During this Year of St. Joseph, parents, teachers, and catechists have a new tool to guide them in the rich Catholic teaching about this important saint. The Center for Catholic Education at Aquinas College released a resource for teaching and cultivating devotion to St. Joseph.
“This Year of Saint Joseph, given us by the Church, should be a channel of hope for us helping us to trust deeply in the Lord who loves us,” said Sister Elizabeth Anne Allen, O.P., director of the Center for Catholic Education. “St. Joseph, through his example and his intercession, helps us to live justly, relying firmly on the goodness of God.”
Many of the popes through the ages have offered prayers to St. Joseph, as well as teachings about his role in the life of Jesus. The resource includes a treasury of quotes from the saints and popes explaining why the Church takes St. Joseph as a model and intercessor for holy fatherhood, obedience to God’s love, spiritual guidance, and Christian virtue. A section is also dedicated to ideas for activities for home and school.
Adorned with photography of sacred art depicting St. Joseph from around the world, the St. Joseph resource includes links to many shrines dedicated to the saint, and websites exploring ways to celebrate the holy year.
Pope Francis proclaimed the holy year dedicated to St. Joseph in the apostolic letter, “Patris Corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”), marking the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph being declared patron of the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX.
The Resource for the Year of St. Joseph is downloadable for free at the College’s website, aquinascollege.edu.
