On October 11, 1962, the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council (Vatican II)
opened its doors in Rome. Pope John XXIII placed the Council under the
protection of Saint Joseph. Inspired by this, Cardinal Paul-Émile Léger
invited Christians to gather at the Oratory for three prayer vigils for the success of the Council. The October 1962 issue of L’Oratoire magazine was dedicated entirely to this landmark event in the history of the Church.

In 2012, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Vatican II, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed a Year of Faith for the Church, emphasizing the importance of Saint Joseph in his reflection centered on faith and commitment. In announcing the Year’s theme, His Holiness urged Catholics to put themselves under the guidance of Saint Joseph and engage in a “spiritual dialogue.” In his Angelus message, the Pope said, “It is more important than ever to establish a kind of spiritual dialogue with Saint Joseph, so that he might help us to live in abundance this great mystery.”

During a visit to Africa in 2009, Benedict XVI emphasized the importance of the figure of Saint Joseph, “Joseph reveals to us the secret of a humanity which abides in the presence of mystery and is open to that mystery in the most concrete events of our existence. In Joseph, faith is not separated from action. His faith gave decisive direction to his actions.”

Joseph’s faith was evident in every decision he made in answer to God’s call: to take Mary as his wife, to welcome the unborn child into the world, and to protect him from harm.

Choosing to walk this year in the footsteps of Saint Joseph means choosing to bring our faith to bear on the specific realities of our world. Even in daily routines, this faith allows us to see God at work in every facet of our lives, as well as in the life of Saint Brother André.

This year, we are all urged to allow our faith to transform our outlooks and our actions. Thus, like Saint Brother André, we can all pursue our commitment to building the Kingdom of God around us.