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This Month’s Theme: St. Joseph, Patron of the Dying
When we pray the Litany of St. Joseph, we recite: Patron of the Dying, pray for us. St. Joseph is also known as the Patron of a Happy Death.
There’s no mention in Sacred Scripture about how or when St. Joseph died. The last time the Gospels mention St. Joseph is right after he and Mary find the twelve-year-old Jesus teaching in the temple in Jerusalem. One can deduce that St. Joseph died sometime between then and when Jesus begins public ministry, some eighteen years later.
Scripture does not reveal how he died, but it’s safe to assume St. Joseph died in the arms of Jesus and Mary. A peaceful and beautiful passing to eternity after a life of obedience to God’s call—a life totally devoted to the service of Jesus and Mary. He perfectly fulfilled his role in God’s plan of salvation.
St. Joseph’s death can be an excellent example for us and a guide for how we too can enjoy a happy, peaceful death. Let’s look at three ways he does that. First, his death encourages us not to fear death when we’re in the state of grace, in union with our Lord. The graces available on Joseph’s deathbed are available to us on our deathbed, especially through holy Viaticum—the reception of Holy Communion by a sick person on their deathbed.
Second, St. Joseph can help us prepare for a good death by the example of his holy life, which teaches us how to properly prepare to die happily. We should not postpone or delay readying our hearts but demonstrate it daily by the way we live. The beautiful life of St. Joseph: his pious, devout life, his life filled with love for Jesus and Mary, teaches us how we should live our lives to prepare for our death. Nothing is more certain than death, and nothing more important, since at that moment, our eternity is decided.
Thirdly, St. Joseph will intercede for us for a happy death through our devotion to him. All the prayers that we pray in his honor will bring us his blessings at the hour of our death.
As part of my personal prayer each morning, I pray a Daily Act of Consecration to St. Joseph. The prayer ends: Should I take my last breath today, be by my side, and take me to heaven to be with Jesus and Mary.
I can’t think of a better way to end my life on earth and enter eternity, can you?
Reflection by Dcn. Paul R. Levesque, Diocese of Fall River