Fada Moranga: Celebrating Fathers Day!

Fada Moranga’s father: Joãozinho

March 19th is the official Fathers Day in Portugal – a tribute to Saint Joseph

St. Joseph's Day is a Roman Catholic feast day commemorating the life of St. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus and husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mary had many admirers. One night they all left their staffs in the temple so that God could indicate who she should marry. The next morning, Joseph's staff blossomed with white flowers and leaves and sent forth a white dove, indicating that he was the chosen one. This explains why most statues of St. Joseph show him holding baby Jesus and a stalk of white lilies and why this day is a common celebration of fathers throughout the Christian world.

Saint Joseph was the head of the Holy Family and the guardian of Jesus and Mary. He was instructed by an angel about the name of the child to be born and was given careful directives for the safety and care of both mother and child before and after the birth of Jesus.

Joseph was able to show Jesus, by a special gift from Heaven, all the natural love, all the affection that a father’s heart can know. Saint Joseph was the interpretation of God’s Love on earth and was given sufficient graces and light to fulfil his mission. Joseph was most faithful to his vocation in life - his life was pure fidelity to fatherhood, fidelity in being a husband, true devotion.