by Fr. David Huemmer, Chaplain & Spiritual Director
The title, Illustrious Scion of David, used in the chapel litany here at St. Joseph’s is most interesting. The word “scion” makes it so, as this word is not used regularly in our everyday language. Most of the time, the litany of St. Joseph uses the titles “Renowned Offspring David,” or “Noble Son of the House of David,” instead of “Illustrious Scion.” Scion is defined as
“a descendant of a wealthy, aristocratic, or influential family.” St. Joseph is Illustrious Scion of David as he is a descendant of the influential line of David, the ideal King of Israel.
Through the ages, the prophecy was handed down that the Messiah was to spring from the seed of David. Joseph was of the royal blood of David, and, as legal father of Jesus, handed on to Him as Foster Son, all the rights he himself inherited. This is how he becomes known as the illustrious descendant because of what he passed on to Jesus, who is the longed-for Messiah.
Jesus is the Messiah promised to the royal line of David. Matthew Chapter 1 demonstrates this through the genealogy of St. Joseph, his legal father. Chapter 2 confirms it by the geography of his birth in Bethlehem, the town of David, even though he was raised in Nazareth.
So why would the Sisters have this title of St. Joseph among the 12 that are present in the chapel? One important reason would be the important role that St. Joseph plays in salvation history. His acceptance of his role of the foster father of Jesus helps, in a sense, to bring redemption to the kinghood of David through Jesus. The redemption that Jesus wrought, however, was not just for a select people, but for all people who would accept it to become adopted children of the Father. Thus, the sister’s mission of teaching and education helped the “dear neighbor” they served to come to know Jesus, whose Davidic heritage came from the Illustrious Scion of David!
It is always fascinating to learn about the stories behind some of the beautiful things located on the campus of the Saint Joseph Retreat & Conference Center. Here is the story behind the statue of St. Joseph the Worker located in the Alumnae Garden, as related to me by one of the family members.
The St. Joseph the Worker Statue was a gift of the Traggesser Family to the Sister’s of St. Joseph of Tipton in memory of their mother, Bernadine Tebbe Traggesser who was a student at the St. Joseph Academy from 1927 to 1930. Later in life, she was a resident at the St. Joseph Center senior living facility. From her window in the infirmary, she looked out on the stone wall that was once part of the Academy building. One of the family members heard her relate that St. Joseph needed to be on the “wall.” So, after her passing, the family made a gift of the statue which is now fittingly part of the Alumnae garden.