Authour Michael O'Brien has an excellent book, really a collection of personal stories, ominously titled Father at Night. What is it like to be father at night? O'Brien sheds some great insight on the subject. Crying babies. Unpaid bills. Broken vehicle. Sick toddler. Injured back. Roof caving in. Yet even O'Brien can't fully recreate the vulnerability and insecurity experienced by the father at night. The sleepless dark is vacuum-sealed with anxiety and a sickening crushing weight. In it the so-called provider of the family comes face to face with the reality that he cannot, in fact, provide. He cannot heal. He cannot comfort. He cannot even tread water. It is an inexplicable weight. A seemingly hopeless weight.
Enter St. Joseph.
Why do so many Catholic fathers have a special devotion to St. Joseph? Because he is the pure and genuine father at night. He is its conqueror. He's been there, but with literally infinitely more to consider. He was the provider for Jesus and Mary, after all. So when St. Joseph listens to the prayers of the father at night, he is quick to answer.
Life in the Millette family has certainly been one of change and challenge this year. Facing the prospects of being jobless? A novena to St. Joseph later a full-time permanent job is secured. Worried about the impending birth of a child? A safe and healthy child is soon born. Need a place to live? A novena later a house purchase is agreed upon. Now the next challenge will come from fixing this slightly-tired house, all before the unceasing rain gets the better of it. Nothing too severe. Certainly there is much more suffering in other homes. Nevertheless, there's always something.
But St. Joseph is not really there for the material and physical well being. He helps. Yet his sole concern is always spiritual. In St. Joseph one cannot help but experience trust. Trust in him. Trust in what he can intercede. Trust ultimately in God. And that really is the crux of life. Trust in God. The father at night is in a physically dark place perhaps, but should never be in a spiritually dark abode. With St. Joseph unpaid bills become gratitude for what is already possessed. Crying babies become life singing praises. Broken vehicles become a road towards repairing one's reliance on God. In St. Joseph, the darkness becomes an occasion for light.
That is all. A little bit of long overdue praise for this amazing yet humble saint.
To the true father at night, thank you.
