THE PRAISES OF ST. JOSEPH

Hail Joseph, image of God the Father.

Hail Joseph, father of God the Son.

Hail Joseph, temple of the Holy Ghost.

Hail Joseph, beloved of the Holy Trinity.

Hail Joseph, most faithful helper in the great plan of Redemption.

Hail Joseph, most worthy spouse of the Virgin Mother.

Hail Joseph, father of all the faithful.

Hail Joseph, guardian of holy virgins.

Hail Joseph, greatest lover of poverty.

Hail Joseph, example of meekness and patience.

Hail Joseph, mirror of humility and obedience.

Blessed art thou among all men.

And blessed are thine eyes,

which have seen what thou hast seen.

And blessed are thine ears,

which have heard what thou hast heard.

And blessed are thy hands,

which have touched the Word Incarnate.

And blessed are thine arms,

which have carried the One Who carries all things.

And blessed is thy breast,

on which the Son of God most sweetly reposed.

And blessed is thy heart,

kindled with most ardent love.

And blessed be the Eternal Father, Who chose thee.

And blessed be the Son, Who loved thee.

And blessed be the Holy Ghost, Who sanctified thee.

And blessed be Mary, thy spouse,

who loved thee as a spouse and a brother.

And blessed be the Angel, who guarded thee.

And blessed be forever all who bless thee and who love thee.

♔ ST JOSEPH PATRON OF THE CHURCH ♔

After the assumption of St. Joseph into Heaven one would be in error to conclude that his mission thus ended as well. Having nurtured and protected the young Jesus on earth, so too does St. Joseph watch over the Mystical Body of Christ - the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church!

In 1870 Blessed Pius IX,   issued   “Quemadmodum Deus.”   In  this  document we see the reality of the  Church  coming  under  attack,  from  all  sides and even from within. Pius IX,   stricken  with  grief  by  the assaults against the Church decided to turn to St. Joseph, not only composing a   prayer   to   him,   but   going   one   step   further,   and proclaiming  St. Joseph   to   be   the   Patron  of  the  Universal Church! This is no idle gesture in the eyes of those who truly love the Mystical Body of Christ, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Let us read an excerpt from Quemadmodum Deus:

And now, in these most troublesome times, the Church is beset by enemies on every side, and is weighed down by calamities so heavy that ungodly men assert that the gates of hell have at length prevailed against her, the venerable prelates of the whole Catholic world have presented to the Sovereign Pontiff their own petitions and those of the faithful committed to their charge, praying that he would deign to constitute St. Joseph Patron of  the Church. … Accordingly, it has now pleased our Most Holy Sovereign, Pope Pius IX, in order to entrust himself and all the faithful to the Patriarch St. Joseph’s most powerful patronage, has chosen to comply with the prelates’ desire and has solemnly declared him Patron of the Catholic  Church. – Pope Pius IX

We see from this excerpt that initially it was the people who wanted St. Joseph’s help for the Church, who petitioned their bishops, who then approached the Holy Father. Humanity was crying out for St. Joseph’s intercession. The Pope lamented that “The Church is beset by enemies on every side…” and this was all too obvious at the time as the 19th century brought much violence against the Catholic Church. How much more does our Church suffer at the hands of the world today. The Franco-Prussian war was being fought; the Italian governments wanted to take over Rome which before then had always been under the Pope’s authority; King Victor Emmanuel II waged open war against Pope Pius IX and the anti-clerical newspapers applauded the taking over of the Papal States.

This is one of the great reasons why Pius IX turned to Joseph, to protect the Papacy and the Church. The proclaiming of St. Joseph as Patron of the Catholic Church was no idle gesture. In times of calamity the papacy looked to him who had the duty of protecting none other than God the Son and His Blessed Mother.

If we truly believe that the Church is the Mystical Body of Christ, then we must have a special devotion to St. Joseph who guards this Body! He resembles the cherub who held the flaming sword, appointed by God to guard the Garden of Eden. If we hold to be true that the Holy Father is the Vicar of Christ then we must believe in the Church’s pronouncement of St. Joseph being named Patron of the Catholic Church. When a Pope speaks, his are not just meaningless words: his words are binding.

Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven… – St. Matthew 18:18

St. Joseph is pure, humble and obedient, whereas the Devil and his followers are the far opposite. They know nothing of love or purity and since these attributes are a part of the embodiment of St. Joseph, they are afraid of him. The serpent who seduced in the Garden of Eden—the Dragon who makes war on the Church in the Book of Revelation, is terrified of all that is true and holy. The Devil tempts Eve to disobey God because he is afraid of those who follow the Lord. By being afraid and at the same time too proud, the Devil resorts to manipulation and seduction to divert Eve from what is good, with Adam falling with her. The downfall of Adam and Eve is the Serpent’s triumph. Satan, in the guise of the Dragon of Revelation, makes war on the wondrous Woman Clothed with the Sun and seeks to devour her Son and those who follow him. The Dragon seeks to destroy what he does not know. He does not know love; therefore he is afraid of it, seeking to eradicate it. Since the Church is the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, which was instituted by Christ himself, the Devil wants to destroy it. If he can conquer the Church, and those who are a part of it, he is victorious.

Pope Leo XIII knew this, and even after going to St. Michael the Archangel in 1884, he still wanted more reinforcement. In 1889 he composed the Encyclical Quamquam Pluries  concerning devotion to St. Joseph. He called upon St. Joseph, because no saint, save the Blessed Virgin Mary, is as holy, as valiant, and as powerful as he is. Just as Satan is afraid of the Immaculate One, so too is he terrified of her Blessed Spouse. St. Joseph is pure of heart, body, mind and intention. St. Joseph was a man, born of a woman, and yet he is holier than the angels themselves! The demons were once holy angels and their pride brought about their downfall, so seeing this man who is all holy and all obedient to God, scares them. How could a mere man attain such greatness and glory through God? Their pride will not allow them to see this man. They are blinded with rage and are confused as to why God chose to subject himself as the Son of St. Joseph of Nazareth, a mortal.

When on Earth the Infant Jesus was hunted by King Herod, St. Joseph took him and his mother, stealing them away into the night. The Devil hoped that through the tyrant King, Jesus would be found and killed—putting a stop to God’s plan for salvation. Even before Jesus was born, St. Joseph himself was tempted to abandon the Blessed Virgin and the Son of God, but Satan would be disappointed as Joseph would prove to be, by the grace of God, the most determined of men. St. Joseph was to become one of the Devil’s greatest adversaries—even to this day.

St. Joseph was rewarded for all that he had done on Earth for God’s greater glory and has become a Prince in the Royal Court of Heaven as well as in the Holy Church on Earth. He has been granted the gifts of power and position and Satan knows this and loathes him for it. He reels with anger as he contemplates this man who God has deigned to elevate as the noble Prince of the Church. Since the Devil cannot destroy Jesus Christ, he tries to destroy the Church and those souls who are a part of it.

Pope Leo XIII, knowing the importance of St. Joseph and his position in Heaven, turns the Church, and the souls of the faithful, over to his care. The prayer he has composed is thematically similar to the prayer addressed to St. Michael, stressing the invocation for protection:

To you, O Blessed Joseph, we come in our trials, and having asked the help of your most Holy Spouse, we confidently ask your patronage also. Through  that sacred bond of charity which united you to the Immaculate Virgin   Mother of God and through the fatherly love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you to look graciously upon the beloved inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by his blood, and to aid us in our necessities with your power and strength. O most provident guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ. Most beloved father, dispel the evil of falsehood and sin. Our most mighty protector, graciously assist us from heaven in our struggle with the powers of darkness. And just as you once saved the Child Jesus from mortal danger, so now defend God’s Holy Church from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity. Shield each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your help, we may be able to live a virtuous life, to die a holy death, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. + Amen.

Pope Leo XIII has given the command to invoke and venerate a man and an angel—both beloved by the Heavenly Father. St. Joseph and St. Michael the Archangel are given to us by God as militant saints who are entrusted with the honorable duty of defending the Mystical Body of Christ. Let us not ignore the pleadings of this great Pontiff but rather take heed and listen to his words. The message of Pope Leo is just as urgent now as it was in the 19th century. 

Thirty-three years later St. Joseph appeared at Fatima, Portugal on the very anniversary of the Vision of Pope Leo, October 13, 1917. In this apparition, St. Joseph traced the Sign of The Cross with his right hand, blessing the world, as if to say that he was still vigilant in his role as Patron of the Church and still keeping watch over the faithful. He will not abandon God’s Church, nor His people.

We beheld St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle, beside the sun. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus appeared to bless the world, for they traced the sign of the cross with their hands.  – Servant of God, Sister Lúcia of Fátima

Successive Popes since the time of Leo XIII have continually exhorted the faithful to form a special devotion to St. Joseph the Patron of the Church. Just as St. Joseph led his family into and out of exile, so too does he lead the Mystical Body of Christ who is experiencing hardship and trial. More recently, on July 5, 2014, His Holiness Pope Francis has consecrated the Vatican City State to the protection of both St. Michael the Archangel and St. Joseph, showing us that the mission of these two saints has not ended, but is very real even today:

Michael is the champion of the primacy of God, of His transcendence and power. Michael struggles to restore divine justice and defends the People of God from his enemies, above all by the enemy par excellence, the Devil. And St. Michael wins because in him, there is his God who acts. … Though the devil always tries to disfigure the   face of the Archangel and that of humanity, God is stronger; it is His victory and His salvation that is offered to all men. … In consecrating Vatican City State to St. Michael the Archangel, I ask him to defend us from the evil one and banish him. We also consecrate Vatican City State to St. Joseph, guardian of Jesus, the guardian of the Holy Family. May his presence make us stronger and more courageous in making space for God in our lives to always defeat evil with good. We ask him to protect us, take care of us, so that a life of grace grows stronger in each of us every day.  – Pope Francis  

Psalm 105:21 - He made him master of his house, and ruler of all his possessions.   

Blessed Pope Pius IX, Inclytum Patriarcham:  In these latter times in which a monstrous and most abominable war has been declared against the Church of Christ … we should more efficaciously implore the compassion of God through the merits and intercession of Saint Joseph … Hence, by a special decree… We solemnly declare the blessed patriarch Joseph Patron of the Universal Church! … O God, who in your ineffable providence was pleased to choose blessed Joseph as the spouse of your most holy mother, grant, we beseech you, that we may be made worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom we venerate as our protector on earth…

Blessed Pope Pius IX, Inclytum Patriarcham: The Catholic Church rightly honors and venerates, with a feeling of deep reverence, the illustrious patriarch blessed Joseph, now crowned with glory and honor in heaven. On earth Almighty God, in preference to all His saints, willed him to be the chaste and true spouse of the Immaculate Virgin Mary as well as the putative father of His only-begotten Son. He indeed enriched him and filled him to overflowing with entirely unique graces, enabling him to execute more faithfully the duties of so sublime a state. 

Pope Benedict XVI, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 19 March 2009:  Dear brothers and sisters, our meditation on the human and spiritual journey of Saint Joseph invites us to ponder his vocation in all its richness, and to see him as a constant model for all those who have devoted their lives to Christ in the priesthood, in the consecrated life or in the different forms of lay engagement. Joseph was caught up at every moment by the mystery of the Incarnation. Not only physically, but in his heart as well, Joseph reveals to us the secret of a humanity which dwells in the presence of mystery and is open to that mystery at every moment of everyday life. 

Pope Leo XIII, Quamquam Pluries:  The Blessed Patriarch Joseph looks upon the multitude of Christians who make up the Church as confided especially to his trust - this limitless family spread over the earth, over which, because he is the spouse of Mary and the father of Jesus Christ he holds, as it were, a paternal authority. It is, then, natural and worthy that as the Blessed Joseph ministered to all the needs of the family at Nazareth and girt it about with his protection, he should now cover with the cloak of his heavenly patronage and defend the Church of Jesus Christ.

Venerable Pope Paul VI, Homily, 19 March 1969:  The Church invokes St. Joseph as her Patron and Protector through her unshakable trust that he to whom Christ willed to confide the care and protection of His own frail human childhood, will continue from heaven to perform his protective task in order to guide and defend the Mystical Body of Christ Himself, which is always weak, always under attack, always in a state of peril. We call upon St. Joseph for the world, trusting that the heart of the humble working man of Nazareth, now overflowing with immeasurable wisdom and power, still harbors and will always harbor a singular and precious fellow-feeling for the whole of mankind. So may it be. 

Pope Benedict XV, Bonum Sane:  We, full of confidence in the patronage of the one to whose provident supervision God was pleased to entrust the custody of his only-begotten Incarnate Son, and the Virgin Mother of God, we earnestly exhort all the Bishops of the Catholic world that, in times so turbulent for Christianity, to induce the faithful to pray with greater commitment for valuable help of St. Joseph. And since there are several ways approved by the Apostolic See with whom you can venerate the Holy Patriarch, especially every Wednesday throughout the year and month consecrated to Him, We want, for every Bishop to heed these requests - that all these devotions, as much as possible, are practiced in every diocese. 

Pope Benedict XVI, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 19 March 2009:  The life of Saint Joseph, lived in obedience to God’s word, is an eloquent sign for all the disciples of Jesus who seek the unity of the Church. His example helps us to understand that it is only by complete submission to the will of God that we become effective workers in the service of his plan to gather together all mankind into one family, one assembly, one ‘ecclesia.’ 

St. Bernardino of Sienna:  What then is Joseph’s position in the whole Church of Christ? Is he not a man chosen and set apart? Through him and, yes, under him, Christ was fittingly and honorably introduced into the world. Holy Church in its entirety is indebted to the Virgin Mother because through her it was judged worthy to receive Christ. But after her we undoubtedly owe special gratitude and reverence to Saint Joseph. 

Pope Benedict XV, Bonum Sane:  We now see, with true sorrow, that society is now much more depraved and corrupt than before, and that the so-called "social question" has been aggravating to such an extent as to create the threat of irreparable ruin. … World Government will no longer acknowledge the authority of the father over his children, or of the public power over the citizens, or of God over human society. All things which, if implemented, would lead to terrible social convulsions, like those which are already happening… We, therefore, concerned most of all by the course of these events … remind those on Our side, who earn their bread by their work, to save them from socialism, the sworn enemy of Christian principles, with great solicitude recommend them in particular to St. Joseph, to follow him as their guide and to receive the special honor of his heavenly patronage.

Pope Pius XI, Divini Redemptoris:  To hasten the advent of that "peace of Christ in the kingdom of Christ" so ardently desired by all, We entrust the vast campaign of the Church against world Communism under the standard of St. Joseph, her mighty Protector. He belongs to the working-class, and he bore the burdens of poverty for himself and the Holy Family, whose tender and vigilant head he was. To him was entrusted the Divine Child when Herod loosed his assassins against Him. In a life of faithful performance of everyday duties, he left an example for all those who must gain their bread by the toil of their hands. He won for himself the title of "The Just," serving thus as a living model of that Christian justice which should reign in social life. 

Pope Francis, Inaugural Mass, 19 March 2013:  How does Joseph respond to his calling to be the protector of Mary, Jesus and the Church? By being constantly attentive to God, open to the signs of God’s presence and receptive to God’s plans, and not simply to his own. […] Joseph is a “protector” because he is able to hear God’s voice and be guided by his will; and for this reason he is all the more sensitive to the persons entrusted to his safekeeping. He can look at things realistically, he is in touch with his surroundings, and he can make truly wise decisions. In him, dear friends, we learn how to respond to God’s call, readily and willingly, but we also see the core of the Christian vocation, which is Christ! Let us protect Christ in our lives, so that we can protect others, so that we can protect creation!

 ST JOSEPH PATRON OF THE CHURCH PT 1

 

ST JOSEPH PATRON OF THE CHURCH PT 2

♔ ST JOSEPH: FATHER & TEACHER OF CHRIST ♔

,And they kept saying, “Is this not Jesus the son of Joseph?” — St. John 6:42

Pope Benedict XVI, Yaoundé, Homily 18 March 2009:  There is but one fatherhood, that of God the Father, the one Creator of the world, “of all that is seen and unseen”. Yet man, created in the image of God, has been granted a share in this one paternity of God (cf. Eph 3:15). Saint Joseph is a striking case of this, since he is a father, without fatherhood according to the flesh. He is not the biological father of Jesus, whose Father is God alone, and yet he lives his fatherhood fully and completely. To be a father means above all to be at the service of life and growth. Saint Joseph, in this sense, gave proof of great devotion. For the sake of Christ he experienced persecution, exile and the poverty which this entails. He had to settle far from his native town. His only reward was to be with Christ. His readiness to do all these things illustrates the words of Saint Paul: “It is Christ the Lord whom you serve” (Col 3:24).

The Holy Bible does not give us a full account of the life of the Holy Family except for a brief mention in the Gospel of St. Luke, when Jesus is already twelve years of age. These hidden years were no doubt filled with the everyday joys and sorrows that families experience all the time.

According to Venerable Maria de Agreda, upon arriving at their home in Nazareth (having returned from their exile), St. Joseph straightaway set out to re-establish himself as a carpenter, opening up his shop to earn a living for his family:

 

The holy Joseph also ordered his occupations and his work so as most worthily to earn sustenance for the divine Child and his mother as well as for himself. That, which in other sons of Adam is considered a punishment and a hardship, was to this holy Patriarch a great happiness. For while others were condemned to sustain their natural life by the labour of their hands in the sweat of their brows, Saint Joseph was blessed and consoled beyond measure to know, that he had been chosen by his labour and sweat to support God himself and his mother. — Venerable Maria de Agreda

As years went by, Joseph, having now established his family and his work in Nazareth, would go on to teach his son in the ways of life. No doubt that he could learn a lot from his son, but Jesus chooses to respect his intelligence, his hard work, his human nature. In renaissance art, Joseph is often depicted in the background, not playing an active part in the life of Christ when the exact opposite would be true. Who would have spent the most time with Christ besides the Blessed Mother? It would be Joseph, his father.

For the first few years of life, the Child Jesus would have been reared mostly

by his mother while his father went off to work. Once the Child Jesus grew to suitable age, St. Joseph would take over and instruct him in the ways of life through work and schooling.

St. Francis de Sales: If princes of this world are most careful in choosing tutors for their sons, taking pains to secure the best that can be found, do you think that God did not select the man who was the most perfectly qualified to be the guardian of his eternal Son, the Lord of heaven and earth?

Joseph would most certainly have taught Christ how to read, how to pray, and how to work just like any other father would. This scholastic view of Joseph as teacher is rarely thought of among the theologians or painted in the arts. However, during the seventeenth century, many artists began to portray him as somewhat of a scholar, with an open book in front of him. In some of these paintings, he is actually pointing to a verse in the book, which we assume is our Holy Scripture, as he gazes at the Child Jesus. What does this mean to us? What is Joseph telling us? He was well aware of the prophecies that spoke of a future Messiah, and the depiction of him with the book while looking at Jesus is telling us that Jesus is in fact the Promised One and his father is showing this to us.

Let us not assume that just because he worked with his hands, he was illiterate and did not take the time to read the words of the prophets. We are told in Scripture that when Jesus came to this earth, he emptied himself and did not cling to his divinity, so as to be like one of us (Philippians2:5-9.) Jesus genuinely willed himself to learn from his father on earth and to grow as any other Jewish boy would. Joseph was a father, guardian, and teacher to his son. This Joseph of ours is both worker and intellectual, and no doubt he passed these ideals on to Christ our Lord.

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, gives us words to meditate on concerning the fatherhood of St. Joseph:

We look at Joseph – as the model of the educator, who safeguards and accompanies Jesus in his journey of growth "in wisdom, years and grace", as the Gospel of Luke tells us. "He was not the father of Jesus, the Father was God, but he was a father to help him grow in years, wisdom and grace.

Let's start with his age, which is the most natural dimension, physical and psychological growth. Joseph, together with Mary, took care of Jesus, first of all from this point of view, he  'raised him', worrying that he had all he needed for a healthy development. Let us not forget that the faithful care of the life of the Child also led to the flight into Egypt, the harsh experience of living as refugees to escape the threat of Herod. Then, once they returned home and settled in Nazareth, there is the long period of the hidden life of Jesus within the Holy Family. During those years, Joseph also taught Jesus his work, Jesus learned to be a carpenter.

Let's move on to the second dimension of Christ's education, that of "wisdom". Scripture says that the beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord. Joseph was an example and teacher of this wisdom for Jesus, which he nourished by the Word of God.  We can imagine how Joseph taught the child Jesus to listen to the Holy Scriptures, especially accompanying him on the Sabbath to the synagogue in Nazareth. Joseph accompanied Jesus so he would listen to the word of God in the synagogue.

And finally, the dimension of "grace". Again St. Luke tells us referring to Jesus: "The grace of God was upon him". Here certainly the part reserved to St Joseph is more limited than in the areas of age and wisdom. But it would be a grave mistake to think that a father and a mother do nothing to educate their children to grow in the grace of God.

The mission of St. Joseph is certainly unique and unrepeatable, because Jesus is unique.  However, in his guarding Jesus, educating him to grow in years, wisdom and grace, he is a model for all educators, especially for parents. St. Joseph is the model educator and father, the model for dads.

 — Pope Francis, Homily 19 March 2014       

Proverbs 4:1-7 – Hear, O children, a father’s instruction, be attentive, that you may gain understanding! . . . When I was my father’s child, frail, yet the darling of my mother, he taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart hold fast my words! Keep my commands, do not forget; go not astray from the words of my mouth.”  

♔ THE OBEDIENCE OF ST JOSEPH, EXILE INTO EGYPYT & DISMAS THE GOOD THIEF ♔

Taken from the book: "St Joseph Son of David"

Being the head of the Holy Family and its appointed guide and provider, Joseph received yet another message from the Archangel Gabriel, the Messenger of the Lord:

“Arise, and take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and remain there until I tell thee! For Herod will seek the child to destroy him!” - St. Matthew 2:13

Joseph didn’t know why Herod wanted to kill the Child Jesus, nor did he have time to think about this, all he knew was he had to get his wife and son to safety. They quietly stole away into the night, moving like shadows in the street. The night would have been cold and dark, their only lamp the light of the moon and the stars in the sky. As Joseph guided the donkey out of Bethlehem, he pondered in his heart: “Why would a king want to hurt an innocent child? What has my son done to warrant this murderous plot? He’s just a baby!” Mary, too, wondered with Joseph as to why this child was a target for Herod’s anger.

The words of Simeon, the elder from the temple, echoed in their minds: “Behold,this child is destined for the fall and rise of many!” Could this already be the beginning fulfillment of his words? Jesus was barely two months old and already he had stirred up hope in the lowly and fear in the mighty! To St. Joseph was given the responsibility and honour of safeguarding the life of the Christ Child as well as that of the Blessed Virgin. The Wise Men of the East had inquired to Herod about the birth of the King of the Jews in Bethlehem and this made him nervous. Rather than risk losing his crown, Herod unleashed his wrath and his insecurities by sending his soldiers to Bethlehem to kill every boy under the age of two years of age, just to be sure. While soldiers were swarming into Bethlehem and tearing infants away from their mothers’ breasts, the Holy Family were already far into the desert.

... and he sent and slew all the boys in Bethlehem and all its neighbourhood who were two years old or under ... - St. Matthew 2:16

The angel had given no other instruction other than to flee to Egypt and to remain there until further word. This uncertainty would have been incredibly distressful to Joseph, but he being a perfect model of obedience to the Will of God asked no questions. He stands in great contrast to the great Lawgiver Moses who made numerous inquiries and hesitations as the Lord commanded him to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, even though the Lord had promised to be among him and his people. The Lord even said that he would show many signs and wonders for their consolation, and yet they complained and caused themselves grief.

Joseph was commanded by the angel to get up and go, no help is promised, no directions given and no words of consolation. In the Gospel of St. Matthew, Joseph is shown to us as a man of faith and a man of action - obedient upon receiving his instructions and is shown to us as a perfect example of complete submission to the Divine Will.

So he arose, and took the child and his mother

by night, and withdrew into Egypt...

- St. Matthew 2:14

Concerning this man of action, we are given the words of Pope Benedict XVI to contemplate the example St. Joseph gives us of his faith and fidelity to the Lord:

“In Joseph, faith is not separated from action. His faith had a decisive effect on his actions. Paradoxically, it was by acting, by carrying out his responsibilities, that he stepped aside and left God free to act, placing no obstacles in his way. Joseph is a ‘just’ man because his existence is ‘ad-justed’ to the word of God.”

- Pope Benedict XVI, Yaoundé, Cameroon, March 18, 2009

The sun, beginning to rise, and their cover of darkness slowly vanishing, we can imagine Our Lady praying silently over her boy, her lips whispering a prayer for divine help in her hour of need and especially for Joseph, her just husband who was leading them into exile:

“Hearken to my words, O Lord, attend to my sighing. Heed my call for help, my king and my God! To You I pray, O Lord; at dawn you hear my voice; at dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you. Protect [us], that you may be the joy of [us] who love your name! ... O Lord, bless the just man ... surround him with the shield of your good will.” - Psalm 5:2-5, 12

Though his wife was praying quietly, Joseph heard her pleas to the Lord and was touched by her reverence. She was a strong woman and though she cried, her tears filled him with the strength to walk onwards, regardless of how tired his feet were.

Thus says the Lord: “Cease your cries of mourning, wipe the tears from your eyes. The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward …” - Jeremiah 31:16

Christ was Joseph’s love and salvation, and though He was not flesh of his flesh or blood of his blood, Jesus was still his son. And as long as he kept his faith in the Lord - especially during trials and sufferings - Joseph would not fail. As the terrain turned rougher, the family spent several days walking in the hot sun and sleeping under whatever shelter they could find. Also, Joseph got very little sleep since he kept watch almost all night, as it was not uncommon to hear stories of travelers being robbed, raped, and even killed in the desert!

DISMAS THE GOOD THIEF 
There is a tradition as early as the 3^rd century, found predominately in the Eastern Church, that the Holy Family themselves encountered thieves in the desert. Upon traveling, St. Joseph and his family found themselves in an area inhabited by a band of thieves – one of whom was named Dismas. Dismas saw this vulnerable family approaching and was about to attack and rob them when his eyes saw the face of the Divine Infant. It is said that he recognized the Child Jesus as his Lord and at once repented. 

During their flight into Egypt the Holy Family fell into the hands of robbers. One of them, ravished by the beauty of the Child, said to his companions: ‘Verily I say to you that if it were possible for God to assume our nature I should believe this Child to be God.’ ... they allowed the Holy Family to depart unhurt. - Blessed James of Voragine (1226-1298), Sermon on the Flight into Egypt

It is said that later at the crucifixion, Dismas was the thief to the right hand of Our Lord, in whom he professed his faith, and asked pardon. Traditionally on a crucifix, Jesus tilts his head to his right-hand side, acknowledging the reverence paid to him by the Good Thief.

And he said to Jesus, “Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom”

- St. Luke 23:42

The desert was a no man’s land, save for thieves and wild animals. On the rare occasions that the Holy Family encountered a group of nomads, St. Joseph would cautiously approach them to see if they had good intentions and if they had any food to spare, as their supplies were running low. He would accept only what was offered and would decipher if this group was noble or not to be trusted. If they were in fact well-meaning people, he would bring Mary and Jesus along to eat and rest. These encounters were few, but we imagine that they must have run into some people, as there would be other cautious travelers going to or from Egypt. But these rest stops were few and lasted only a few moments as they were not safe until they reached Egypt.

THE HOLY INNOCENTS

Meanwhile, Herod’s fury raged in Bethlehem and its surrounding towns, innocent blood streamed down the streets as mothers and fathers wept for their sons. Joseph saw his wife’s tears as she thought about these families - families that were just like theirs and he, though strong on the outside, was weeping bitterly in his heart. Just thinking about the fathers wrestling to save their sons made his heart swell with sorrow.

Had the angel not warned him, it would have been him, fighting to save his only son. It would have been his wife, sobbing in the streets. It would have been his boy who was killed by the sword of a jealous king. These men’s sons would be the first martyrs to spill their blood for Jesus Christ - these Holy Innocents dying for Christ without even knowing it, but great is their reward in Heaven.

After construction of the Church of the Nativity, built over the spot of Christ’s birth, the Empress St. Helena (ca. 250-330) brought the relics of some of these little children and placed them in one of the church’s underground chapels, which was subsequently dedicated to their memory. Under the altar repose the little bodies and holy relics of these innocent children, beloved by God and His Church.

The Roman Catholic Church celebrates these victim children, piously referred to as the “Holy Innocents”, on December 28^th. The Church also names them “Flowers of the Martyrs” as they were the buds of the new Church, being cut down in the persecution of Herod.   

... I saw under the altar, the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God, ... and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, (holy and true), dost Thou refrain from judging and from avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” - Revelation 6:9

“Joseph guarded from death the Child threatened by a monarch's jealousy, and found for Him a refuge; in the miseries of the journey and in the bitterness of exile he was ever the companion, the assistance, and the upholder of the Virgin and of Jesus.” - Pope Leo XIII, Quamquam Pluries, August 15, 1889