Spring 2021 Virtual Exhibit: Pope Francis Proclaims
“Year of Saint Joseph”
What you will find here and why
With the Apostolic Letter Patris corde (With a Father’s Heart), Pope Francis recalls the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church by proclaiming a “Year of Saint Joseph,” extending from December 8, 2020, to December 8, 2021.
The Holy Father writes that in Saint Joseph, “Jesus saw the tender love of God,” the one that helps us accept our weakness, because “it is through” and despite “our fears, our frailties, and our weakness” that most divine designs are realized. Saint Joseph is “courageously and firmly proactive.” It is as if God were repeating to us through him: “Do not be afraid!” (4). Patris corde highlights “the creative courage” of Saint Joseph, which “emerges especially in the way we deal with difficulties.”
“The carpenter of Nazareth,” explains the Pope, “was able to turn a problem into a possibility by trusting in divine providence.” He had to deal with “the concrete problems” his family faced, problems faced by other families in the world, and especially those of migrants. In this sense, Saint Joseph is “the guardian of Jesus and Mary, and cannot “be other than the guardian of the whole Church” (5).
In the following exhibit in honor of Saint Joseph, we invite you to view some of the art works at Mount Angel Abbey that aim to inspire insight and devotion toward our special patron who faithfully intercedes for the Abbey and our ministries. Of special interest, Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B., provides verbal “reads” of three of our treasured art works in this exhibit. We hope you enjoy this fourth virtual art exhibit.
