Each year, when we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph, we encounter a beautiful mystery: the silence of St. Joseph. The Gospels record not a single word spoken by him, yet he protected our Savior, Jesus, and his Mother, Mary, in silence, a way of teaching not through words but the silent actions, and as a witness of hope.
His way of life and actions teach us that God’s voice is often heard in silence, humility, faith, and saying yes to His will. When Joseph listened to what God was saying, even when the message came through uncertainty and dreams. Once he understood God’s will, he acted immediately: “When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him” (Mt 1:24). This is the secret of Joseph’s holiness: being present and responsive without seeking recognition.
For us, as brothers in Holy Cross, St. Joseph’s example speaks strongly to our vocation and to our vows. Much of what we do in the Church and in ministry is quiet and often unnoticed. Brothers educated in the faith, with availability to listen, which makes them different from other teachers who teach; they instruct in catechism, do administrative work, accompany students, maintain schools, prepare liturgies, direct retreats, repair what is broken, and support communities in countless practical ways. These works rarely attract attention but demand time and patience, yet they touch the lives of many. What would the Church or society be without brothers?
St. Joseph lived this same hidden life. He raised Jesus, protected the Holy Family, worked with his hands, and fulfilled his responsibilities without seeking recognition. In this way, he reminds us that God’s greatest works often occur in ordinary, hidden moments.
Within our Holy Cross Family, our own St. André Bessette provides a powerful example of Joseph-like humility. Br. André spent many years as a porter welcoming visitors. People came to him for healing and prayer, yet he never claimed any power for himself. He would humbly say, “I am nothing … go to Joseph.” This same faith inspired him to build Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal, now the world’s biggest oratory dedicated to St. Joseph and a place that continues to welcome pilgrims from around the world for spiritual renewal. Br. André’s life reminds us that humble work can become a channel of God’s grace for many, just as St. Joseph's was, whom we commemorate today.
On this feast of St. Joseph, may we renew our trust in God’s quiet work within us. With the humility of Br. André, may we continue to listen attentively to the needs of those around us and to guide others toward Christ, walking in the footsteps of St. Joseph. We must decrease so that Christ may increase.
Happy feast day to all Brothers of Holy Cross, all members of the Holy Cross Family, and all those who have a special devotion to St. Joseph. Ours is to listen and act. “’Come, follow me.’ It was Lord Jesus calling us” (C 1:1).
This reflection for the Feast of St. Joseph was written by Br. Adolf Mugume, C.S.C., a member of the Province of East Africa who works as the Congregation’s Director of Communication at the Holy Cross Generalate in Rome. St. Joseph is the patron saint of the Holy Cross Brothers.