A cordial welcome to our monthly appointment in the company of Saint Joseph, at the beginning of this month of March which the centuries-old tradition of the church has dedicated to Saint Joseph.
The name of Saint Joseph is particularly linked to the Wednesdays of the month, in particular, like today, and, again, the 19th of each month and then the entire month of March. The month of March also celebrates the conception of Jesus in the womb of the virgin Mary. In fact, on March 25th, the nine months awaiting the birth of the Son of God among us will begin. 

This appointment with the listeners of Radio Mater is an appointment full of affection, esteem, but also listening to a harmony of pleasant and comforting sounds. 

In a soul in love with God, rich in faith in Jesus, as in those who listen to us, we can compare the words spoken to the sliding of the fingers of a hand on the keyboard of a piano.  

This evening we want to speak "heart to heart" with Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus.  

I would like to try to create a climate of listening and bring out the beautiful qualities that everyone carries imprinted in their soul.

Saint Joseph is our teacher not so much for the words he did not pronounce, but for the words he was able to listen to from the angel, but, this evening, also the listening he will be able to give to our words and our requests for help with his intercession.

 We have said it several times, his silence is not mutism, but it is a silence illuminated by radiation, like the facets of a diamond that reflect luminous colors, according to the light beam that caresses it. From that reflected light come the indications of the paths to follow to walk in this month of March on the right path of holiness, as the fullness of evangelical bliss. 

  So, truly with cordiality and sympathy, at the beginning of this appointment, an affectionate greeting to everyone: to the listeners, to those who listen to us at home or on the street, on their way home from work, to those who are preparing dinner or is having dinner, but, in particular, to those who are afflicted by many adversities, adversities that have a name: poor health, the internal discomfort of incomprehension, anxiety, depression, dissatisfaction with life intolerance and difficulties in the world of work that poison the days of life. 

A special greeting to those who are orphans of human affection, to those who are angry with existence itself, to those who have not yet found a strong and valid reason to live. 

 I would like to have feelings so intense as to make those who feel useless, unsuccessful in life feel a warm embrace, I would like to put a hand on the shoulder of those who feel alone, those who are forced for many reasons, including those of character, to live without friends.  

 We invoke Saint Joseph, he lived his existence alongside Jesus as the "shadow of the Father", the eternal Father who from eternity had chosen him to be his human substitute in the growth of Jesus in a history of humanity that becomes history of salvation.

 Let us take from the great reserves of spirituality left by the heritage of the saints the famous ones as well as those simple and generous people that perhaps we too have known in our lives, as were many of our virtuous and honest relatives, for this reason let us make a prayer echo in our spirit for our families, so that they are a reflection of the family of Nazareth.

 Let us pray with this greeting to Saint Joseph. This prayer traces the feelings that from the Hail Mary, with an emphasis on the help that Saint Joseph can give to our families, warm our hearts with renewed affection, participation, strengthen our arms to bear each other's burdens.  

 Hail, O Joseph, just man, virginal husband of Mary and Davidic father of the messiah; blessed are you among men and blessed are the son of God who was entrusted to you Jesus.

Saint Joseph, universal patron of the church, guard our families in peace and divine grace and help us in the hour of our death. 

Amen!