♔ THE GREAT DIGNITY OF ST. JOSEPH ♔ – by St. Leonard of Port-Maurice

Text by St. Leonard of Port-Maurice - There is a prophetic figure who embodies the greatness of our saint: according to St. Bernardine, Joseph of the Old Testament represents in the distant past the awe-inspiring prerogatives of Mary’s spouse.

You will remember that extraordinary dream in which the first Joseph saw the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowing down at his feet. (Genesis37:9) This dream was an ecstatic vision sent to Joseph by God Himself to show his imminent rise in rank, and to also point out the future greatness of our saint.

I leave it to you to ponder over the great destiny of the first Joseph who saw not only his family, but all of Egypt, prostrate at his feet.

Almighty God, who could ever begin to fathom it! Do you not think St. Joseph was moved to see Jesus and Mary at his feet, as if they were servants, showing the most loving signs of respect? This is what makes me bold enough to assert that Joseph, in order to become Mary’s spouse, must have been the greatest person to have ever lived, after the Virgin herself. I don’t mean that kind of greatness in which the ambitious boast of their honors to gain the empty respect of men. If you study his lineage you will see that Joseph, not lacking such greatness, could boast of having fourteen kings as ancestors, and as many patriarchs and leaders – none of them as great as he despite their scepters and crowns. According to St. Bernardine of Siena, Joseph came from a line of such illustrious nobility, reaching nearly to the Heavens and including many prophets and patriarchs, that he was able to bestow earthly nobility on the Word Itself.

However it is not because of this greatness that Joseph is praised. If he has dignity in himself, it is not because of the greatness of his ancestors. His identity as a carpenter was as dear to him as the title of prince. The royal scepter was not more important to him than the workman’s hammer. His greatness comes above all from his glorious title: “the just one”. This is what pleases him most; for this he will be admired for all time. All Joseph’s glories are summed up in the eulogy: Joseph was a just man. (St. Matthew 1:19).

If you really want to understand the greatness of St. Joseph as “just”: analyze the word itself. It sums up all the virtues and height of Christian perfection. The holy Father of the Church, St. Maximinus of Turin, tells us the same thing: “Do you wish to know why Joseph is called just? Because he possessed perfectly all the virtues.” What more can one say about a man than to say that he posses all the virtues to a perfect degree? Is this not the highest praise? And who could compare himself in grandeur to Joseph who deserved this praise? Could Adam who, before the fall, appeared with all the animals subject to him? Could Moses who commanded creatures with his rod? Could Abraham surrounded by his descendants like a sun in the midst of stars? Call to mind Josue stopping the sun at the command of his voice; Solomon seeing queens prostrate before his throne; and you, miracle workers, show us how nature obeys your commands. Realize, however, that all these powers cannot make you equal to St. Joseph. For you received these powers and virtues only in part, while Joseph had them all and to a perfect degree.

Humble yourselves then at his feet, all you prophets, patriarchs, apostles, martyrs, miracle workers, all you great ones of Heaven and earth, just as in ancient times the sun and the moon and the stars bowed down to honor the first Joseph.

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If Our Lord Jesus Christ – God-made-man, second Person of the Holy Trinity, Redeemer of the World, and His Blessed Virgin Mother, humbled themselves in the service of the established Head of the Holy Family, why then should we be any different? Let us imitate Our Lord in His absolute humility to be subject to St. Joseph of Nazareth. Are we too proud to honor the man whom God Himself honored as His earthly father? Or even His Blessed Mother? Will we pick and choose what parts of Christ’s life to imitate, or will we surrender ourselves to His entire livelihood? Jesus I trust in You and I trust in honoring those whom You honor, in loving those whom You love.  – J. Rodrigues

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