"Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man," (Mt 1:19).
On March 19, the Church will celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of Mary. I always look forward to St. Joseph's feast day because ever since I came back to the Church 20 years ago, I have had great admiration for this great saint – second only to the Queen of All Saints, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The title "Husband of Mary" not only tells us one of the roles St. Joseph played in the Holy Family, but also the reason we celebrate this feast. St. Joseph was first and foremost the husband of Mary, and after the Christ Child was born, Joseph then became the foster father of the Infant Jesus. It is precisely this role of a husband that I want to talk about.
I had the opportunity last month to cover once again the Charlotte Catholic Men's Conference, an annual event that normally attracts men from all around the Diocese of Charlotte. Normally, most of the participants are married men and fathers. This year was no exception. However, something that caught my attention this year more than ever was that all three speakers, especially the last two, Brian Pusateri and Joe McClane, spoke about the current epidemic of men addicted to online pornography.
According to Pusateri, 63 percent of men watch pornography online at least once a month. Pusateri also said that 85 percent of sins confessed by men are of a sexual nature. McClane, who shared with the men that he as a younger man had been addicted to pornography, went as far as saying that pornography was worse than adultery because "a person you can confront, but a cyber image you can't."
If six out of 10 men watch pornography at least once a month, and 85 percent of Catholic men struggle with lust and unchaste behavior, it would be interesting to know what percentage of those same men are married. But whatever that number may be, it could be safe to say that this pornographic pandemic must be creating havoc in a large number of Catholic marriages.
I want to encourage all husbands like myself, and especially those who are also fathers, to cultivate a devotion to St. Joseph. St. Matthew describes St. Joseph as a "righteous man," and the Church has always described this great saint as a model of chastity. Because we believe in the perpetual virginity of Mary, then we should deduce that Joseph also lived out his marriage vocation in perfect chastity. I imagine also that Mary was and is an incredibly beautiful soul, but she must have been a very attractive and beautiful woman. How is that for avoiding the near occasion of sin, guys! Of course, we all know that sin of all kinds start in our hearts and not from the outside.
Gentlemen, if you belong to the 85 percent, continue to avail yourself of the mercy of God in the sacrament of reconciliation, but definitely add a strong devotion to this great model of manhood and righteousness to your spiritual arsenal. Meditate on the life of St. Joseph and develop a real friendship with him. Ask him to help you in times of temptation. If your health allows it, fast and pray on the first Wednesday of every month in honor of the husband of Mary, and ask him to intercede for you and your bride. Ask him to help you live out your marriage vocation and foster holiness in your family just as St. Joseph did.
Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Rico De Silva is the Hispanic communications reporter for the Catholic News Herald.