Pope to all fathers: Be for them as St. Joseph

(CNA/EWTN News) During his general audience on March 19, the feast of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Virgin Mary, Pope Francis called the saint a role model for all fathers and educators.

“Let us look at Joseph as the model for educators, for he guards and accompanies Jesus in his journey of growth ‘in wisdom, age, and grace,$0"2$ said the Pope.

Pope Francis began with his growth in age: “Joseph, together with Mary, took care of Jesus first of all from this point of view, that is, ‘brought him up,$0"2$ – with all the worries of providing for necessities that this entails.

“Don't forget that the faithful caring for the life of the Child led to the flight into Egypt, the harsh experience of living as refugees – Joseph as a refugee, with Mary and Jesus.”

Continuing on to the second dimension of education, that of wisdom, Pope Francis called St. Joseph Christ's “example and teacher of the wisdom, which is nourished by the Word of God.”

“We can consider how Joseph taught the young Jesus to listen to the Holy Scriptures, especially accompanying him on the sabbath to the synagogue of Nazareth.”

Turning to Jesus' growth in grace, Pope Francis said that while “here, certainly, the part reserved to St. Joseph is more limited than in the areas of age and wisdom,” nevertheless “it would be a grave error to think that a father and a mother can do nothing to teach their children to grow in the grace of God.”

Pope Francis said to all fathers: "Be for them (their children) as St. Joseph: guardians of their grow in age, wisdom, and grace.”

Read more: Saint Joseph the model for educators, Pope teaches