♔ THE ADOLESCENT ST. JOSEPH ♔

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Venerable Maria de Agreda

Young St. Joseph was of a kind disposition, loving, and affable, sincere, showing inclinations not only holy but angelic, growing in virtue and perfection and advancing toward his espousal with most holy Mary by an altogether irreproachable life.

Servant of God, Mother CeciliaBaij

St. Joseph never caused God any displeasure, committing neither mortal sin, nor any deliberate venial sin; and he made every effort to avoid even the very shadow of sin, always taking to heart the admonition of the Holy Spirit: “Whosoever disregards little faults, will eventually fall into greater ones.” He was ever careful in this respect, and very conscientious about minor things.

As he grew older Joseph made great strides in the practice of virtue, in the love for God, and in the study of the Scriptures, especially the Psalms of David. He recited them so frequently, he knew most of them by heart. Joseph’s life developed along these lines for fifteen years. He continuously preserved undefiled his early innocence.

He guarded his senses most carefully, especially his eyes, remembering how David and many others had fallen through curious looks which ought to have been avoided. The more that he mortified his senses in order to remain faithful to God, the more grace did he receive from God, and the more intense did his love become for this one and only object of all his love and desires.

When he felt impelled to gaze at something which would delight the eye, but which became an occasion for remorse, considering the likelihood of being drawn into sin, he would quickly raise his eyes towards heaven and seek contentment in contemplating with the eyes of the spirit the uncreated beauties of God. By means of contemplation of heavenly things, he gradually lost all enjoyment in creatures; inflamed ever more with the love of God, he experienced all that joy which is to be found in occupying oneself solely with God and seeking one’s delight in Him alone.

… Among other things, Joseph had received a special faculty for giving effective assistance to the afflicted. Whenever he conversed with such people, his attitude and treatment somehow always managed to produce an alleviation of sorrow. Of course, he always had recourse to God, and pleaded fervently for comfort in behalf of those with whom he had to deal. His ability to ease the burden of the oppressed became known throughout the locality, and brought many to his home to listen to him and to obtain his assistance.

He gave encouragement to all to bear up under their afflictions; he would exhort them to confidently recommend themselves to God, from Whom they could expect all that was good, all that was comforting, and Who, in His power, could bestow generously upon everyone. At the same time he would ask them to pray that God, in His goodness, might expedite the manifestation of His mercy by sending the promised Messiah, because they all could expect to find their greatest consolation in Him. Many a man, weighed down with poverty, lacking even the bare necessities of life eventually had recourse to Joseph, and was confident that he would help him. Joseph then humbly had to ask his parents to provide what was necessary for the needy applicant. They always readily complied with their son’s wishes.

As he made the distribution to the poor, Joseph would say: “See what great benefits you are receiving from the good God! He has given all this to me through the hands of my father for the sole purpose of aiding you. It is no more than right that you give thanks to Him, even as I do, for these things.” In this way he hoped to avoid praise for any charitable deeds, for he also considered himself to be a poor wretch, and overwhelmingly blessed with heavenly benefactions for the sole purpose of having him share them with others.

It is not surprising, therefore, to find him so solicitous that everything should be received as coming from the bountiful hand of God, to Whom he wished to give all honor and thanksgiving. Those who came to him for alms esteemed him for this, and praised him throughout the village.

All this provided certain vicious characters with an inducement to envy and persecution. They spoke ill of Joseph, declaring that he did everything merely to be praised and honored. The devil made good use of these evil-minded creatures to bring the virtue of the holy youth into bad repute. When Joseph was informed of all this … he recommended all his calumniators to God, and when he encountered these critics he was always polite and friendly. If he had the opportunity to engage in a conversation with them, he would remark: “It matters but little what you do to me, but you ought to have more concern not to offend God.” Some of these individuals gradually grew to like Joseph, because of his gentle and charitable attitude. He was always humble and submissive towards everyone, and was really convinced that others possessed more virtue than he. Small wonder that obstinate hearts were softened by his kind and loving words. It was evident that the Saint lived in prayerful communion with God and that his soul was filled with the Holy Spirit.