Walk With the Guardian: St. Joseph’s Call to Heroic Advent
How the quiet protector of the Holy Family leads men into a season of vigilance, joy, and spiritual strength.
As we embark on Advent, the dawn of a new liturgical year in the Church, we naturally pause to reflect on how best to begin this sacred season. Drawing from the wisdom of Popes Paul VI and Benedict XVI, Advent emerges as a time of “devout and expectant delight,” a harmonious blend of vigilant watchfulness and unquenchable interior joy—modeled on the Virgin Mary’s patient anticipation of the Infant Jesus.
For my part, I have always found it easier to connect with St. Joseph than with Our Lady. Yet, in doing so, I’ve come to appreciate the profound interdependence of the Holy Family. Deacon Harold and I delved into this theme during a recent episode of the Heroic Hotline, uncovering the beautiful tapestry of their shared mission.
This Advent, I extend a heartfelt challenge to all you Heroic Men: commit to walking alongside St. Joseph throughout these 25 days. In his encyclical Quamquam Pluries, Pope Leo XIII vividly portrays Joseph as the steadfast protector who “girt the Holy Family about with his protection,” extending his paternal vigilance to the Church as a “limitless family” entrusted to his care. To deepen this companionship, turn to Scripture for meditation. Consider, for instance, Luke 1:26-27: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. Many other passages invite similar contemplation, revealing Joseph’s quiet yet essential role in salvation history.
Prayer offers another powerful path forward. Pope Francis has enriched our devotion with invocations like “Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer” and the timeless Litany of St. Joseph. Inspired by this tradition, we commissioned a musical rendition of the litany, available exclusively through Heroic Men. I invite you this Advent to view the performance at your earliest convenience, approaching it not merely as art, but as a form of prayer that draws us closer to the foster father of Christ.
I also encourage you to embark on a novena to St. Joseph, seeking his intercession in your daily struggles. Personally, I have prayed countless novenas to him over the years, always finding solace in his example. In the past year, I’ve been crafting my own novena, pondering St. Joseph as a man who faced temptations much like our own. I aimed for the traditional nine days but couldn’t condense it—resulting in a ten-day reflection. So, what do you call a ten-day novena? A St. Joseph Terror of Demons Decem! As you pray, please remember Heroic Men in Canada and the United States, imploring St. Joseph to intercede for the resources we need to sustain and expand our mission.
In summary, St. Joseph profoundly enriches Advent by embodying faithful stewardship within God’s plan of salvation. He calls us to mirror his humility and protective love as we await Christ’s coming. Through the rhythms of liturgy, the depths of theology, and the intimacy of prayer, he guides us toward transformative spiritual growth, safeguarding the Church as the true “household of God.”
Links to above mentioned materials
Heroic Hotline with Deacon Harold
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer
Presented Bishop McGratton a copy of the score for the Litany of St Joseph
Presenting The Litany score to St Joseph Oratory
I have just recently started studying St. Joseph in more detail. As the father of two autistic sons, his quiet but strong presence has taught me about rejoicing in my role as their guardian and protector, and to put aside my vain ambitions to focus on the call God has for me.