By Lissy Maruthanakuzhy

Panaji: A book to mark the Year of St Joseph hails the foster father of Jesus as the shadow of the Heavenly Father.

“The reading of the book will help us to deepen our love for this great saint and to seek his powerful intercession and emulate his life and virtues,” said Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao while releasing “St Joseph: Shadow of the Heavenly Father.”

The archbishop told a book release function on July 14 at the Archbishop’s House in Panaji, capital of Goa, that the Universal Church is observing the Year of St Joseph from December 8, 2020, to December 8, this year. The year marks the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX December 8, 1870, proclaiming St Joseph as the patron of the Universal Church by, on.”

According to the archbishop, the book contains beautiful and thought-provoking reflections on the life and different facets of the person of St Joseph.

The book “will inspire and motivate its readers to grow in their commitment as disciples of Jesus, and in their desire to live a joyful and courageous witnesses of the risen Lord,” he added.

The book edited by Capuchin Father John Baptist and team contains 34 chapters. The authors include people, nuns, priests and bishops. Th articles address consecrated men and women, married couples, and families.

In the chapter “A Man of Service and Perseverance,” author Nimmy Das says, “I believe St Joseph is very relevant for our Christian lives today, and he can teach us to serve God and others with perseverance.”

For St Anne Sister Inigo, “St Joseph is an inspirer of religious life.” His silent life “challenges the religious to create times of silence, because it is in silence that the Lord reveals his will and his purpose in our lives,” she added.

Capuchin priest Father Sunder Wilson finds “St Joseph: Silent and yet Vibrant.” The saint knew that silence is the only way to hear God’s message and respond to it effectively. His silence is an expression of his self-sacrifice. The silence of Joseph invites us to go beyond distractions and idle chatter to getting tuned to God and his message. St Joseph invites us to carry out our mission towards humanity and world for God’s glory , without broadcasting them, the Capuchin added.

The book is published by the Pauline Publications, Mumbai, and costs 250 rupees.