By Peyton Voorheis
Staff Writer
The feast of St. Joseph, father of the Holy Family, is a welcome solemnity amidst the season of Lent. For this reason, many Catholics are eager to celebrate the holy man, but more so are those with a particular devotion to the saint.
Several students came to the Paul VI conference room on the evening of March 19, both for an informative talk and Vocelli’s pizza. The talk began at 7:30 p.m. when Tyler Dean, a senior computer science major and a member of Apprentices, introduced Mark Miravalli, PhD.
Miravalli is a professor of theology at both Franciscan University and Ave Maria University. He studied for his Sacred Theology Doctorate at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, has assisted bishops with various apparition investigations, and has written over twenty theology books, especially on topics related to the Virgin Mary.
Beginning in the words of St. Theresa of Avila, Miravalli said, “I wish I could persuade everyone to be devoted to the glorious Saint Joseph.”
He went on to explain the role of Joseph as first among the saints, via what is called “proto dulia.” While the Virgin Mary has hyperdulia, via her intrinsic connection to the incarnation, Joseph was the first to have an extrinsic relationship with God made man.
Over time, the church’s veneration of St. Joseph has grown. As a means of protecting the doctrine of Mary’s perpetual virginity, he was often portrayed as significantly older, or even as having kids from a previous union. Miravalli argued, however, that the best protection of Mary’s virginity comes from an understanding of Joseph’s virtue.
Miravalli went on to discuss the role that St. Joseph plays in theology, especially through his role as the patron of the universal church. Repeating St. Theresa of Avila’s assertion of the power of St. Joseph as an intercessor, he encouraged students to ask St. Joseph for something important to them.
Ending with a call to action, Miravalli said, “Do something specific to show your love of St. Joseph. Try to do it for the rest of your life.” Dean repeated the sentiment after the talk, saying “The chaste heart of St. Joseph is an inspiration to all men, and we hope that his patronage is sought with greater fervor.”
When asked about the talk, Kyle Snyder — a junior mechanical engineering major and Apprentices of St. Joseph coordinator — said, “It wasn’t my own idea, it was some of the brothers in my household … we really wanted to give St. Joseph the honor he deserves by hosting this talk.”
Junior education major Michael Bosco said of the talk, “I was swamped with homework, and it took a lot to come here … but coming here really strengthened that St. Joseph devotion that I remembered I had.” Madeline McKechnie, a senior philosophy and theology major, added that, “Doctor Miravalli helped set a fire in my heart for St. Joseph. I love him as my father now.”
Miravalli closed his talk in prayer, and Dean extended an invitation to any men looking to grow closer to St. Joseph to visit Apprentices of St. Joseph commitments. Students lingered in the event space for some time, talking about the content that had been presented — and grabbing the remaining slices of pizza — as the solemnity drew to a close.