♔ CROWN OF ETERNAL LIFE: THE ASSUMPTION OF ST. JOSEPH ♔

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“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will
give thee the crown of life.” — Revelation 2:10

Of all the saints in Christendom, the only pair of whom we possess no first-class relics are the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. We attribute this lack of bodily relics to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven body and soul which is one of the great Marian Dogmas of the Church. This tradition has been popularly believed from the earliest days of the Church but was not officially defined as dogma until November 1, 1950 by Venerable Pope Pius XII.

The same reasoning is applied to lack of bodily relics of St. Joseph, Virgin-Father of Christ and Chaste Spouse of Mary. We can feel validated in the possible belief of the Assumption of St. Joseph by looking to the apparitions of the 20^th century. When St Joseph appeared at Fatima, Portugal, to bless the world on October 13, 1917 holding the Child Jesus and standing next to Our Lady, would he just have been some type of "ghost" holding the flesh and blood Jesus standing next to flesh and blood Blessed Virgin? It doesn't make sense that the Earthly Trinity: Jesus, Mary and Joseph - who were so closely united on Earth, would be hindered in their union in Heaven. That is just one small example.

It is believed that after St. Joseph's happy and holy passing, his body was entombed in the foothills of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem before it was assumed into Heaven on the day of Christ’s glorious ascension. While his body was in the tomb, his soul entered the Bosom of Abraham (Limbo) where he was to announce to the prophets and patriarchs of the Old Covenant the Good News of Christ and their forthcoming entry to Heaven (after the coming Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Our Lord.) When the time for Christ's Ascension came, St. Joseph's soul was united with his body and was assumed into Heaven. Many saints and mystics piously believe in the bodily assumption of St. Joseph into Heaven – just as Our Lord had done for his mother.  Here is just a sampling of them:

St. Francis de Sales: How could we doubt that Our Lord raised glorious St. Joseph up into Heaven, body and soul? For he had the honor and grace of carrying Him so often in his blessed arms, arms in which Our Lord took so much pleasure. St. Joseph is therefore in Heaven body and soul, without a doubt.     

St. Bernardino of Sienna:  In the same way that Mary was assumed into Heaven, it is thought that Jesus deigned to glorify Joseph. In this way, all of the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary and Joseph – who lived together on Earth, would reign together in Heaven.

Servant of God Mother Cecilia Baij:  When the Savior of the world gloriously and victoriously arose from the dead … he thereafter proceeded to deliver and to take with him from Limbo, those souls which had been confined there. Joseph’s glorified soul was, by the power of God, again reunited to his blessed body. … Joseph made his entry into heaven together with the Savior on the occasion of his remarkable Ascension. There the Saint now occupies, in virtue of his    virginity and great purity of soul, a most distinguished throne near to the unspotted Lamb of God.

Pope St. John XXIII:  We name two of the most intimate persons in Christ’s life: John the Baptist – the Precursor, and Joseph of Nazareth – his putative father and custodian. It corresponds to them – we may piously believe – the honor and the privilege of Jesus allowing them to admirably accompany him on the path to Heaven (on the day of his Ascension) and to sing the first notes of the never ending hymn, “Te Deum”. 

If ever a man existed who deserves the splendor of Heaven it is St. Joseph, the just man who lived such an honorable and holy life. He is united with his beloved spouse Mary and with Jesus the Eternal Son, whom he raised as his own flesh and blood. His trials reminiscent of the exile into Egypt have long faded, his anxieties have been calmed, and his rough hands, which supported his family, have been soothed by the Divine Healer, who crowns his achievements and tribulations with everlasting life.            

. . . when he has been tried, he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.  — St. James 1:12

The Saints Speak of St Joseph

When God, destines anyone for a particular office, He gives him the graces that fit him for it. Therefore, since God chose St. Joseph to fill the office of father over the person of the Incarnate Word, we must certainly believe that he conferred upon him all the sanctity which belonged to such an office. 

Among other privileges, Joseph had three which were special to him. Firstly, that he was sanctified in his mother's womb, as were Jeremias and St. John the Baptist. Secondly, that he was at the same time confirmed in grace. And thirdly, that he was always exempt from the inclinations of concupiscence—a privilege with which St. Joseph by the merit of his purity, favors his devout clients by delivering them from carnal appetites.

-St. Alphonsus Liguori

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In profound adoration St. Joseph, united himself to the special grace of each one of the events in the life of Jesus. He adored Our Lord in His hidden life... He adored in advance the Eucharistic Christ in His tabernacles: there was nothing that Our Lord could hide from Saint Joseph. Aside from the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph was the first and most perfect adorer of Our Lord.

- St. Peter Julian Eymard

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I find nothing sweeter to my imagination than to see little Jesus in the arms of great Saint Joseph calling him father in childlike words and with an absolute filial and loving heart.

- St. Francis de Sales
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Saint Joseph served the Incarnate Word with perfect fidelity. Think of the lively faith which inspired his uninterrupted contemplation of the Divinity of the Christ Child; think of the love and faith which he adored his God hidden in this little Child Whom he held in his arms and carried about always with the respect due to God. And when the Child had grown a little, notice how Joseph follows attentively every one of His movements, His gestures, His acts, and His works.

- St. Bernardino of Siena
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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
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