave towards his mother?

"How does a normal son or daughter behave with his or her mother? In a thousand ways, but always with affection and trust. With an affection that will run in each case through determined channels, born of life itself, which are never something cold, but endearing customs of home, small daily details, that the son needs to have with his mother and that the mother misses if the son ever forgets them: a kiss or a caress when leaving or returning home, a small gift, a few expressive words."

"In our relations with Our Heavenly Mother there are also those norms of filial piety, which are the channel of our habitual behavior with her. Many Christians make their own the ancient custom of scapularor have acquired the habit of greeting - words are not necessary, the thought is enough. the images of Mary that are in every Christian home or that adorn the streets of so many cities.

Or they live that marvelous prayer which is the holy rosary, in which the soul never tires of saying the same things, as lovers never tire of saying the same things when they love each other, and in which they learn to relive the central moments of the Lord's life; or they are accustomed to dedicate one day of the week to Our Lady - precisely this very day on which we are now gathered: Saturday - offering her some small delicacy and meditating more especially on her maternity». (St. Josemaría, Christ Is Passing By, 142).

Manifesting love for Mary

«There are many other Marian devotions that need not be recalled here now. They need not all be incorporated into the life of every Christian - to grow in supernatural life is something very different from merely piling up devotions - but I must affirm at the same time that he who does not live some of them, who does not manifest in some way his love for Mary, does not possess the fullness of faith».

"Those who consider devotions to the Blessed Virgin to be outdated, give signs that they have lost the deep Christian meaning they contain, that they have forgotten the source from which they are born: faith in the saving will of God the Father, love for God the Son who really became man and was born of a woman, trust in God the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us with his grace. It is God who has given us Mary, and we have no right to reject her, but we must go to her with the love and joy of children».»,St. Josemaría. It is Christ who passes, 142.

-Do you want to love Our Lady? -Well, treat her! How? - By praying Our Lady's Rosary well. (St. Josemaría, Holy Rosary).

To take advantage of the month of May

The Blessed Virgin Mary always takes care of us and helps us in everything we need. She helps us to overcome temptation and to preserve the state of grace and friendship with God in order to reach Heaven. Mary is the Mother of the Church.

Mary was a woman of deep prayer life, she always lived close to God. She was a simple woman; generous, she forgot herself to give herself to others; she had great charity, she loved and helped everyone equally; she was helpful, she attended to Joseph and Jesus with love; she lived with joy; she was patient with her family; she knew how to accept God's will in her life. All these virtues are an example of life for us Christians, we want to live as his worthy children, that is why we follow his example.

What is the custom this month?

To remember Our Lady's apparitions. There are many and they are all very special. The Virgin Mary delivers her message directly, all of them are related to the love she has for all of us, her children.

Reflect on the main virtues of the Virgin Mary.

To live a real and true devotion to Mary. To look at Mary as a mother. Talk to her about everything that happens to us: the good and the bad. To know how to turn to her at all times. Meditate on the 7 sorrows of the Virgin Mary, those moments in the life of the Virgin Mary where she was united to Jesus in a particular way and which allowed her to share the depth of her Son's sorrow and the love of his sacrifice.

Imitate their virtues: This is the best way to show her our love. Show her our affection: Do what she expects from us and remember her throughout the day.

To have full confidence in it: because it is the Virgin Mary who intercedes before Jesus for our difficulties. All the graces that Jesus gives us pass through Mary's hands.

Various Marian prayers

Treating Mary is a good way to get closer to her Son. To pray as a family, especially prayers dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Christians have beautiful prayers dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and there are also many songs to honor her, which help us to remember the immense love of our mother for us, her children.

Praying the Angelus (which is customary to pray at noon), the Regina Coeli or the Consecration to Mary. Among other prayers. You can also dedicate a Novena to Our Lady to ask her for a special favor or to thank her.

mayo mes de maría ángelus

The Anglican Ordinariates of the Catholic Church and their contribution to education in the faith

In the founding document of the Anglican Ordinariates, created for those who desire full communion with the Catholic Church (cf. Benedict XVI, Const. Ap. Anglicanorum coetibus, 2009), it establishes its power to «to keep alive within the Catholic Church the spiritual, liturgical and pastoral traditions of the Anglican Communion.». This identity is recognized as a «precious gift» destined to nourish the faith of its members and as a spiritual richness to be shared with the entire ecclesial community (cf. section III).

A little more than a month ago, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith invited the bishops responsible for these Ordinariates to write down their experience of how they have received and integrated these elements, both cultural and religious, coming from the Anglican tradition. Their response has now been published (cf. Characteristics of the Anglican Heritage as Lived in the Ordinariates Established Under the Apostolic Constitution “Anglicanorum Coetibus”.”, 24-III-2016).

The bishops have affirmed that, despite the distances and the different places where they are settled (such as England and Scotland, Orlando, Australia and Micronesia), they are conscious of sharing an essential identity (a core share identity). «This shared identity has its origin in a common journey of following Christ that has brought them into full communion with the Catholic Church".

Therefore, they understand that, by entering the Catholic Church, they have brought with them that which already in 1970 St. Paul VI called a «precious patrimony of piety and customs» a "precious patrimony of piety and customs".» which the Church recognizes, as we have seen, as a precious gift not only for them but also to share with other Catholics.

Inculturation of the Gospel goes through England

Already in June 2024, Cardinal Victor Fernandez, from Westminster Cathedral (the main Catholic temple of England and Wales), called attention to the value of these Ordinariates in the perspective of inculturation:

«The existence of the Ordinariate [...] reflects a profound and beautiful reality about the nature of the Church and inculturation of the Gospel, as a rich English heritage. For the Church is one, and the Gospel is one, but in the process of inculturation, the Gospel is expressed in a variety of cultures. In this way, the Church takes on a new face [...] In this process, the Church not only gives, but is also enriched. For, as he taught St. John Paul II, Every culture offers positive values and forms that can enrich the way in which the Gospel is preached, understood and lived" (Apostolic Exhortation, "The Gospel is not only preached, but also understood and lived"). Ecclesia in Oceania, 2001, 16)».

The Ordinariate, said the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, represents a concrete expression of this reality: «In the case of the Ordinariate, the Catholic faith is inculturated among people who have lived the Gospel in the context of the Anglican Communion. By entering into full communion with the Catholic Church, the Catholic Church has been enriched. We can say, therefore, that each Ordinariate represents one of the faces of the Church, which, in this case, embraces certain elements of the rich history of the Anglican tradition: elements that are now lived out in the fullness of Catholic communion.».

As we were saying, the most recent chapter of this history is the list that the bishops of the Anglican Ordinariates have drawn up, enumerating the traits that they consider characteristic of their spiritual and pastoral heritage. They identify in seven paragraphs those traits which, as we can see, constitute interesting suggestions for the education of the faith in the Catholic Church as a whole (cf. Characteristics, document cited). These characteristics, as we shall see, have much to do with St. John Henry Newman. With his figure and with his path towards the Catholic Church.

Tradition, liturgical beauty and social dimension

Participation, tradition, beauty

1. A distinctive “ecclesial ethos”. It is an ecclesial praxis characterized «by the broad participation of both clergy and laity in the life and governance of the Church.» This culture, they explain, «is intrinsically consultative and collaborative.» It is also characterized by the ability to welcome those who wish to enter into Catholic communion «while preserving the uniqueness of their spiritual history.».

Moreover, «it is centered on a living sense of tradition that seeks to remain faithful to what has been received, while recognizing the place of organic development». As can be seen, these are principles and criteria that are also valid for faith education, insofar as they mark a style of active participation in the life and mission of the Church.

2. Evangelization through beauty. Secondly, they emphasize «the importance of beauty, not as an end in itself, but insofar as it has the power to lead us to God; therefore, it possesses an inherent evangelizing power». For this reason, «divine worship, sacred music and sacred art» are understood both as means to lead us to communion with God and as instruments of mission.

Ordinariatos anglicanos en la iglesia católica

«The beauty they convey is intended to draw individuals and communities to a full participation, body and soul, in the work of the Savior, who is the ‘image of the invisible God’ (Col 1:15) and the ‘radiance of [the Father's] glory’ (Heb 1:3).» In fact, liturgy and art are expressions of the “way of beauty” that today we consider essential in the education of the faith. This education includes, in addition to the intellectual aspect, the aesthetic and spiritual experience that facilitates the encounter with the Truth and Love of God.

Liturgy and life and social dimension

3. Direct approach to the poor: «In the Ordinariates,» your bishops point out, «the beauty of worship and holiness of life are embodied in the concrete realities of the neighborhood. This is understood as a reflection of a profoundly incarnated theology, which invites us to go out of divine worship to seek Jesus among the poor and the needy (cf. Mt 25:40). As a practical example, they evoke the fact that "the crowds that gathered in the streets of Birmingham for the funeral of Saint John Henry Newman were there not only because of his scholarship, but also because he was the priest who attended to their needs».

This is so, because the Incarnation leads to promote the dignity of each person and to engage in the social dimension of evangelization. And this must be promoted in education, in all places and in all ages of people.

4. Pastoral culture. Under this heading, they understand «a pastoral culture in which divine worship and daily life are deeply interconnected». In other words, the connection between liturgy and life is promoted. In this case it is specifically «a liturgical, almost monastic rhythm, inspired by the English spiritual tradition». They consider essential to this the communal recitation of the Divine Office, understood as the prayer of the whole People of God (cf. Ps 119:164; Eph 5:19). [cf. Sacrosanctum concilium, 100).

And they affirm that this characterizes how to «form and sustain parish communities». Indeed, and this enriches faith education which is education for faith professed and celebrated, lived and translated into prayer and praise of God, along with service to all.

The domestic church and the personal care of souls

Family and education

5. The family and the domestic church. Another aspect on which the bishops placed special emphasis is the importance of the family and its role as the «domestic church» (cf. Lumen gentium, 11) In fact, they pointed out that the shrine of Walsingham (dedicated to Our Lady as patroness of England) is called “the British Nazareth”. Just as Nazareth, according to St. Paul VI, is ‘the school of the Gospel’ (cf. Allocution, 5-I-1964) where we learn to observe, listen, meditate and understand the mystery of the Son of God in the bosom of the Holy Family, the Christian home is also the first place where faith is learned and lived.

At the heart of all this is «the appreciation of the sacrament of marriage and the role of parents as the primary educators of their children in the faith» (cf. Decl. Gravissimum educationis, 3). Hence, in the Ordinariates, parents are supported in this sacred responsibility of transmitting the faith to their children (cf. Dt 6:6-7; Joel 1:3) and families are accompanied in their joint growth in Christ.

In addition, «this vision leads to an organic approach to the training which focuses on the parish and the family, and which gives priority to the ongoing intellectual formation of all the members of the Body of Christ». All of this has a direct bearing on education in the faith.

Writing, preaching and personal care

6. Scripture and preaching: these bishops also pointed out that their patrimony includes «a solid tradition of preaching based on Scripture, recognizing that feeding people intellectually is an integral part of feeding their souls (cf. Mt 4:4)». Here the theme of beauty reappears: «The encounter with Christ in the splendor of the liturgy and in the proclamation of the Word are not to be understood as separate realities, but as two dimensions of the same encounter» (Sacrosanctum Concilium 7, 48-51 y Catechism of the Catholic Church 1088 y 1346).

They add that in the communities of the Ordinariate, this is lived «with a solid foundation in Tradition (especially in the Fathers of the Church) and with an appreciation of the role of reason in harmony with and at the service of faith». This relationship between Sacred Scripture and preaching in liturgical context connects with the traditional theme of the “two tables”: the Word (the Bible, The Eucharist (especially the Gospels and prayer) and the Eucharist.

7. Spiritual direction and the sacrament of Penance. Finally, they explained that they have inherited an appreciation of the importance of spiritual direction and the sacrament of Penance as elements of «the care of souls that gives priority to dedicating time to each person and accompanying them in their encounter with Christ, the Good Shepherd (cf. Jn 10:11-16; Lk 15:4-7)».

Incarnation, education and mission

In the concluding paragraphs of this document, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith notes that «if all these characteristics are considered together, one appreciates how fundamental the mystery of the Incarnation is to the patrimony preserved in the Ordinariates. The dignity of each person, the role of beauty, the richness of liturgical expression, concern for the poor and reverence for the domestic church all flow from this same source.».

This source is «ehe Son of God, Our only Savior (cf. Acts 4:12) and Mediator before the Father (cf. 1 Tim. 2:5), who, having become incarnate among us (cf. Jn. 1:14), having suffered for us (cf. 1 Pet. 2:21) and having risen from the dead, opened the way ‘so that we too might walk in newness of life’ (Rom. 6:4)».

Finally, as one could sense from reading the above, to the extent that this patrimony constitutes a way of welcoming and living the faith, «the clergy and faithful of the Ordinariates recognize that it is a living reality that looks to the future in the transmission of the faith to future generations (cf. Ps 22:30-31; 78:4-7; 102:18)». This is so, and a central aspect of this transmission of the faith is education, whether in the family, in the school (school teaching of religion) or catechesis and Christian formation in the parishes and ecclesial movements, etc.

The bishops of these Ordinariates conclude that this patrimony not only equips them with the means to welcome communities and individuals in full communion, but also «continues to shape their distinctive participation in the mission of the Church for the future,» growing organically and offering «a unique reflection of the face of the Church". Church and a distinctive contribution to the living richness of its identity as ‘one, holy, catholic and apostolic’».

Mr. Ramiro Pellitero IglesiasProfessor of Pastoral Theology at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarra.

Published in Church and new evangelization.

Images elaborated with AI.

April 25, St. Mark the Evangelist: life and gospel

Each April 25, the Catholic Church dresses up to celebrate the feast day of St. Mark's, one of the four evangelists who, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote down the life, Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The figure of St. Mark is central to understanding the essence of our faith. His Gospel, considered by scholars to be the oldest of the four, is a vibrant, direct and action-packed account that invites us to discover the identity of Jesus as the Son of God.

In this article we want to approach the life of this early saint; to explore the characteristics of his sacred text in the light of the Magisterium of the Church and the teachings of St. Josemaría. We will reflect on how his figure today is driving the formation of priests worldwide.

Who was St. Mark?

To meet St. Mark's, we must immerse ourselves in the early stages of the Church history, as the Acts of the Apostles and some letters of the New Testament tell us. Also known as John Mark, he was not part of the group of the twelve Apostles, but his life was linked to the two pillars of the Church: St. Peter and St. Paul.

The ecclesial tradition places us in Jerusalem. Mark's mother, Mary, was a well-to-do woman of the first Christian community, and her house served as a meeting place for the first faithful. It is very likely that in that same house the Last Supper was celebrated and that it was the place where the disciples took refuge in fear after the crucifixion. And then they would gather there united in waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit in Pentecost.

Paul and Barnabas's traveling companion

At the beginning of the expansion of Christianity, St. Mark's accompanied his cousin, St. Barnabas, and St. Paul on the first missionary journey to Cyprus. Although Mark decided to return to Jerusalem-an episode that caused some friction and anger on the part of St. Paul-the grace of God brought about reconciliation. And years later, we see a mature Mark again accompanying Paul during his captivity in Rome.

The "interpreter" of St. Peter

But the deepest link between St. Mark's was with the Apostle Peter. The first Pope affectionately calls him "my son Mark" in his first letter (1 Peter 5:13). The unanimous tradition of the Church, gathered together in the documents of the Holy See and in the writings of the Fathers of the Church such as Papias of Hierapolis and St. Irenaeus, confirms that Mark was Peter's interpreter. His Gospel is nothing more than the written account of the oral catechesis and the preaching of St. Peter's to the Christians of Rome.

This closeness to the original and primary source means that reading St. Mark is, in essence, listening to the living voice of St. Peter recalling the gestures, the looks and the miracles of St. Peter. Jesus of Nazareth.

What are the characteristics of the Gospel according to Mark?

The story that gives us St. Mark's is the shortest of the four Gospels (it consists of 16 chapters), but what it lacks in length, it makes up for in intensity. It is a Gospel written primarily for Christians coming from paganism, specifically from Rome. Therefore, it omits long genealogies or exhaustive explanations of Jewish laws, focusing more on action.

A vivid, direct and urgent account

One of the most frequently repeated words in the original Greek text is euthys, which means "immediately" or "at once". The Gospel moves at a rapid pace. Jesus Christ He heals, preaches, casts out demons, walks on water, and heads resolutely towards Jerusalem to consummate his sacrifice at the end of his life. the Cross.

San Marcos wants the reader to ask a fundamental question from the very first verse: "who is this man?". Through what theologians have called the messianic secret, Jesus often asks those he heals or the demons themselves not to reveal his identity. Why? Because Jesus does not want to be mistaken for a political leader or an earthly messiah. His true identity as the Son of God is only fully understood at the foot of the Cross. In fact, it is a Roman centurion (a pagan) who is the first to confess it after his death: "truly this man was the Son of God"." (Mk 15:39).

san marcos evangelista evangelio

The humanity of Christ

Another poignant aspect of the work of St. Mark's is how he details the humanity of Jesus. He describes a Christ who has compassion on the multitude (Mk 6:34), who is indignant at the hardness of heart (Mk 3:5), who embraces and blesses the children (Mk 10:16), and who feels awe and anguish in the garden of Gethsemane (Mk 14:33). This approach, so human and so divine, is an inexhaustible source for the prayer personal.

St. Josemaría's teaching: living the Gospel

The sensitivity proposed by the CARF Foundation, inspired by the priestly formation and the teachings of St. Josemaría Escrivá (founder of Opus Dei), knowing and living the Word of God is vital.

St. Josemaría insistently recommended the reading and meditation of the Holy Gospel. In his work, we are invited not only to read the sacred pages as if we were reading an ancient history book, but to live them. As he often taught: «I advise you, in your prayer, to intervene in the passages of the Gospel, as one of the characters (Friends of God, point 253)».

Read the Gospel of St. Mark's In this light, our perspective changes completely. We become one of the crowd pressing against Jesus by the Lake of Gennesaret; we are the blind Bartimaeus crying out from the roadside for mercy; or those apostles who, in the midst of the storm at sea, awaken the Master with great fear and wavering faith. Through the writings of St. Josemaría we see how this familiarity with Christ's life is a support for understanding and living the holiness in the midst of the world.

St. Mark, in taking up Peter's catechesis, gave us a practical manual for meeting Jesus Christ in our daily lives, in our daily occupations, inviting us to be bearers of his message in our own families and workplaces.

April 25 celebration and tradition

The April 25, the liturgy of the Universal Church summons us to celebrate the feast of St. Mark's. It is a day of joy that, in addition to paying homage to the evangelist, The liturgical texts approved by the Holy See and promoted by the Spanish Episcopal Conference for this day emphasize the importance of the transmission of the faith. The liturgical texts approved by the Holy See and promoted by the Spanish Episcopal Conference for this day emphasize the apostolic responsibility that all the baptized share.

In the Liturgy of the Hours, the Church prays asking God that, just as he gave St. Mark the grace to preach the Gospel, we too may profit from his teachings to follow faithfully in the footsteps of Christ. It is a propitious day for renew our love by the Sacred Scriptures. As Pope Francis reminded us, carrying a small Gospel in our pocket and reading a fragment of it every day is a highly recommended spiritual practice to allow ourselves to be transformed by the gaze of Christ.

The winged lion: symbol of St. Mark

When speaking of this saint, we must mention his iconographic representation: the winged lion. This image, deeply rooted in the history of Christian art and inspired by the visions of the prophet Ezekiel and the book of Revelation, has a precious theological significance.

Christian tradition, especially since St. Jerome (4th century), assigned the lion to St. Mark, because his Gospel begins with the figure of St. John the Baptist crying out in the desert. «The voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight» (Mk 1:3). The ancient exegetes associated that powerful and solitary voice in the steppe with the roar of the lion, the king of the jungle and the desert.

In medieval bestiary and patristic exegesis, it was believed that lion cubs were born dead and their father awakened them to life on the third day with his roar. This became a perfect symbol for the Gospel of Mark, which strongly underlines the majesty and victory of Christ (the Lion of Judah) over death with his glorious Resurrection.

The wings that accompany the lion represent the divine nature and heavenly inspiration of the sacred writings. They indicate that the evangelist's message is not purely human, but flies from above, connecting the earth with divinity.

This iconography adorns thousands of churches around the world, the most famous being St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, the city of which he is the undisputed patron saint and where his relics rest.

Objective of the CARF Foundation: to bring the Gospel to the whole world

The work written by St. Mark's concludes with the great missionary mandate of Jesus: «Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to all creation» (Mk 16:15). This verse is not just a brilliant closing to his book; it is the continuous heartbeat of the Church and is, in a very direct way, one of the raisons d'être of the CARF Foundation (Roman Academic Center Foundation).

So that the Gospel written by St. Mark may continue to resonate strongly today, so that it may continue to touch hearts in the great de-Christianized cities and in the most remote missions and the most abandoned and poorest countries, the Church needs to holy priests, It needs well-trained, wise shepherds with the "smell of sheep". It needs men who, as Mark himself did with St. Peter, sit at the feet of the wisdom of the Church and then carry that truth in an accessible and passionate way to all corners of the planet.

At the CARF Foundation we work tirelessly to support the solid and integral formation of seminarians, diocesan priests, We are also helping religious men and women from all over the world, especially from those places where the Church suffers persecution or lacks resources. By facilitating their studies at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome or at the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarra in Pamplona, we are investing directly in the expansion of the Word of God.

A priest well trained in biblical theology, who understands the literary, historical and spiritual depths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. St. Mark's, He is a priest capable of sustaining the faith of thousands of souls. Like Mark's mother, he placed his house at the disposal of the Apostles, the benefactors of the CARF Foundation contribute their resources available to the future pastors of the diocesan Church.

The validity of an eternal message

As we celebrate April 25, we not only remember a saint of the past. We celebrate that his work, inspired by the Holy Spirit, lives on. The lion of St. Mark continues to roar. He continues to awaken consciences, he continues to comfort the sick, he continues to offer hope to the hopeless.

The challenge that the feast of this evangelist leaves us is twofold. On the one hand, on a personal level, we are called to rediscover his Gospel. We invite you today to pick up your Bible and read, at least, the first chapter of San Marcos. Make a resolution to accompany Jesus, to let yourself be challenged by his authority and compassionate love.

On the other hand, at the community and ecclesial level, we are called to support the task of evangelization. No one evangelizes alone. Just as Mark needed Barnabas, Paul and Peter, so we are called upon to support them. today's priests they need you.

Your support is the engine of the Gospel today

The best tribute we can pay to St. Mark's on his feast day is to make sure that the story of Jesus that he wrote so faithfully never ceases to be told. How can you make this possible? Supporting the training of those who devote their lives to preaching this Word.

From the CARF Foundation, We encourage you to join our large family of partners, benefactors and friends. Each donation, The money, no matter how small, is transformed into hours of study, books and food for a seminarian or priest who will celebrate the Eucharist and read the Gospel in his parish tomorrow. Browse our website and discover how your generosity can have an eternal impact on the formation of tomorrow's pastors. And follow our social networks at @fundacioncarf to meet the faces of those you are helping to prepare to «go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel.».

May St. Mark intercede for the Church, for the Pope, for all priests and religious, and for all of us who are part of the charism promoted by the CARF Foundation, so that the roar of faith may never be extinguished in our hearts.

The royals‘ headdress charity market that promotes the formation of priests

The recent charity market of the CARF Foundation It demonstrated that elegance and social commitment are a winning combination. The event, held March 4–6 and March 11–13, in the afternoons from 5:00 to 8:30, was not only a hit with the Foundation’s benefactors, friends, and members. The market is always organized by the Social Action Board and became a showcase of sophistication thanks to the designer’s exclusive headpieces and wide-brimmed hats. Maria Nieto -famous for dressing the Queen Letizia,as reported by the Servimedia agency, whose creations were the main attraction of the event.

Numerous benefactors and friends of the Foundation gathered to purchase everything from haute couture accessories to treasures vintage, turning every purchase into a gesture of hope.

Nieves Herrero at the charity flea market

The event had an exceptional sponsor: the journalist Nieves Herrero. During his visit, Herrero highlighted the relevance of the foundation's work with a phrase that sums up the spirit of the event:

«Training priests is a good for everyone.».

One of the most touching moments was when he discovered the backpack of sacred vessels. This kit, with a cost of 700 euros, is the most valuable graduation gift for seminarians returning to their dioceses of origin, always in countries with scarce economic resources.

The backpack is designed to enable them to celebrate Holy Mass and administer the sacraments with complete dignity, even in the most remote and under-resourced regions of the planet.

The backpack, a much appreciated gift

This gift, valued at 700 euros, is considered one of the most appreciated by newly ordained priests. It contains everything necessary to be able to celebrate Holy Mass and administer the sacraments with dignity, even in places where material means are scarce.

Detailed contents of the CARF Foundation's backpack of sippy cups:

Elite training for global impact

This mission is carried out through prestigious academic centers where those who, in the future, will take their pastoral work to the most needy corners of the world are trained.

Beyond fashion, the objective of this flea market is to raise funds for the comprehensive training (human, intellectual and spiritual) of priests and religious. The beneficiaries study in centers such as:

A day in which fashion became a vehicle for hope, and where every purchase was also a gesture of support for a cause that transcends borders.

Thanks to the generosity of the attendees, these future pastors will be able to take their work to the most needy corners of the world, with first class academic and spiritual preparation.

Liturgical objects in the backpack of sacred vessels

José Luis Solís, a priest of the Mexican diocese of Celaya, recalls when «some parish priests asked me to help them celebrate the Eucharist in remote places in their parishes. »To get close to those places, whose landscape was beautiful and where there was a great silence, it was sometimes necessary to mount on horseback or donkey or keep walking to get to the site and celebrate mass,» he continues. Once there, the priest opened his backpack, unfolded its contents and began the Eucharist, which was attended by faithful from all the surrounding villages. «I thank the foundation and pray to God for the fruits of this work,» he concludes.

Ceremonial clothing and accessories

In addition, the market offered formal and casual clothing, as well as accessories, in an atmosphere marked by generosity and warmth. The funds raised will go toward the work of the CARF Foundation for the comprehensive formation—intellectual, human, and spiritual—of diocesan priests, seminarians, and men and women religious from around the world.

Marta Santínjournalist specializing in religion.

A legacy of solidarity that will give the Church a future

Thinking about the future of the Church means asking the simple question: who will support all this when we are gone? To think of the Church in this way is an act of love. that you can shore up with your will or with a joint and several bequest.

During our life we received much more than we usually remember. We received a faith passed on in the family, priests who accompanied us at important moments, parishes that were open when we needed them. None of this came out of the blue. Behind it were people who cared for the future of our children. the Church, so that it would remain alive, well-structured and present in every generation.

Ana and Álvaro's generosity

In the documentary Witnesses, Álvaro and Ana tell how they learned about the CARF Foundation. through a relative who decided to include it in his will. That decision surprised them at first, but it led them to learn more about it and understand what was behind it.

They found that the CARF Foundation helps finance the integral formation of seminarians and diocesan priests from all over the world in academic institutions in Rome and Pamplona (the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross and the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarra).

The aim is to support young people who, in many cases, come from dioceses with very few financial resources and who need solid support in order to be well trained before returning to serve their communities.

Both Ana and Álvaro understood that including the CARF Foundation in a will or legacy of solidarity was not a symbolic gesture, but a real way to ensure that this work would continue to be perpetuated over time.

Turning one life's effort into a future for others

As Alvaro says in the documentary: «It is a brilliant opportunity to prepare a home for yourself in heaven; to think that, with your patrimony and the effort of a lifetime, you can help to train so many priests».

Beyond the spiritual expression, the idea is very practical. After years of work, savings and effort, part of this heritage can continue to make an impact after we are gone. It can become integral formation for priests who will attend parishes, accompany families and be present at key moments in the lives of many people.

A decision compatible with love for the family

Include the CARF Foundation in the will. does not mean neglecting and disregarding the loved ones. In the case of Spanish law, it is allowed to allocate a part of the inheritance (that of free disposal) to a solidary cause, always respecting the legitimate part of the heirs.

It is a decision that can be taken with advice and serenity. It does not require large assets or unassuming commitments. For many benefactors it is simply the natural continuation of a life in which they have already collaborated with the Church in various ways.

Many people who have collaborated during their lifetime with donations or occasional support see in the a natural continuation of this vital commitment.

iglesia futuro legados testamentos solidarios
Seminarians attend a theology class at the University of Navarra's Ecclesiastical Faculties.

Your legacy of solidarity looks beyond today

Each generation has the opportunity to renew the generosity of the last. Through the CARF Foundation, your legacy becomes a direct support to seminarians and diocesan priests around the world: young people who wish to give themselves to God and serve the universal Church, but who need concrete help in order to be formed.

Just as in the past there were people who ensured the continuity of the Church's mission, patrons and major donors, today you can do the same. Convert a portion of the your life's effort to consolidate the integral formation of seminarians and diocesan priests in order to bring the Gospel to every corner of the world.

A Christian (and a non-believer, too) takes nothing to heaven, but can leave much good on earth. Your legacy can become formation, service and continuity. It can be the most valuable inheritance: the one that sustains the Church and the Church itself. allows many people to continue to encounter God through well-formed priests who strive to be saints and to help others.

Your life sustains and edifies the Church

iglesia futuro legados testamentos solidarios