Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker

Scripture Readings: Gen 1:26-2:3;  Mt 13:54-58       

Like St. Joseph the Worker, we monks want to live by the work of our hands, even into old age, even into our 90’s like our oldest members: Fr. Xavier, who continues to minister to our Trappistine sisters; Fr. Tom and Fr. Kenneth who write note cards for Trappist Caskets; Fr. Jim O. and Br. Thomas who labor under the weight of aging, offering it for our good and that of the whole world. 

As for our younger members in their 80’s, Fr. Stephen, Br. Paul Leonard, Br. Gilbert, Fr. David, Br. John, and Br. Dennis manual labor continues to be part of their daily routine because monks don’t retire. 

Looking at our more junior monks in their 70’s, Br. Robert, Fr. Ephrem, Br. Cyprian, and Fr. Jonah, they continue to contribute support for the monastery in various ways according to their talents. 

But it is our youngest monks, from their 30’s to their 60’s who give New Melleray its vitality and hope for the future: Br. Nicholas, Br. Juan Diego, Br. Joseph, Br. Paul Andrew.  May their lives inspire others to follow the example of St. Joseph who led a life of work and prayer to support Mary and Jesus.

                   

 

Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker

Scripture Readings:  Acts 14:19-28; Mt 13:54-5                            

Like St. Joseph the Worker, we want to live by the work of our hands, even into old age. Fr. Jim at 94 distributes the mail and mows the lawn, Fr. Xavier at 88 bakes bread and ministers to retreatants and the Trappistines. Fr. Tom at 86 cooks meals, greets guests and drives brothers to doctor appointments. Fr. Kenneth at 88 writes note cards for Trappist Caskets. Br. Walter at 94 and Br. Thomas at 89 labor under the weight of infirmity for our good and that of the whole world. Br. Placid at 89, who tilled our garden providing food for our meals, is now engaged in the harder labor of dying from cancer.

Dying is hard work. It’s painful, lonely, and humiliating. It can take a long time. Death itself can seem even worse, the tearing apart of body and soul. But St. Joseph is the patron of a happy death, not of a painful one. It’s more like the completion of a harvest after all the work of planting and cultivating the land. The Psalmist says, “They go out, they go out full of tears, carrying seed for the sowing; they come back, they come back, full of song, carrying their sheaves.” With St. Joseph to help us, death itself is like that, a harvest of happiness.