1) Joseph Sanctified in the Womb Joseph
was a miracle of holiness and the Lord infused into his soul the most perfect
habits of all the virtues and gifts. Joseph was sanctified in his mother’s womb
seven months after his conception, and the leaven of sin was destroyed in him
for the whole course of life. – Venerable Maria de Agreda
Joseph
had three privileges which were special to him. Firstly, that he was sanctified
in his mother's womb. Secondly, that he was at the same time confirmed in
grace. And thirdly, that he was always exempt from the inclinations of
concupiscence.
– St. Alphonsus Liguori
2) Holy Espousals of Joseph and Mary The
Most High God inspired the High Priest to place into the hands of each of the
young men a dry stick, with the command that they ask the Lord to single out
the one whom He had chosen as the spouse of Mary. While they prayed, the staff
which Joseph held was seen to blossom and at the same time a dove of purest
white and resplendent with admirable light, was seen to descend upon the
saint... And the priest espoused Mary to the most chaste and holy of men, Saint
Joseph. – Venerable Maria de Agreda
The
espousals between Joseph and Mary are an episode of great importance. Joseph
was of the royal line of David and, in virtue of his marriage to Mary, would
confer on the Son of the Virgin - on God's Son - the legal tile of "Son of
David," thus fulfilling the prophecies. The espousals of Joseph and Mary
are determinant in the history of humanity's salvation, in the realization of
the promises of God; because of this, it has a supernatural connotation, which
Joseph and Mary accept with humility and trust. - Pope
Benedict XVI
3) The Annunciation to St Joseph St.
Joseph is presented as a “just man” (Matthew 1:19), faithful to God’s law,
ready to do His will. On account of this he enters into the mystery of the
Incarnation after an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream and tells him:
"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife with you.
In fact the child that has been conceived in her comes from the Holy Spirit;
she will give birth to a son and you will call him Jesus: he in fact will save
his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:20-21). Forgetting the thought of
repudiating Mary in secret, he takes her in because his eyes now see the work
of God in her. - Pope
Benedict XVI
4) The Birth of Jesus Mary brought forth
her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes… - St. Luke 2:7
Joseph adored the newborn in profoundest humility
and with tears of joy he kissed His feet in admiration… - Venerable Maria de Agreda
On that holy night,
in Bethlehem, with Mary and the Child, is Joseph, to whom the Heavenly Father
entrusted the daily care of his Son on earth, a care carried out with humility
and in silence. – Pope Benedict XVI
5) Life with Jesus and Mary There are many good
reasons to honor Saint Joseph, and to learn from his life. He was a man of
strong faith. He earned a living for his family - Jesus and Mary - with his own
hard work... He guarded the purity of the Blessed Virgin, who was his Spouse.
And he respected - he loved! - God’s freedom, when God made His choice: not
only His choice of Our Lady the Virgin as His Mother, but also His choice of Saint
Joseph as the Husband of Holy Mary. - St.
Josemaria Escrivá
St. Joseph was a
"committed" man, as we might say nowadays. And what commitment! He
had total commitment to Mary, the elect of all the women of the earth and of
history, always his virgin spouse… and total commitment to Jesus, who was his
offspring by legal descendance, not by the flesh. His were the burdens, the
responsibilities, the risks and the labors surrounding the Holy Family. His was
the service, the work and the sacrifices, in the shadows of that Gospel picture
in which we love to meditate on him; and we are certainly not mistaken, for we
all know him now and call him blessed. - Pope Paul VI
Hail Joseph, Son of David, God is with you. Blessed are you amongst men, and blessed is Our Lord Jesus Christ! Holy Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us and be with us now and as we sigh our last breath. + Amen
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