St Thomas writes "whenever God chooses someone to do some important work for Him, God grants that person the necessary graces. The perfect example of this truth can be seen in the life of St Joseph, foster father of our Lord Jesus and spouse of Mary." Sanctity is to fulfil one's vocation.

For St Joseph, that vocation entailed preserving Mary's commitment to virginity, while living in authentic matrimony. An angel appeared to him in a dream saying, "do not be afraid, Joseph, son of David, to take Mary your wife for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit. Joseph loved Mary with a pure love.

With respect to Jesus, Joseph watched over Him, protected Him, taught Him a trade, helped in His education. Joseph is called "foster father" but words cannot express the intimate and mysterious relationship, which he actually enjoyed with the Son of God. Joseph was created so as to live out this transcendent responsibility, the purpose of all the graces, which he received.

Saint Joseph is a great saint: he responded in a heroic way to the grace and mission given to him. Today specially, we should meditate and reflect on how well we are corresponding to the grace in our own vocation in the middle of our world. He teaches us how to be faithful to our vocation. We need only go to him to intercede for us.