March 2026
Dear Firebirds and Flyers,
My dad always had just the right outfit for every event, situation, and type of weather. He was all about proper protection from the elements. No matter where we were going, he made sure my three siblings and I had all the right equipment and clothing.
So, if we were going to Jones Beach or on summer vacation at Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks, we were smothered in sunblock and covered in long-sleeves and wide-brimmed hats. And if boating was involved, there were life jackets for each of us!
In the winter, we often skied in the bitter-cold Northeast. It would take a half hour for Mom and Dad to dress each of us in padded mittens, wool hats, scarves, socks, goggles, snow pants, ski jackets, ski boots . . . and then we could barely move because we were so bundled up!
As Dad got older, he would often travel to spend time with his grandchildren. His car trunk or suitcase would be filled with all kinds of coats, sweaters, hats, and gloves — layers of protection ready for whatever weather the outdoors might throw his way.
Dad definitely took seriously his role as protector of the family, and I’m grateful for all he taught us about how to protect ourselves from the elements.
March 19th is the feast of Saint Joseph, spouse of Mary, foster-father of Jesus. Saint Joseph was the protector of Mary and Jesus! And he continues to protect our Church.
As we spend all of the month of March in the season of Lent, we can think of our Lenten practices as a way of adding layers of protection for our soul against all that seeks to attack or undermine our faith and spiritual life.
Our Marianist Founder, Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, would recommend Saint Joseph the Protector as a good patron for the Lenten season:
To give life to someone is the greatest of all gifts. To save a life is the next. Who gave life to Jesus? It was Mary. Who saved his life? It was Joseph. . . . Make him responsible for the protection of your person, he who saved the life of his Savior.
How is the life of Jesus in your soul? Ask St. Joseph to help you protect the Christ-life in your soul this Lent – to stay faithful to whatever commitments you’ve made in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, all of which are meant to deepen our relationship with Jesus.
Imagine all the time St. Joseph spent with Jesus:
- looking at his son with loving adoration
- feeding, clothing, and teaching him
- protecting him on the numerous journeys of the Holy Family
Lent is a good time to protect the presence of Jesus in our hearts – to spend a little more time with Him in prayer, to learn from His words and deeds in Scripture, to seek His forgiveness, to receive Him in the Eucharist, to think of Him often in the course of the day.
In his Letter to the Ephesians (6:13-17), St. Paul wrote:
Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And I thought my Dad’s packing lists were intimidating! But honestly, St. Paul’s “armor of God” checklist makes for a good Lenten meditation. Where are the chinks in my spiritual armor? How am I doing with resisting temptation, seeking truth, making peace, growing in faith, receiving the Spirit?
Blessed Chaminade recommends:
May St. Joseph take charge of the affair of your salvation. Just as he led the Son of God in his travels, may he be your guide on the voyage of this life until you arrive at the haven of eternal happiness.
St. Joseph, protect us from all evil on our journey of faith! On behalf of all my Marianist Brothers,
Fr. Peter Heiskell, S.M
