Stories of Saints for Kids Saint Joseph Episode 13

Saints Good morning dad! Good morning Jim Aren't you going to office today dad? No, it's May 1st today and the entire world celebrates today as May Day or Laborers Day. Today is the day of the working class people. So, today is the feast of Saint Joseph. Hey Joanne, don't you know that March 19th is the feast of Saint Joseph? We even went to church together with dad on that day. You've got it wrong Jim. May 1st is celebrated as the feast of Saint Joseph. Come on, I think both of you are right. But dad, how can there be two different feasts for the same saint? Ok, let me put it this way. March 19th is celebrated as the feast of Saint Joseph and 1st of May is celebrated as the feast of Saint Joseph the worker. Did you understand Jim? I knew that I was not wrong. Ha ha ha Oh, I'm confused dad. Hmm, I can think of only one solution. Uncle Francis will be the best person to explain to you on this matter. Yes dad. Uncle Francis will be coming to narrate the story of a saint today. We will ask him to tell us about Saint Joseph. Good morning Mr. Joseph and children. Good morning father Francis. Good morning uncle. Hmm, please join us for a lively debate. Oh debate, that's interesting. Uncle, Jim is confused why Saint Joseph has two feast days. Yeah, then I told the children that you would be the best person to explain on that subject. Ha ha, what a coincidence. I was thinking about narrating the story of Saint Joseph today. Alright, now listen. Saint Joseph is the patron saint of workers. Since the 10th century, March 19th is celebrated as his feast. Did you hear that Joanne, I told you. Hold on Jim, let uncle continue. In 1955, Pope Pius XII established the 1st of May as the feast of Saint Joseph the worker. So, both of us were right. Excuse me sir, I need to go out to meet a colleague. Children, you may continue with the story of Saint Joseph. Okay, Mr. Joseph. I'll see you guys later. Children, do you know what was the role of Joseph? Uncle, he was the father of Jesus and the head of the holy family. Yes, you are right Joanne. He was chosen by God to play this role for the salvation of mankind. One night, an angel of God appeared before Joseph. Joseph Huh, an angel? Joseph, son of David, why do you appear so nervous and confused? I, I'm sorry. I have been engaged with Mary and now, now I came to know that she has conceived. Even though we haven't started living together. Do not get worried Joseph. This is the plan of Lord. She is conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. You should accept her as your wife. She will give birth to a child and you should name him Jesus. Thank you God for revealing this to me. I will not cause any disgrace to Mary and I will do as you instructed. Joseph married Mary and they lived together in Nazareth. After some time, when Mary was nine months pregnant, Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem. This was to enroll themselves for a census, as per the orders of the Roman Emperor. Joseph, are we about to reach Bethlehem? I'm really exhausted. I cannot walk a step further. Yes dear, we have reached Bethlehem. But look around Mary, it's crowded with people and I don't think I can find any place to stay. But, I need to lie down for some time. I'm feeling terrible pain. Joseph then saw an inn and decided to try his luck one more time. Just wait here dear, I'll go and see if they have a place to stay. Alright, but come back quick dear. Mary, Mary, the innkeeper was a kind person. So did you get a room? No, not there, it's very crowded there and the innkeeper himself doesn't have a space to sleep. Then how will we manage? I was going to tell you that. The innkeeper said that he owns a stable just outside the city. He told me that we can lie down there if we want. That's wonderful Joseph. Thank God for helping us out. Come Mary, you can lie down and take some rest. Thank God that we got a place to stay. Ah, I feel the pain. Maybe the time has come. Meanwhile, three magi from the east came to King Herod asking where the king of the Jews was born. Herod said he didn't know and he asked the magi to let him know when they found the child. In fact, King Herod was a cruel man and he had planned to kill the child. And that night, an angel appeared before Joseph. Joseph, wake up. Take Mary and Jesus and go to Egypt. King Herod is planning to kill the child. Huh, Mary, Mary wake up. What happened? An angel just appeared before me and said that our child is in danger. We need to escape to Egypt as Lord has commanded. Huh, but how will we travel such a long distance with a child? Don't worry, Mary. God will protect and provide. I don't know how long we need to stay in Egypt. We will do as the Lord instructs. Don't worry, dear. God himself will let us know when the time is right. After many days of traveling, Joseph and Mary reached Egypt. They stayed there for a long time and one day… Wake up, Joseph. Herod is dead. Take the mother and child back to Israel. Huh, Mary? What happened? Why did you wake me up in the middle of the night? Mary, that angel appeared again. We need to go back to Israel. King Herod is dead and the angels asked us to go back to Israel. So Joseph, Mary and Jesus travelled back to Israel and lived in Nazareth. Jesus grew up with grace and wisdom. When Jesus was 12 years old, he went with Joseph and Mary to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. Look, son. The temple is going to be very crowded. You need to be careful. Be with me or with your mother so that you don't lose your way. Alright, father. I will be with you. After the Passover festival was over, Jesus stayed back in the temple. Joseph and Mary left separately. Joseph had thought that Jesus was with Mary and Mary in turn thought that Jesus was travelling with Joseph. They walked for a day and then… Excuse me. Have you seen Mary and Jesus? Uh, I have not seen Jesus with Mary. There is Mary walking. I cannot see Jesus with her. Oh God! I thought he was with Mary. But then, where is he? Hey Mary! Where is Jesus? Huh? Was he not with you? But, after the ceremony at the temple, I saw him walking towards you. Oh no! Come, let's quickly go back to the temple and search for him. Oh God! Please help us find Jesus. They returned to the temple looking for Jesus. And when they finally arrived at the temple, they were visibly surprised. They saw that Jesus was sitting among elderly scholars and debating with them. Son, you're here. Why did you do this? Your father and I have been looking for you everywhere. But, why did you search for me? Did you not know that I had to be in my father's house? Come son, let's go home. All of us are tired. Wait, is Jesus your son? Yes sir, he is. Did he do something wrong? No, in fact he is a very brilliant boy. He has such a good knowledge of the scriptures. Thank you sir. He is an intelligent boy. Joseph then took Jesus back with him to Nazareth. Joseph took care of his family and helped Jesus grow with grace and wisdom. But uncle, why haven't we heard anything about Saint Joseph after this incident in the Bible? Yes, that's right Joanne. There is no Biblical reference to the life and death of Joseph after this incident that took place in the Temple of Jerusalem. But uncle, isn't there any information about how Saint Joseph died? It is believed that Joseph died just before Jesus began his public ministry. We believe so because we do not see Joseph in the Gospel during this period. Joseph is not mentioned anywhere during the miracles performed by Jesus. You could be correct Joanne. Do you know that Saint Joseph is called the patron saint for happy death? Who? For happy death? Why is it uncle? Saint Joseph is believed to have died in the arms of Jesus and Mary. Wasn't this the most happiest way to die? Yes. Uncle, Saint Joseph is also called the patron saint of craftsmen, right? Yes, in the scriptures about Joseph, he is described as tecton in literature. What does tecton mean, uncle? Tecton means a carpenter or skilled craftsman. Uncle, when was Joseph anointed a saint? Ah, that is a good question, Joanne. In 1726, Pope Benedict XIII included Joseph's name into the Litany of Saints. In 1889, Pope Leo XIII urged Catholics to pray to Saint Joseph to protect the Church from the enemies. Saint Joseph had been protecting Jesus and Mary during his entire life. That's why he was named as the protector of the Catholic Church as well. In 1989, Pope John Paul II presented Saint Joseph's role in the plan of redemption through an encyclical. Uncle, I have one more doubt. What is that, Joanne? That is, in certain pictures and statues, we see Saint Joseph holding a staff topped with flowers. What are those flowers, uncle? Ha ha ha, that is an interesting question. Jim, do you have any guesses? Uncle, maybe that was a typical flower from Nazareth. Oh no, dear. It's a different story. It was a common practice during those times to collect the staff of the groom before marriage. When the staff of Saint Joseph was collected, it blossomed lilies, indicating that he was divinely chosen by God. Thank you, uncle, for taking us to the life of Saint Joseph and clearing doubt on the feast of Saint Joseph. Children, let us end today's narration with the prayer composed by Pope Pius X. Glorious Saint Joseph, patron of all who are devoted to toil, obtain for me the grace to toil in the spirit of penance, in order to thereby atone for my many sins. Goodbye, children. Goodbye, uncle.