Patris Corde—With a Father’s Heart—also implies with a husband’s heart, Cor Mariti

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ope Francis, now of blessed memory, outlined in his Apostolic Letter Patris Corde (With a Father’s Heart) the main qualities of Saint Joseph as a father. The letter was written in 2021 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church by Blessed Pope Pius IX. Today, even after Pope Francis’ passing, Patris Corde continues to speak with clarity and urgency. Let me highlight three qualities of Saint Joseph that stand out.

First, Saint Joseph is a beloved protector.

“With a father’s heart: that is how Joseph loved Jesus.” These opening words of Patris Corde remain among Pope Francis’ most inspiring lines. Joseph loved Jesus as a protector. There is a natural human gift—often associated with fatherhood—to lead, to oversee, and to protect. This is not to confine such gifts to maleness alone because the wife also stands as the protector of the husband. All are equally gifted, though often in different ways. Saint Joseph is called a beloved protector because protection lies at the heart of fatherhood itself.

Joseph did not sire Jesus biologically, yet he became a father through his way of loving. Fatherhood may be biological, psychological, or spiritual, but the common denominator is love—the true foundation of a father’s identity.

Parenthood is never limited to the act of siring children. Across cultures, women and children draw strength and courage from the presence of someone who protects them. When men step into the role of protecting the weak, the vulnerable, and those entrusted to them, they are living out a deeply human vocation. In our world today, the need for protectors is immense. This is why all men are called—sooner or later—to fatherhood, not in one rigid mold, but in diverse forms. Yet amid this diversity, beloved fathers and husbands are recognizable by shared qualities, many of which are embodied in Saint Joseph.

In our time, there is a growing need to recover a healthy understanding of fatherhood as protection—both in the institutional Church and in the domestic Church of the family. Healthy self-regard leads to grounded identity. By contrast, low self-worth can distort the self and make one vulnerable to abuses of power. Joseph models a quiet confidence rooted in service. Low self-regard can give rise either to insecurity or to narcissism—both of which erode the capacity to protect and to love authentically.

Second, Saint Joseph is a quiet worker in the shadows.

Edmund Burke once said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Albert Einstein echoed this when he observed that the world becomes dangerous not merely because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. Joseph was never among those who did nothing.

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke tell us very little about Joseph—and yet this does not mean he did little. In the angel's annunciation to Joseph we know he said a word, which is more than a word, the highest of all that could be uttered. Joseph called the name "Jesus." Before Jesus could save a single soul, he himself needed saving and protecting. Joseph shielded him from Herod’s violence when Jesus was still so helpless. But above all, Joseph formed Jesus through the steady rhythm of daily work.

The longest period of Jesus’ life is what we call the hidden years—from age twelve to thirty—years the Gospels pass over in silence. Yet hidden does not mean insignificant. If everything that happened during those years were written down, the Scriptures themselves might not contain the books. Through Joseph’s quiet, faithful labor, Jesus learned by doing. As in every human family, the deepest bonds are forged not through words alone, but through shared work and shared time.

Joseph may not have spoken a recorded word in Scripture, but through his hands and habits, Jesus first learned what it meant to live as a son. Before Jesus addressed God in heaven as Abba, he learned the tenderness and trust that made such a word possible within the shelter of Joseph’s care.

There are many Josephs among us today. They are people we rarely hear about—those who work quietly, sell goods by the roadside, labor behind the scenes, and provide for their families without recognition. In an age marked by economic uncertainty, social fatigue, and fragile systems, these men and women hold the world together through fidelity rather than applause. We remain standing because they show up every day, doing what must be done, even when no one notices.

Third and finally, Saint Joseph is a loving husband to Mary.

Pope Francis once wrote, “The greatness of Saint Joseph is that he was the spouse of Mary and the father of Jesus. In this way, he placed himself at the service of the entire plan of salvation.” Patris Corde—With a Father’s Heart—also implies with a husband’s heart, Cor Mariti. The two are inseparable.

Joseph was never alone. He stood beside Mary as a true partner. Thinking itself, we are told, is deeply social—we come to insight through dialogue. The quiet strength of Joseph’s love for Mary made space for God’s plan to unfold. We would not have Jesus without the shared courage of Joseph and Mary, who remained together through light and darkness, joy and sorrow.

Saint Joseph teaches us that greatness is down to earth. It protects, labors, and loves—simply, silently, and selflessly. Amen. Fr JM Manzano SJ