Saint Joseph


Saint Joseph is one of my favorite saints. He is the Patron of Italy (I am half Italian), the Patron of Fathers (I am a father), the Patron of Workers (I do work, even if it is at a company called Play) and has been associated with most of the diocese or parishes of which I have been a member. (Saint Patrick has always been around me, too, but we'll leave that for another day.) He also shows the great value there is in being simply "an upright man," something for which we can all strive.

There is a great story about Saint Joseph in "Italian Folktales" by Italo Calvino. I can't get to the book right now, but the story goes that there was a man who was greatly devoted to Saint Joseph, who prayed to him all the time. When he died, he went to heaven, where Saint Peter met him at the gate. Saint Peter explained that because he had not done this or that, but had spent his whole life in his devotions to Saint Joseph, he would not be let into heaven. At this point, Saint Joseph comes by and says, "Great! Glad to see you! Let me show you around," but Saint Peter explains that he can't let him in. Well, Saint Peter and Saint Joseph start going back and forth, and get into this big argument, and finally Saint Joseph says, "Fine! I'm just going to take my wife and Son and go somewhere else!"

The man was let into heaven.


I'll probably update this tomorrow (this afternoon) when I can get to the book. Italo Calvino is a better writer than me, and tells the story better.
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