♔ THE NOBILITY OF ST JOSEPH SON OF DAVID ♔

And David the king begot Solomon... Matthan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, and of her was born Jesus who is called Christ. – St. Matthew 1:1-16

In all, there were forty generations from Abraham to Jesus Christ. St. Joseph was a descendent of great patriarchs, princes, and kings, and when Jesus chose Joseph to be his father on earth, he too became linked with this esteemed lineage. This brings to mind a prophecy from the book of the prophet Isaiah:

“Fear not, O Jacob . . . I will pour out My Spirit upon your offspring, and My blessing upon your descendents. … One shall say, ‘I am the Lord’s’, another shall be named after Jacob, and this one will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s’ and Israel will be his surname.” – Isaiah 44:2-5

STOLEN BIRTHRIGHT

In the Book of Genesis, the prophecy of Jacob states that the kingdom will be taken away from God’s chosen people when the arrival of Jesus, the Redeemer, is at hand. The loss of the Davidic crown was the sign of the coming of the Christ.

The scepter shall not depart from Judea… until He comes to whom it   belongs. To Him will be the obedience of nations.

– Genesis 49:10

This removal of authority happened by the time when Joseph was born into the world, to be the herald of the Lord who was to come shortly and proclaim the Kingdom of God. This kingdom would surpass those of the earthly realm and Christ would be its king. Joseph was meant to serve the Lord as a worker and to hide and humble himself in domestic life—therefore sanctifying it and giving dignity to an honest day’s work, while at the same time being a nobleman. St. Joseph had perfect claim to the throne, but with what army would he defeat the foreign king who sat in his place? And besides, what was God’s will in all this? We read the words of St. Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868) and St. Bernardino of Siena (1380-1444) who comment that though throne was taken from Joseph’s family, he was no less a king because of it:

St.Peter Julian Eymard:  Therefore, since Christ was King, of the line of David, He made St. Joseph to be born of this same royal line. He wanted him to be noble, of earthly nobility. In the veins of St. Joseph, therefore, flows the blood of David and Solomon, and of all the noble kings of Judah. If his dynasty still sat on the throne, Joseph would be the heir and would have sat on the throne in his turn. Injustice had expelled his family from the throne to which he had the right. For this he is no less a king, the son of these kings of Judah, the greatest, noblest and richest in the world. Thus in the census records of Bethlehem, St. Joseph was inscribed and recognized by the Roman governor as the heir of David: therein lies his royal title, which is easily identifiable, and bears the royal signature.

St.Bernardino of Siena: St. Joseph was born of a patriarchal, royal and princely race in a direct line. The Gospel of St. Matthew establishes the direct line of all the fathers from Abraham to the spouse of the Virgin, clearly demonstrating that all patriarchal, royal and princely dignity came together in him.

The Sovereign Lord had deigned to make St. Joseph of royal blood, placing in him all the honor and glory of the House of David. Though St. Joseph’s family no longer sat on the throne, he was still a continuation of this nobility. He carried this heritage as though it were a secret between himself and his Lord – a sacred bond between an earthly prince and the Ruler of Heaven and Earth. St. Joseph’s royalty was not shown with an outward crown, but one which was hidden within his most Chaste Heart – a heart in which the Lord took great consolation and great delight.

DREAMS OF SPLENDOR

Imagine Joseph working hard during the day, a king hidden amongst us, sweat dripping off his brow as he fought to make ends meet. Imagine him lying in bed at night, pondering life and its meaning. Did he ever wonder what life would be like if he were ruler? He had a claim to the throne and yet here he was, a laborer, making his living by working with his hands. Did he dream of living in the palace with throngs of servants and visiting dignitaries? Did he imagine his beautiful bride, full of virtue and grace? How did he picture her? She would sit next to him at the royal table, her beauty the talk of all the people. They would have banquets in halls of gold and precious stones and entertain friends till dawn. The tables would glisten with gold plates and ornaments, overflowing with fresh fruit and nuts. Musicians would play a constant stream of melodies, filling the royal air that surrounded them. Sweet perfumes and lovely dancers, wine in abundance, entertainers and exotic birds to serenade them throughout the night. Imagine this splendor and luxury. Imagine all the wealth and power he would yield. He would be the envy of every man and he would never have to do manual labour again! Imagine Joseph waking up. Yes, this would all have been a dream, but in actuality would he really have wanted all this?

The covetous man is never satisfied with money, and the lover of wealth reaps no fruit from it; … Where there are great riches, there are also many to devour them. Of what use are they to the owner except to feast his eyes upon? Sleep is sweet to the laboring man, whether he eats little or much, but the rich man’s abundance allows him no sleep.

– Sirach 5:9-12

Joseph’s humility exalted him above all his noble ancestors and made him great in the sight of God. Joseph did indeed have royal blood flowing through his veins, but he lived like an average Jewish man. He lived like an “average Joe.” No palace, no power, no crown. And this was fine with him because he enjoyed his life and felt blessed to have what he did. In him, the Lord was preparing a true friend, and just as Jesus chose some of His apostles from among the lowly, He too chose His father. When Christ gives us the Beatitudes, surely we see Joseph as one of the blessed in God’s eyes:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth. … Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. … Rejoice and exult, because your reward is great in Heaven! – St. Matthew 5:3-12

St Joseph Patron of the Catholic Church

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!

 

 

Nobility of St Joseph Son of David

.And David the king begot Solomon... Matthan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, and of her was born Jesus who is called Christ. - St. Matthew 1:1-16

The Sovereign Lord had deigned to make St. Joseph of royal blood, placing in him all the honor and glory of the House of David.

Though St. Joseph’s family no longer sat on the throne, he was still a continuation of this nobility. He carried this heritage as though it were a secret between himself and his Lord – a sacred bond between an earthly prince and the Ruler of Heaven and Earth. 

St. Joseph’s royalty was not shown with an outward crown, but one which was hidden within his most Chaste Heart – a heart in which the Lord Jesus took great consolation and great delight. - Joe Rodrigues, "St. Joseph Prince of the Church"

St. Peter Julian Eymard: Therefore, since Christ was King, of the line of David, He made Saint Joseph to be born of this same royal line. He wanted him to be noble, of earthly nobility. In the veins of St. Joseph, therefore, flows the blood of David and Solomon, and of all the noble kings of Judah. If his dynasty still sat on the throne, St. Joseph would be the heir and would have sat on the throne in his turn.

St. Bernardino of Siena: St. Joseph was born of a patriarchal, royal and princely race in a direct line. (The Gospel of) St. Matthew establishes the direct line of all the fathers from Abraham to the spouse of the Virgin, clearly demonstrating that all patriarchal, royal and princely dignity came together in him. 

St. Peter Julian Eymard: Injustice had expelled his family from the throne to which he had the right. For this he is no less a king, the son of these kings of Judah, the greatest, noblest and richest in the world. Thus in the census records of Bethlehem, St. Joseph was inscribed and recognized by the Roman governor as the heir of David: therein lies his royal title, which is easily identifiable, and bears the royal signature.

 

Royalty of St Joseph - Apostolate Mini-Presentation