THE Supreme Knight, Sir Kt Bro Patrick Kobina Anumel, has urged Marshallan Knights to emulate the virtues of St Joseph, husband of Mary, as an exceptionally holy man.
That, he said, could be done by reflecting the attributes of St Joseph as the “Courageous Man of Faith, Obedient to God (Matt. 1:24&25); the Responsible Husband (Lk 2:5-7); the Ever-present Father (Lk 2:22); the Providing Parent (Lk 2:39; Lk 2:51&52); the Patient Parent (Lk 2:48) and the Enthusiastic, Hardworking Husband (Matt. 13:55)”.
Sir Kt Bro Anumel made the call in a message to all Marshallan men to commemorate the feast of St Joseph, the patron Saint of all Catholic men.
The day, which falls on March 19 every year is also referred to as Unum Omnes Day.
Parental duties
“Knight Brothers, as Marshallan men, fathers and husbands, we should be mindful of our parental duties and collaborate and cooperate with our wives in bringing up our children in a way that will be pleasing to God and society, by emulating the attributes of the Holy Man, St. Joseph,” he stated.
Sir Kt Bro Anumel said it was not sufficient” to provide money for shelter, food and clothing, without paternal love and other attributes of a father and husband as exemplified by St. Joseph.”
Coincidentally, he said, the Feast Day of St. Joseph was taking place in the Lenten Season, which offered men what they needed “to climb the mountains in our lives – prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
“As we celebrate St. Joseph’s Feast Day today, we pray that the patient, non-violent peaceful patron of catholic men, St. Joseph, will intercede to bring peace to all homes, peace to all societies and communities, peace to the world, especially to Ukraine and Russia and other war-torn countries,” Sir Kt Bro Anumel stated.
Below is the full message
SAINT JOSEPH’S DAY (UNUM OMNES DAY)
A CALL TO EMULATE THE ATTRIBUTES OF
SAINT JOSEPH, THE HUSBAND OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
“So when Joseph woke up, he married Mary, as the angel of the Lord had told him to do. But he had no intimate relations with her before she gave birth to her son: and Joseph named him Jesus”. (Matthew 1: 24&25).
Knight Brothers, I bring you peaceful, fraternal greetings from the Supreme Council in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Today is the feast of St. Joseph, the husband of Mary and the foster father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church has designated St. Joseph as the Patron Saint of all Catholic Men. He is thus the Patron Saint of the International Council of Catholic Men (ICCM- Unum Omnes) of which Knights of Marshall is a strong member. St. Joseph’s Day is therefore also referred to as Unum Omnes Day.
As Marshallan Knights, Catholic men and husbands, it is therefore appropriate that,for our own spiritual development, we observe this day by reflecting on the attributes of St. Joseph, with the view to emulating his virtues as an exceptionally holy man, father and husband. The attributes include the following:
Joseph – The Courageous Man of Faith, Obedient to God (Matt. 1:24&25)
Joseph – The Responsible Husband (Lk 2:5-7)
Joseph – The Ever-present Father (Lk 2:22)
Joseph – The Providing Parent (Lk 2:39; Lk 2:51&52)
Joseph – The Patient Parent (Lk 2:48)
Joseph – The Enthusiastic, Hardworking Husband (Matt. 13:55)
Knight Brothers, as Marshallan men, fathers and husbands, we should be mindful of our parental duties and collaborate and cooperate with our wives in bringing up our children in a way that will be pleasing to God and society, by emulating the attributes of the Holy Man, St. Joseph. It is not sufficient to provide money for shelter, food and clothing, without paternal love and other attributes of a father and husband as exemplified by St. Joseph. Coincidentally the Feast Day of St. Joseph happens to occur in the Lenten Season, which offers us what we need to climb the mountains in our lives – prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
As we celebrate St. Joseph’s Feast Day today, we pray that the patient, non-violent peaceful patron of catholic men, St. Joseph, will intercede to bring peace to all homes, peace to all societies and communities, peace to the world, especially to Ukraine and Russia and other war-torn countries.
St. Joseph, Pray for us.
Mary Queen of Peace, Pray for Us.
All you heavenly Saints and Angels, Pray for Us.
Signed: Sir Kt. Bro. Patrick Kobina Anumel
(Supreme Knight)
Dated: 19th March, 2023
PRAYER FOR MEN
Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God.
The Father sent You to men of all generations
so that we may answer His call to be holy
men of the Church.
Merciful Lord, be our strength as we take up
our crosses each day to follow you.
Inspire us to action in your church so that our
lives may become a living Gospel bringing joy
and hope to the world.
Be present in our marriages and let the example
of Mary and Joseph guide us in fulfilling our
marital and parental responsibilities.
Encourage those who have consecrated themselves
to Your kingdom and strengthen their resolve to
remain faithful to their vocations
Bless all our actions this day that they may bring
honour andd glory to God our Father
Amen
SOURCE: APPENDIX 14, PAGE 120; ODE OF THE NOBLE ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS AND LADIES OF MARSHALL