Taken from the book "St. Joseph Prince of the Church." 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. But According to St. Faustina Kowalska
(1905-1938) and Venerable Maria de Agreda (1602-1665), both whom received
private revelations from the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph was indeed present
when Christ was born – however he was enraptured in holy ecstasy and called out
of it after the child was born:
“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... - Ven. Maria de Agreda, Mystical City of God: Book 4, Ch. 4
... 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. Only after the Mother of God put Jesus in the manger, did the light of
God awaken Joseph, who also prayed. - Diary
of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine
Mercy in My Soul (3rd Ed.)
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 Holy Eucharist in the form of 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!
“I will
bless her, and she shall be the mother of nations…” - Genesis 17:16
... 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. - St. Luke
2:7
... And
she brought forth a male child, one who was to rule all the nations... - Revelation
12:5
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!
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;” - Revelation 19:6-7
“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!” - Psalm 113:1-4
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 tempted to label him. Jesus, being conceived by the power of 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, taking 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.
“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.” - St. Luke 12:42, 44
