The hearer of the words of God hath said, he that hath beheld the vision of the Almighty, he that falleth, and so his eyes are opened. - Numbers 24:4
he
oracle of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the
Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered, - See more at:
http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/ecstasy#sthash.DESlhT0l.dpuf
A seldom
asked question is, “Was Joseph present at the moment of Christ’s Birth?”
Some Eastern Rites believe that he went out looking for a midwife and when he
returned with her, the child had already been born. However, according to
Venerable Maria de Agreda (1602-1665) and St. Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), St.
Joseph was indeed present at Christ’s birth. We are told that blessed Joseph was
enraptured in holy ecstasy and called out of it when Our Lord was born:
Venerable Maria de Agreda: Saint Joseph
retired to a corner of the entrance, where he began to pray. He was immediately
visited by the Holy Spirit and felt a most sweet and extraordinary influence,
by which he was wrapt and elevated into an ecstasy. In it was shown him all
that passed during that night in this blessed cave; for he did not return to
consciousness until his heavenly spouse called him. Such was the sleep which
Saint Joseph enjoyed in that night, more exalted and blessed than that of Adam
in paradise. . . . Joseph issued from his ecstasy and, on being
restored to consciousness, the first sight of his eyes was the divine Child in
the arms of the Virgin Mother reclining against her sacred countenance and
breast. There he adored Him in profoundest humility and in tears of joy he
kissed His feet in great joy and admiration.
St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: . . . I saw the stable of Bethlehem
filled with great radiance. The Blessed Virgin, all lost in the deepest of
love, was wrapping Jesus in swaddling clothes, but Joseph was still asleep as it were (in his ecstacy).
Only after the Mother of God put Jesus in
the manger, did the light of God awaken Joseph, who also prayed.
Pope Benedict XVI, Vatican
Gardens, 5 July 2010: 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.
So as we can
see, St. Joseph was present at the birth of the Holy Child as God would not
want him to miss the greatest moment of his life. Though St. Joseph was
experiencing an ecstasy of the Nativity, he was still present and once he was
awakened from it he was the first man to adore the Divine Child. He held the
Infant in his arms and kissed the feet of the Lord. Joseph was, as most fathers
would be, at this moment: anxious, joyful, and proud! His wife had just given
birth to Love Incarnate, the Saviour, and a New Adam for the world!
Genesis 17:16 – I will bless her, and she shall be the mother of nations
. . .
St. Luke 2:7 – . . . she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped
him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room
for them in the inn.
Revelation 12:5 – And
she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations.
Words cannot
truly express the magnitude of this event in history. This single moment, the
bringing of this child into our world, means one thing to us, yet there are so
many ways to describe what has just taken place. Salvation has just been given
to us in this Child! We hear the choirs of angels rejoicing at the birth with
the night sky illuminated as if it were day, the choirs emanating light as they
sound the hymn of praise to Almighty God. Salvation has come to mankind!
Revelation 19:6-7 – And I heard as it were a voice of a great crowd, and as
the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunders, saying, “Alleluia!
. . . Let us be glad and rejoice and give glory to Him;”
Psalm 113:1-4 – Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the
Lord . . . From the rising and setting of the sun is the name of the Lord to be
praised! High above all nations is the Lord; above the heavens is His glory!
♔ PATERNAL AUTHORITY ♔
On this most
holy of nights, Joseph entered into the nobility of fatherhood and his
paternity was far more superior to that of a “legal guardian” or
“foster-father” as many people are known to label him. Jesus, being conceived
by the Holy Spirit, was the crowning splendour of the virginal espousals of St.
Joseph and Our Lady. He wished to humble himself by being born of a woman and
by submitting himself to the paternal authority of his chosen father Joseph, thereby
establishing a true relationship between father and son. Joseph assumed all
responsibility and honour befitting a father and it was Jesus who willed that
he be master over himself and his Blessed Mother, giving St. Joseph his
rightful place as the head of the Holy Family. Though Christ is King and Our Lady
is Queen, Joseph has sovereign authority over both of them as the established
father-head of the family.
Psalm 105:21 – He made him master of his house, and
ruler of all his possessions.
St. Luke 12:42, 44 – Who dost thou think, is the faithful and prudent steward whom
the master will set over his household . . . ? Truly I say to you, he will set
him over all his goods.
