![THE TEKTON & THE APPRENTICE
As you know, I have a great devotion to St. Joseph. He has been so good to me, and I am very blessed to have him as my patron and father. It is a joy to spread devotion to the Guardian of the Redeemer and the most chaste spouse of Our Lady.
In previous posts I have mentioned an amazing book that all spiritual sons and daughters of St. Joseph should own, The Life of St. Joseph by Sr. Maria Cecilia Baij, O.S.B. in which she recounts her private revelations of the hidden life of our beloved Patriarch and his relationship with Jesus and Mary in Bethlehem, Egypt, and Nazareth.
Here is how Sr. Maria Cecilia describes the Boy Jesus working along side his foster father whom the Gospels describe with the Greek word, tekton, a craftsman or person who works with his hands like a carpenter or masonry worker.
As soon as the Divine Youth grew up sufficiently to be able to render some assistance to Joseph, He sought of His own accord to go and help him in his work and to console him by His presence. The happy Joseph never considered that Jesus actually wanted to humble Himself to such an extent as to perform this menial work, and when Jesus offered His willing assistance, the Saint was so deeply moved and declared he would never allow it unless the Heavenly Father Himself had actually ordained it.
Turning to Jesus he exclaimed: “Oh, Eternal Wisdom, why do You wish to humiliate Yourself to such a degree? How can I, Your servant, consent to see You devoting Yourself to such work as this, delicate as You are, and engaged as You are in continually treating with Your Heavenly Father concerning the vital business of man’s redemption? How could I look on and see You being thus humiliated?”
The holy Youth set his mind at rest by declaring that this was the will of His Heavenly Father, and that in reality He Himself had come into the world not to be ministered unto, but rather to minister, wherefore, it was necessary that He should give an example of disdain for all ostentation and worldly esteem. Joseph submitted to the will of the Heavenly Father and no longer made any objection. Instead, he pondered over the joy that would be his by having his Jesus with him in the workshop. He became exceedingly consoled, and proclaimed his unbounded happiness. Turning to Mary, he expressed to Her his regret that She would, necessarily, be deprived of the loving presence of Jesus during those periods of time in which He would now be with him. The Mother of God, being always conformed to the divine will and with a heart brimming with love, assured him that She was happy about the consolations that would be his, and that the divine will would be accomplished.
One can well imagine what spiritual joy the happy Joseph must have experienced, and how filled with consolation he must have been, as he took his beloved Jesus with him. When he started to work it seemed to him as if he was in Paradise. Was not the Son of God Himself there beside him, seeking to be of assistance to him? Sometimes, the Boy Jesus would hand him tools, at other times pieces of lumber, even though He was only about five or six years old, He apparently wanted to carry on like a strong, grown-up man, as was indicated by the efforts he made to lift up the heavier boards. The Saint was deeply touched by this and tried in every way possible to limit these exertions. Besides all this, the Divine Youth was always so obliging that He even anticipated Joseph’s needs; and He performed everything in a most gracious spirit.
Oh, my friends, let us be like Jesus: apprentices of Joseph, diligently performing our daily work under the guidance and close to the side of the holy Tekton of Nazareth!
[Image: not mine.]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/f3eca4981087b9e46fd0f8a4780c7329/tumblr_mm5wixmHeX1qme924o2_500.jpg)
THE TEKTON & THE APPRENTICE
As you know, I have a great devotion to St. Joseph. He has been so good to me, and I am very blessed to have him as my patron and father. It is a joy to spread devotion to the Guardian of the Redeemer and the most chaste spouse of Our Lady.
In previous posts I have mentioned an amazing book that all spiritual sons and daughters of St. Joseph should own, The Life of St. Joseph by Sr. Maria Cecilia Baij, O.S.B. in which she recounts her private revelations of the hidden life of our beloved Patriarch and his relationship with Jesus and Mary in Bethlehem, Egypt, and Nazareth.
Here is how Sr. Maria Cecilia describes the Boy Jesus working along side his foster father whom the Gospels describe with the Greek word, tekton, a craftsman or person who works with his hands like a carpenter or masonry worker.
As soon as the Divine Youth grew up sufficiently to be able to render some assistance to Joseph, He sought of His own accord to go and help him in his work and to console him by His presence. The happy Joseph never considered that Jesus actually wanted to humble Himself to such an extent as to perform this menial work, and when Jesus offered His willing assistance, the Saint was so deeply moved and declared he would never allow it unless the Heavenly Father Himself had actually ordained it.
Turning to Jesus he exclaimed: “Oh, Eternal Wisdom, why do You wish to humiliate Yourself to such a degree? How can I, Your servant, consent to see You devoting Yourself to such work as this, delicate as You are, and engaged as You are in continually treating with Your Heavenly Father concerning the vital business of man’s redemption? How could I look on and see You being thus humiliated?”
The holy Youth set his mind at rest by declaring that this was the will of His Heavenly Father, and that in reality He Himself had come into the world not to be ministered unto, but rather to minister, wherefore, it was necessary that He should give an example of disdain for all ostentation and worldly esteem. Joseph submitted to the will of the Heavenly Father and no longer made any objection. Instead, he pondered over the joy that would be his by having his Jesus with him in the workshop. He became exceedingly consoled, and proclaimed his unbounded happiness. Turning to Mary, he expressed to Her his regret that She would, necessarily, be deprived of the loving presence of Jesus during those periods of time in which He would now be with him. The Mother of God, being always conformed to the divine will and with a heart brimming with love, assured him that She was happy about the consolations that would be his, and that the divine will would be accomplished.
One can well imagine what spiritual joy the happy Joseph must have experienced, and how filled with consolation he must have been, as he took his beloved Jesus with him. When he started to work it seemed to him as if he was in Paradise. Was not the Son of God Himself there beside him, seeking to be of assistance to him? Sometimes, the Boy Jesus would hand him tools, at other times pieces of lumber, even though He was only about five or six years old, He apparently wanted to carry on like a strong, grown-up man, as was indicated by the efforts he made to lift up the heavier boards. The Saint was deeply touched by this and tried in every way possible to limit these exertions. Besides all this, the Divine Youth was always so obliging that He even anticipated Joseph’s needs; and He performed everything in a most gracious spirit.
Oh, my friends, let us be like Jesus: apprentices of Joseph, diligently performing our daily work under the guidance and close to the side of the holy Tekton of Nazareth!
[Image: not mine.]
![Here is a great piece of art to celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker and the month dedicated to Our Lady.
[Picture: The Holy Family by James Langley; another fine example of beautiful modern Catholic art]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3d4w58d5L1qme924o1_500.jpg)
Here is a great piece of art to celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker and the month dedicated to Our Lady.
[Picture: The Holy Family by James Langley; another fine example of beautiful modern Catholic art]
SAGRADA FAMILIA: PASSION FACADE
On the final day of our novena to St. Joseph, I reflected on the Basilica and Expiation Temple of the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia) in Barcelona. I can honestly say with out hyperbole that it is one of the few places that literally took my breath away. I also talked about its holy architect, Servant of God Antoni Gaudí.
During his Apostolic Visit to Spain in which he consecrated La Sagrada Familia and raised it to the status of a minor basilica, Pope Benedict called this extraordinary sanctuary, “a hymn of praise to God carved in stone.” He also noted that “Gaudí, through his work, sought to bring the Gospel to everyone. For this reason he conceived of the three porticos of the exterior of the church as a catechesis on the life of Jesus Christ, a great Rosary, which is the prayer of ordinary people, a prayer in which are contemplated the joyful, sorrowful, and glorious mysteries of the Lord.”
Recently, I’ve been talking about signs and liturgy. Here Pope Benedict and Antoni Gaudí present us with another aspect of our sacramental and liturgical, the church building itself which is discussed at length in the document, Built of Living Stones, by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. A church’s architecture, construction, and design play a significant role in the life of a Catholic because, it has the power to enhance the liturgy and inspire devotion to God and commitment to the Christian life.
Here is some pics that I took of one of those porticos, the Passion Façade which appears on the outside of the Basilica’s west transept. Now, I wouldn’t say my personal aesthetic is modern, per se, but, Gaudí’s Passion Façade much like his entire Sagrada Familia, while although contemporary and groundbreaking, employs very traditional elements that are truly timeless.
I hope that these poor photos can do justice to the fruit of Gaudí’s prayer and skill, and that on this Good Friday, they fulfill the designs of this saintly architect: to help people to meditate on the Passion of Our Lord and inspire greater appreciation for the sacrifice by which our ransom was paid and won for us eternal life.
![LADY’S NIGHT - Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary
HAPPY ST. JOSEPH’S DAY!!!
I hope that all of you had a wonderful day to feast and celebrate our glorious patron and father, the most chaste spouse of Mary and friend of the Sacred Heart, the holy St. Joseph!
I know that I recently moved my Lady’s Night posts to Sunday evenings, but, given this great Solemnity (and because I didn’t have time yesterday), I thought that tonight would be most fitting to post about Our Lady and her Joseph.
The Messiah, as you know, was prophesied to be a descendent of King David (cf. 2 Samuel 7:12). Joseph was a Son of David and into his family would be born the Son of Man in David’s City, Bethlehem, literally, the House of Bread, which would become the house of the Bread of Life.
Thus, our Joseph was chosen by God to play this important role in salvation history, namely, to be the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster-father of the Son of God.
There is an ancient tradition that out of all of David’s descendents, Joseph was chosen to be Mary’s spouse when the dry, stick that he held in his hand miraculously sprouted blossoms. Although, we don’t know exactly what flowers bloomed from the dead piece of wood, but lilies have always been associated with St. Joseph as a sign of his virtue and chastity; for the Gospels call him the just or righteous man (cf. Matthew 1:19). In Joseph’s flowering staff, we see a sign that God can make use of any instrument, no matter how poor; no matter how seemingly dead and barren, God can bring forth life, gracious blossoms to honor Him.
Our Joseph, though he was resplendent with virtue, was far exceeded by his Immaculate Bride in holiness. Ah, but who better to have as a spouse than the ever kind and compassionate Mother of God! Joseph loved his Lady and sought to care for her needs, even feeling sorrow when, due to his poverty, he could not provide for her in a more fitting way. Our Lady, most blessed among women, loved her Joseph, too, and sought to console him by her prayers and daily assisting his advance towards unity with God. However, what Our Lady did to most bring joy to Joseph’s heart was to bear the Light of the World and present Him to to her faithful husband.
Again, please recall my previous discussion about the visions of the Holy Family by Sr. Maria Cecilia Baij, O.S.B. in her book, The Life of Saint Joseph, noting once more the difference between public and private revelation.
Here is a glimpse of the relationship between Mary and Joseph shortly after the Incarnation (but before Joseph noticed Mary’s pregnancy) that Sr. Maria Cecilia describes in her book.
While Joseph was at work, he felt himself irresistibly drawn to go see Mary. He felt himself being possessed by an ardent, reverential, and always more holy love towards Her…It was actually the Incarnate Word, resting in Mary’s bosom that was attracting his soul. Although he did not realize this fact, the power of love, nevertheless, accomplished its task and often brought Mary and Joseph together, so as to give them the mutual happiness of seeing and conversing with each other. For Joseph, this was always an occasion of great delight. It was also most pleasing to the Incarnate Word to see Joseph there present before Him in so reverential a spirit, and so the Divine Savior would bestow His graces upon him. The most holy Mother discerning all this, experienced on Her part a similar happiness.
Joseph told Mary all that he felt within himself. He asked Her to forgive him if he was making a nuisance of himself with his frequent visits and disturbing Her peace. He declared that he simply felt himself forcibly drawn to see Her, and he had never experienced the degree of consolation he now experienced in Her presence. Consequently, he could hardly do otherwise than he was doing.
Mary was most kind, and told him to come without any fear of being troublesome to Her, for ever time that he visited Her they would sing a hymn together to God so that God would be praised by them, and they in turn, would receive His grace and favor. Thus encouraged, Joseph continued amid great consolations to make his visits to Mary. She seemed to become more beautiful and more filled with grace every time that he sought out Her company, which produced in him an ever increasing veneration.
Then, when the Incarnate Word was born, it was Joseph’s great delight to hold the Infant Savior in his arms and to press Him close to his heart. There, in such great intimacy, the Heart of God would speak to the poor heart of his servant and foster-father (cor ad cor loquitur) as Sr. Maria Cecilia describes,
Joseph frequently held the Divine Savior in his arms, but always after first preparing himself for it by his ardent desires. Every time that he so received Him, he was filled afresh with grace and glowing love. The fortunate Joseph realized this fact and rendered fervent thanks to his beloved Lord for it. Mary, being likewise conscious of it, added Her own thanksgiving to the Savior in Joseph’s behalf.
Sometimes, the Divine Infant would look smilingly upon Joseph and would permit His divine Voice to be perceived within Joseph’s heart, saying to him: “Oh my Joseph, how much do I love you! How pleased I am to accept your service and your love! After My beloved Mother, I love you most of all.” This would cause Joseph to be overcome with love and gratitude to his God, and he would answer the Divine Infant in words that expressed his own ardent and heartfelt affection: “Oh my Savior, You are the sole object of my love. You are my entire good, my contentment, my life, my rest! After You, I also love Your Mother, because She is Your Mother and the holiest of creatures, so full of grace and virtue. I love Her as my spouse and most dear companion, whom You have given to me by virtue of Your immense goodness. I also love all creatures as the work of Your hands, and I love them all in You and through You, Who are my very life and my only good!”
As the Infant Jesus grew, so did our Joseph’s love for Him and His Virgin Mother. What must have it been like for St. Joseph to be the head of the Holy Household in Egypt and Nazareth. For he was given the responsibility for guarding and providing for Jesus and Mary: One was God Himself and the other was conceived without original sin.
Indeed, these most holy individuals [of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph] actually competed with each other in the practice of humility and the other virtues. Joseph strove earnestly to be a faithful and precise imitator of Jesus and Mary. Though already very virtuous, he recognized that he was, nevertheless, very much inferior to Them. Hence, he often humbled himself and said to his holy spouse: “Oh, how ashamed I feel of my wretchedness when I see You and Jesus so rich in virtue and merits. I am indeed poor and miserable. I ought to be a most perfect imitator of each one of You, but I realize that I am far from it. Oh, my beloved spouse, obtain for me the graces I need.” In this manner, Joseph advanced to an ever greater fullness in grace.
Whenever Joseph brought their food supplies home, which usually consisted of vegetables, podded grains, and a few fish, Mary asked Joseph how he liked to have his food prepared. Such a request generally distressed the Saint because he preferred to satisfy the desires of his spouse rather than his own. However, in order to comply with the divine will, he would answer Her request and would make known his wishes, but in reality he still attempted to accommodate himself to Her desires by having Her prepare things in a very simple manner. He himself had a great longing, at times, for a more rare dish, but he would say nothing about this to Her.
Mary, however, discerned everything. Hence, when on occasion he would come to eat after a strenuous day’s work, he would find that Mary had already prepared for him the particular dish he had secretly longed to have. Sometimes he ate of it, but at other times he gave it to the poor, with Mary’s consent, denying himself all the enjoyment of it. After Joseph had discovered that Mary was discerning all his secret wishes, he would immediately suppress any desire for some special fare, and by doing this he hoped to prevent Mary from detecting these incipient desires and from paying any attention to them. Mary smiled to Herself at this idea of Her spouse. In order to please him, She stopped paying attention to these urges, which She knew to be coming upon him. She did so because She wanted to conceal the evidence of the gifts and graces which God had bestowed upon Her; this ability to discern what was going on in the mind of Her spouse was certainly one of them.
Joseph, on the other hand, would devote considerable thought to what he should provide on his part for Jesus and Mary in regard to Their welfare. However, if he ventured to ask Them what they would like to have, They would merely express their gratitude for his inquiry, and then tell him not to burden himself with such deliberations, inasmuch as They could not deviate from their ordinary regimen, composed of bread and water, vegetables, legumes, fruit, and an occasional fried fish. The Saint made no further rejoinder, but bowed his head and again abased himself. They both assured him, however, that They were pleased with this good will and that he would be rewarded for it, just as if he had actually performed the deed.
Joseph’s love and reverence for Mary was continually being augmented, and he always desired to be with Her. He regretted that when he went to work he had to be separated from Her, making it impossible for him either to see, hear, or speak with Her. Even though he would have Jesus with him, he still longed to be with Mary also, for She was his most dear spouse, and a creature of such eminent dignity and extraordinary virtue.
Joseph never gave any external evidence that his feelings were in any way affected. When he left Mary to go to work, he would do so in a fully resigned spirit. He frequently conquered his impulses to go and see Her, offering this as a sacrifice to God. Jesus, however, Who was aware of this holy longing of the ardent Joseph, often found ways and means whereby He could send him to Mary, and so provide consolation for his spirit. He wanted Joseph to have this consolation in addition to that which He, Himself, was already granting to him by His own presence. For upon seeing Mary, Joseph’s love for God would increase, and his heart would become animated with the desire for greater holiness. It was a special prerogative of the Mother of God to cause anyone whose gaze rested upon Her with a true and chaste love, as was the case with Joseph, to become permeated with a holy enthusiasm and heavenly desires.
Ah, see how our beloved Joseph loves his foster-Son and his Bride! And see how Our Lady and Jesus love their Joseph!
My brothers, as sons of God and sons Mary, give yourselves as well to the paternal care and most just heart of Joseph. Be his faithful and obedient sons. Turn to St. Joseph and ask him to teach you how to be men, men like him. Often sons try to be like their dads, imitating their habits both good and bad. We want to make our fathers proud. Let us, then, be imitators of St. Joseph, our beloved father, following his example of righteousness and love for Jesus and Mary.
The young Jesus willed to labor at Joseph’s side at his workbench. Let us be also be Joseph’s apprentices in holiness, laboring tirelessly for our own sanctification and that of others. He will teach us to serve Jesus, to identify with the poor, to practice humility and patience, to joyfully submit to the will of God in all things, to persevere in chastity, and to honor Mary: the highest honor of our race.
He will teach us, too, how to treat women, by recognizing their special dignity as daughters of his Immaculate Spouse, and by purifying our thoughts and desires. Our gracious father is often invoked as Joseph Most Strong, so it is definitely not weakness to be the guardian of a woman’s virtue rather than its taker. God did not create us to be weak, imperfect though we are, so let us be strong like our father, Joseph, courageous in the pursuit of holiness, heroic in the practice of virtue, and thereby honor our loving patron.
It is a challenge to be men like St. Joseph, for the world provides alternative examples of manhood. Yet, take most any actor, musician, or mogul and compare them to St. Joseph—then see who is a real man. The challenge is worth the sacrifice and suffering, brothers! The salvation of our souls is worth it. The sanctification of the world is worth it. Our future brides and daughters are worth it.
Will we meet this challenge? See here the mountain; will we climb it? See the ocean wide; will we swim it? See the narrow gate; will we enter it? See the road to Calvary; will we walk it?
Now, my sisters, O lovely daughters of Mary, entrust yourselves also to the mighty care and patronage of St. Joseph. For he who loves Mary, his spouse and Queen, will surely also take you under the mantel of his protection. Mary trusted Joseph with her life and that of her Son. So, trust Joseph with the care for your soul. As he was gentle and tender with the Child Jesus and his chosen Bride, he will be as tender and gentle with your soul—ever prompting you to imitate his Lady’s virtues, to pray with great fervor and devotion, and to love his Jesus with your whole being and desire above all to be united with Him forever.
And to my sisters who are called to the married life, I implore you, see Joseph as the model of the man you will marry. Do not settle, my dear sisters! Do not settle for less than a son of Joseph. We need you to help us be men like him by encouraging us to be his faithful imitators. Don’t settle. Demand holiness from us! Be patient, however, with our poor attempts. Pray for us, that we may be men worthy of you.
In all things…
Ite ad Ioseph (“Go to Joseph”, Genesis 41:55)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m14g4nGC8D1qme924o1_500.jpg)
LADY’S NIGHT - Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary
HAPPY ST. JOSEPH’S DAY!!!
I hope that all of you had a wonderful day to feast and celebrate our glorious patron and father, the most chaste spouse of Mary and friend of the Sacred Heart, the holy St. Joseph!
I know that I recently moved my Lady’s Night posts to Sunday evenings, but, given this great Solemnity (and because I didn’t have time yesterday), I thought that tonight would be most fitting to post about Our Lady and her Joseph.
The Messiah, as you know, was prophesied to be a descendent of King David (cf. 2 Samuel 7:12). Joseph was a Son of David and into his family would be born the Son of Man in David’s City, Bethlehem, literally, the House of Bread, which would become the house of the Bread of Life.
Thus, our Joseph was chosen by God to play this important role in salvation history, namely, to be the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster-father of the Son of God.
There is an ancient tradition that out of all of David’s descendents, Joseph was chosen to be Mary’s spouse when the dry, stick that he held in his hand miraculously sprouted blossoms. Although, we don’t know exactly what flowers bloomed from the dead piece of wood, but lilies have always been associated with St. Joseph as a sign of his virtue and chastity; for the Gospels call him the just or righteous man (cf. Matthew 1:19). In Joseph’s flowering staff, we see a sign that God can make use of any instrument, no matter how poor; no matter how seemingly dead and barren, God can bring forth life, gracious blossoms to honor Him.
Our Joseph, though he was resplendent with virtue, was far exceeded by his Immaculate Bride in holiness. Ah, but who better to have as a spouse than the ever kind and compassionate Mother of God! Joseph loved his Lady and sought to care for her needs, even feeling sorrow when, due to his poverty, he could not provide for her in a more fitting way. Our Lady, most blessed among women, loved her Joseph, too, and sought to console him by her prayers and daily assisting his advance towards unity with God. However, what Our Lady did to most bring joy to Joseph’s heart was to bear the Light of the World and present Him to to her faithful husband.
Again, please recall my previous discussion about the visions of the Holy Family by Sr. Maria Cecilia Baij, O.S.B. in her book, The Life of Saint Joseph, noting once more the difference between public and private revelation.
Here is a glimpse of the relationship between Mary and Joseph shortly after the Incarnation (but before Joseph noticed Mary’s pregnancy) that Sr. Maria Cecilia describes in her book.
While Joseph was at work, he felt himself irresistibly drawn to go see Mary. He felt himself being possessed by an ardent, reverential, and always more holy love towards Her…It was actually the Incarnate Word, resting in Mary’s bosom that was attracting his soul. Although he did not realize this fact, the power of love, nevertheless, accomplished its task and often brought Mary and Joseph together, so as to give them the mutual happiness of seeing and conversing with each other. For Joseph, this was always an occasion of great delight. It was also most pleasing to the Incarnate Word to see Joseph there present before Him in so reverential a spirit, and so the Divine Savior would bestow His graces upon him. The most holy Mother discerning all this, experienced on Her part a similar happiness.
Joseph told Mary all that he felt within himself. He asked Her to forgive him if he was making a nuisance of himself with his frequent visits and disturbing Her peace. He declared that he simply felt himself forcibly drawn to see Her, and he had never experienced the degree of consolation he now experienced in Her presence. Consequently, he could hardly do otherwise than he was doing.
Mary was most kind, and told him to come without any fear of being troublesome to Her, for ever time that he visited Her they would sing a hymn together to God so that God would be praised by them, and they in turn, would receive His grace and favor. Thus encouraged, Joseph continued amid great consolations to make his visits to Mary. She seemed to become more beautiful and more filled with grace every time that he sought out Her company, which produced in him an ever increasing veneration.
Then, when the Incarnate Word was born, it was Joseph’s great delight to hold the Infant Savior in his arms and to press Him close to his heart. There, in such great intimacy, the Heart of God would speak to the poor heart of his servant and foster-father (cor ad cor loquitur) as Sr. Maria Cecilia describes,
Joseph frequently held the Divine Savior in his arms, but always after first preparing himself for it by his ardent desires. Every time that he so received Him, he was filled afresh with grace and glowing love. The fortunate Joseph realized this fact and rendered fervent thanks to his beloved Lord for it. Mary, being likewise conscious of it, added Her own thanksgiving to the Savior in Joseph’s behalf.
Sometimes, the Divine Infant would look smilingly upon Joseph and would permit His divine Voice to be perceived within Joseph’s heart, saying to him: “Oh my Joseph, how much do I love you! How pleased I am to accept your service and your love! After My beloved Mother, I love you most of all.” This would cause Joseph to be overcome with love and gratitude to his God, and he would answer the Divine Infant in words that expressed his own ardent and heartfelt affection: “Oh my Savior, You are the sole object of my love. You are my entire good, my contentment, my life, my rest! After You, I also love Your Mother, because She is Your Mother and the holiest of creatures, so full of grace and virtue. I love Her as my spouse and most dear companion, whom You have given to me by virtue of Your immense goodness. I also love all creatures as the work of Your hands, and I love them all in You and through You, Who are my very life and my only good!”
As the Infant Jesus grew, so did our Joseph’s love for Him and His Virgin Mother. What must have it been like for St. Joseph to be the head of the Holy Household in Egypt and Nazareth. For he was given the responsibility for guarding and providing for Jesus and Mary: One was God Himself and the other was conceived without original sin.
Indeed, these most holy individuals [of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph] actually competed with each other in the practice of humility and the other virtues. Joseph strove earnestly to be a faithful and precise imitator of Jesus and Mary. Though already very virtuous, he recognized that he was, nevertheless, very much inferior to Them. Hence, he often humbled himself and said to his holy spouse: “Oh, how ashamed I feel of my wretchedness when I see You and Jesus so rich in virtue and merits. I am indeed poor and miserable. I ought to be a most perfect imitator of each one of You, but I realize that I am far from it. Oh, my beloved spouse, obtain for me the graces I need.” In this manner, Joseph advanced to an ever greater fullness in grace.
Whenever Joseph brought their food supplies home, which usually consisted of vegetables, podded grains, and a few fish, Mary asked Joseph how he liked to have his food prepared. Such a request generally distressed the Saint because he preferred to satisfy the desires of his spouse rather than his own. However, in order to comply with the divine will, he would answer Her request and would make known his wishes, but in reality he still attempted to accommodate himself to Her desires by having Her prepare things in a very simple manner. He himself had a great longing, at times, for a more rare dish, but he would say nothing about this to Her.
Mary, however, discerned everything. Hence, when on occasion he would come to eat after a strenuous day’s work, he would find that Mary had already prepared for him the particular dish he had secretly longed to have. Sometimes he ate of it, but at other times he gave it to the poor, with Mary’s consent, denying himself all the enjoyment of it. After Joseph had discovered that Mary was discerning all his secret wishes, he would immediately suppress any desire for some special fare, and by doing this he hoped to prevent Mary from detecting these incipient desires and from paying any attention to them. Mary smiled to Herself at this idea of Her spouse. In order to please him, She stopped paying attention to these urges, which She knew to be coming upon him. She did so because She wanted to conceal the evidence of the gifts and graces which God had bestowed upon Her; this ability to discern what was going on in the mind of Her spouse was certainly one of them.
Joseph, on the other hand, would devote considerable thought to what he should provide on his part for Jesus and Mary in regard to Their welfare. However, if he ventured to ask Them what they would like to have, They would merely express their gratitude for his inquiry, and then tell him not to burden himself with such deliberations, inasmuch as They could not deviate from their ordinary regimen, composed of bread and water, vegetables, legumes, fruit, and an occasional fried fish. The Saint made no further rejoinder, but bowed his head and again abased himself. They both assured him, however, that They were pleased with this good will and that he would be rewarded for it, just as if he had actually performed the deed.
Joseph’s love and reverence for Mary was continually being augmented, and he always desired to be with Her. He regretted that when he went to work he had to be separated from Her, making it impossible for him either to see, hear, or speak with Her. Even though he would have Jesus with him, he still longed to be with Mary also, for She was his most dear spouse, and a creature of such eminent dignity and extraordinary virtue.
Joseph never gave any external evidence that his feelings were in any way affected. When he left Mary to go to work, he would do so in a fully resigned spirit. He frequently conquered his impulses to go and see Her, offering this as a sacrifice to God. Jesus, however, Who was aware of this holy longing of the ardent Joseph, often found ways and means whereby He could send him to Mary, and so provide consolation for his spirit. He wanted Joseph to have this consolation in addition to that which He, Himself, was already granting to him by His own presence. For upon seeing Mary, Joseph’s love for God would increase, and his heart would become animated with the desire for greater holiness. It was a special prerogative of the Mother of God to cause anyone whose gaze rested upon Her with a true and chaste love, as was the case with Joseph, to become permeated with a holy enthusiasm and heavenly desires.
Ah, see how our beloved Joseph loves his foster-Son and his Bride! And see how Our Lady and Jesus love their Joseph!
My brothers, as sons of God and sons Mary, give yourselves as well to the paternal care and most just heart of Joseph. Be his faithful and obedient sons. Turn to St. Joseph and ask him to teach you how to be men, men like him. Often sons try to be like their dads, imitating their habits both good and bad. We want to make our fathers proud. Let us, then, be imitators of St. Joseph, our beloved father, following his example of righteousness and love for Jesus and Mary.
The young Jesus willed to labor at Joseph’s side at his workbench. Let us be also be Joseph’s apprentices in holiness, laboring tirelessly for our own sanctification and that of others. He will teach us to serve Jesus, to identify with the poor, to practice humility and patience, to joyfully submit to the will of God in all things, to persevere in chastity, and to honor Mary: the highest honor of our race.
He will teach us, too, how to treat women, by recognizing their special dignity as daughters of his Immaculate Spouse, and by purifying our thoughts and desires. Our gracious father is often invoked as Joseph Most Strong, so it is definitely not weakness to be the guardian of a woman’s virtue rather than its taker. God did not create us to be weak, imperfect though we are, so let us be strong like our father, Joseph, courageous in the pursuit of holiness, heroic in the practice of virtue, and thereby honor our loving patron.
It is a challenge to be men like St. Joseph, for the world provides alternative examples of manhood. Yet, take most any actor, musician, or mogul and compare them to St. Joseph—then see who is a real man. The challenge is worth the sacrifice and suffering, brothers! The salvation of our souls is worth it. The sanctification of the world is worth it. Our future brides and daughters are worth it.
Will we meet this challenge? See here the mountain; will we climb it? See the ocean wide; will we swim it? See the narrow gate; will we enter it? See the road to Calvary; will we walk it?
Now, my sisters, O lovely daughters of Mary, entrust yourselves also to the mighty care and patronage of St. Joseph. For he who loves Mary, his spouse and Queen, will surely also take you under the mantel of his protection. Mary trusted Joseph with her life and that of her Son. So, trust Joseph with the care for your soul. As he was gentle and tender with the Child Jesus and his chosen Bride, he will be as tender and gentle with your soul—ever prompting you to imitate his Lady’s virtues, to pray with great fervor and devotion, and to love his Jesus with your whole being and desire above all to be united with Him forever.
And to my sisters who are called to the married life, I implore you, see Joseph as the model of the man you will marry. Do not settle, my dear sisters! Do not settle for less than a son of Joseph. We need you to help us be men like him by encouraging us to be his faithful imitators. Don’t settle. Demand holiness from us! Be patient, however, with our poor attempts. Pray for us, that we may be men worthy of you.
In all things…
Ite ad Ioseph (“Go to Joseph”, Genesis 41:55)
St. Joseph with the Child Jesus in the Flight into Egypt
Hail Joseph, image of God the Father.
Hail Joseph, father of God the Son.
Hail Joseph, temple of the Holy Ghost.
Hail Joseph, beloved of the Holy Trinity.
Hail Joseph, most faithful helper in the great plan of Redemption.
Hail Joseph, most worthy spouse of the Virgin Mother.
Hail Joseph, father of all the faithful.
Hail Joseph, guardian of holy virgins.
Hail Joseph, greatest lover of poverty.
Hail Joseph, example of meekness and patience.
Hail Joseph, mirror of humility and obedience.
Blessed art thou among all men.
And blessed are thine eyes, which have seen what thou hast seen.
And blessed are thine ears, which have heard what thou hast heard.
And blessed are thy hands, which have touched the Word Incarnate.
And blessed are thine arms, which have carried the One Who carries all things.
And blessed is thy breast, on which the Son of God most sweetly reposed.
And blessed is thy heart, kindled with most ardent love.
And blessed be the Eternal Father, Who chose thee.
And blessed be the Son, Who loved thee.
And blessed be the Holy Ghost, Who sanctified thee.
And blessed be Mary, thy wife, who loved thee as a spouse and a brother.
And blessed be the Angel who guarded thee.
And blessed be forever all who bless thee and who love thee.
Countdown to St. Joseph’s Day: 1 day!
It’s Josephmas Eve!
As part of my pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Madrid last summer, I was blessed to visit the Basilica Expiatory Temple of the Sacred Family (Sagrada Familia) in Barcelona, Spain.
It is a magnificent church, and one of the few places in the world that literally took my breath away. I remember standing completely speechless as I gazed up at a forest of stone columns rising to the heavens like the biblical cedars of Lebanon. I can honestly say without hyperbole that it is nearly impossible to accurately describe the experience of being in a church that is both of this world and of another world altogether.
After we had left, I remarked to one of the pilgrims in my group, “Sagrada Familia is an example of man at his best.” What I meant was that all those who participated in raising this monumental temple to Christ and His Holy Family were truly fulfilling what they were created to do. And should not that also be our desire? To be, to do, to say what the Creator of the universe had made us to be, to do, to say from the very first moment of our lives in our mothers’ wombs.
On many occasions, we do not live up to this potential. Pride and sin lead us to act in ways that are contrary to God’s will for us. When we act in ways that make us less than the person we ought to be, we become, in a sense, less alive. And as St. Irenaeus famously said, “The Glory of God is man fully alive.”
An example of man fully alive, glorifying God by conforming his will to that of his Creator, being the person he was meant to be and doing great things, is the humble and faithful architect of Sagrada Familia, who may one day be a canonized saint, Servant of God Antoni Gaudí.
Besides being a visionary designer and unparalleled archetypical, Gaudí was first a man of faith, a man of prayer whose primary goal was to be holy. Through prayer, reflecting on Sacred Scripture, and reception of the Sacraments, Gaudí became the person he was created to be: a man fully alive for the glory of God. In his remarkable design of Sagrada Familia, Gaudí put into stone and glass the mysteries of the faith and made a fitting place for the Word Incarnate to be adored, worshiped, and received.
We are called to serve and glorify God in many ways. Some are called to be teachers, attorneys, nurses, and accountants. Some are called to be fathers, mothers, priests, and sisters. But, what Gaudí and St. Joseph teach us is that we must be attentive to God’s voice, desire to do His will, and live in conformity to His will with great love. As an architect who was not ashamed to incorporate his faith into his professional life, Gaudí created an earthly temple, a tangible image of the mystical body of Christ. And because he did everything with great love, Gaudí himself—like all parents who created new life—reflected the almighty Creator who made the stars with His hands and who knows them each by name (cf. Psalm 147:4).
Antoni Gaudí also had a deep devotion to our beloved St. Joseph. In undertaking this monumental project, this holy Servant of God knew that he would not live to see its completion. Yet, he still was faithful in doing what he could, what he was called to do.
From the book, Faces of Holiness II: Modern Saints in Photos and Words by by Ann Ball, when people questioned about the amount of planning, labor, and money needed to complete this grand temple, Gaudí would reply, “Don’t worry—St. Joseph is a saint with many resources.” And, another occasion when asked about the time that it would take to complete, again Gaudí turned with confidence to the Guardian of the Sagrada Familia, “He who asked me to do it is not in a hurry.”
Also, it is interesting to note that Sagrada Familia was first envisioned and funded by a group of Spanish Catholics called The Spiritual Association of Devotees of St. Joseph. The cornerstone of the future basilica was placed on the Solemnity of St. Joseph in 1882. Gaudí first constructed the crypt church which is the chapel of St. Joseph. And the first Mass ever said in the yet unfinished temple was in that chapel on the Solemnity of St. Joseph in 1885.
St. Joseph, however, did not construct a magnificent and glorious house for the Son of God and Our Lady. Yet, he was the man who best served God by continuously conforming his will to the divine Will; Joseph was indeed a man fully alive.
Surely, St. Joseph gave much aid and assistance to Servant of God Antoni Gaudí particularly in building the Sagrada Familia. And, where he alive, would almost certainly been chipping at stone blocks or hoisting up buckets of mortar. Sawing, hammering, carving, this is how St. Joseph worked and this is how he glorified God.
He also glorified God in fulfilling his vocation as spouse to the Queen of Heaven and foster-father of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Thus, who else on earth loved Mary and Jesus more than Joseph? Who then can we turn to for help in loving them more but our faithful patron? What must our Joseph have felt to hear the Son of God call him “father”, and what unworthiness he must have felt to call him “Son”!
Recall, my previous post about the Life of Saint Joseph written by Sr. Maria Cecilia Baij, O.S.B. and our discussion about public revelation and private revelation.
Sr. Maria Cecilia writes,
After the Divine Child rendered His acts of oblation and homage [to the Father] and gave Himself into the arms of His holy Mother, Joseph went off to his work. While engaged in his labors he suddenly found himself again in ecstasy, in virtue of his meditations upon the actions of his beloved Jesus. Drawn by the forces of love, he longed to go and give himself the satisfaction of contemplating Him directly. Fearing to be a nuisance to Jesus, the Saint suppressed this urge.
Whenever the Divine Child wished to console His faithful servant, however, He would lovingly invite him by means of an interior locution. This invitation Joseph was unable to resist, and so he would hasten to go to Him, impelled as he was by the exceedingly powerful force of his love. Usually, Joseph would also find Jesus already on His way to meet him. The first time Jesus came to meet him, He was being led by His most beloved Mother. Upon seeing Joseph, He called out to him: “Father!” and then flung Himself into his arms and caressed him with His tiny hands.
The joy of hearing himself be called “father” for the first time moved Joseph to tears. He considered himself to be wholly unworthy of it, and he made it very evident how grateful he was for the honor that the Child Jesus was giving him by doing so. He ardently thanked the holy Child, and besought his most holy spouse also to give thanks in his behalf to God and to His Son. This Mary gladly did for him. She rejoiced with Joseph over the great blessing that was his, and they gave joint thanks to the Heavenly Father for the graces He had given to both of them, and especially for the dignity He had conferred upon His servant, in permitting him to be His representative on earth.
….
Joseph did not venture to address Jesus as his Son, though his paternal love made him feel most desirous of doing so. He asked Mary if it would be proper for him to address Jesus in this manner. Mary ascertained from Jesus that, inasmuch as He Himself deigned to call Joseph, “father,” and also assigned him to his paternal position here upon earth, He thereby granted him the privilege of calling Him, “Son.” He furthermore declared that it was the will of the Heavenly Father that He, Jesus, should make Himself subject in this manner to Joseph, just as if He were truly his own offspring, and that consequently, Joseph should freely address Him as “Son,” and deal with Him as if he were His real father.
Joseph’s heart was jubilant as Mary transmitted these things to him, and he shed copious tears as a result of the consolations that he experienced. At the same time, he gave thanks to God, in union with Mary. To himself he remarked: “I am indeed blessed in being the possessor of this delightful privilege which allows me to address the Divine Incarnate Word, the Son of the Eternal Father, as ‘my Son.’”
Finally, he exclaimed aloud: “Oh Jesus, my Son. Oh my Son, my Jesus!”
We know St. Joseph as a carpenter from the scriptures. However, the original Greek word that is found in the gospels is tekton, a laborer who works with his hands. It is this trade of tekton that our Joseph taught the Son of God, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, created the stars in the heavens and the atoms in every grain of sand. In the company of Jesus, to honor the Blessed Virgin, and give glory to God, this is how St. Joseph sanctified all his labors. So, too, can he make holy our everyday, mundane tasks: taking out the garbage, studying diligently, watering the plants, driving your sibling to school, buying groceries at the store—these can be moments for the sanctification of yourself and others; such ordinary work can be altars where you offer love.
Just think of Joseph’s workbench and his little Jesus at his side.
As soon as the Divine Youth grew up sufficiently to be able to render some assistance to Joseph, He sought of His own accord to go and help him in his work and to console him by His presence. The happy Joseph never considered that Jesus actually wanted to humble Himself to such an extent as to perform this menial work, and when Jesus offered His willing assistance, the Saint was deeply moved and declared he would never allow it unless the Heavenly Father Himself had actually ordained it.
Turning to Jesus he exclaimed: “Oh, Eternal Wisdom, why do You wish to humiliate Yourself to such a degree? How can I, Your servant, consent to see You devoting Yourself to such work as this, delicate as You are, and engaged as You are in continually treating with Your Heavenly Father concerning the vital business of man’s redemption? How could I look and see You being thus humiliated?”
The holy Youth set his mind at rest by declaring that this was the will of His Heavenly Father, and that in reality He Himself had come into the world not to be ministered unto, but rather to minister, wherefore, it was necessary that He should give an example of disdain for all ostentation and worldly esteem. Joseph submitted to the will of the Heavenly Father and no longer made any objection. Instead, he pondered over the joy that would be his by having his beloved Jesus with him in the workshop. He became exceedingly consoled, and proclaimed his unbounded happiness. Turning to Mary, he expressed to Her his regret that She would, necessarily, be deprived of the loving presence of Jesus during those periods of time in which He would now be with him. The Mother of God, being always conformed to the divine will and with a heart brimming with love, assured him that She was happy about the consolations that would be his, and that the divine will would be accomplished.
One can well image what spiritual joy the happy Joseph must have experienced, and how filled with consolation he must have been, as he took his beloved Jesus with him. When he started to work it seemed to him as if he was in Paradise. Was not the Son of God Himself there beside him, seeking to be of assistance to him? Sometimes, the Boy Jesus would hand him tools, and other times pieces of lumber, even though He was only about five or six years old, He apparently wanted to carry on like a strong, grown-up man, as was indicated by the efforts he made to lift up the heavier boards. The Saint was deeply touched by this and tried in every way possible to limit these exertions. Besides all this, the Divine Youth was always so obliging that He even anticipated Joseph’s needs; and He performed everything in a gracious spirit.
Day 9 of our novena. Ite ad Ioseph (“Go to Joseph”, Genesis 41:55)
Countdown to St. Joseph’s Day: 2 days
Happy Feast of St. Patrick! And with Laetare Sunday tomorrow, there is much rejoicing to be had in the Church in these next 48 hours!
Speaking of Laetare Sunday, as you know, it is one of the two days a year when priests wear rose vestments (the other day is Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday in Advent, and, by the way, don’t ever tell your priest that his vestments are pink).
This name for the Fourth Sunday of Lent is derived from the liturgy’s introit which in most churches has been replaced by the processional hymn at the start of Mass.
Laetare Jerusalem: et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum laetitia, qui in tristitia fuistis: ut exsultetis, et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestrae. (Psalm) Laetatus sum in his, quae dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus.
Rejoice, O Jerusalem: and come together all you that love her: rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolation. (Psalm) I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: we shall go into the house of the Lord. Glory be to the Father.
The introit is taken from Isiah 66 and Psalm 122. In these scripture passages, the city of Jerusalem seen as an image of the Church. Likewise, we see in Our Lady the purity, holiness, and splendor of the Church.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraphs 507 and 972, quotes Lumen Gentium in viewing Mary as a true icon of the Church.
At once virgin and mother, Mary is the symbol and the most perfect realization of the Church: “the Church indeed…by receiving the word of God in faith becomes herself a mother. By preaching and Baptism she brings forth sons, who are conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of God, to a new and immortal life. She herself is a virgin, who keeps in its entirety and purity the faith she pledged to her spouse.”
“In the meantime the Mother of Jesus, in the glory which she possesses in body and soul in heaven, is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be perfected in the world to come. Likewise she shines forth on earth, until the day of the Lord shall come, a sign of certain hope and comfort to the pilgrim People of God.”
Just as Mary gave her Son clothing and nourishment, the Church, our other Holy Mother, clothes us in the white garment of our Christian dignity and nourishes our souls with the Word of God and Bread of Life.
And who was the protector of Mary, her strong and tender guardian? Of course, it was our beloved St. Joseph, the loving and faithful husband of Our Lady. Thus, he who cared for Mary with all his heart, who was her most intimate companion and friend of the Sacred Heart is also the mighty protector and guardian of Holy Mother Church.
In officially naming St. Joseph the Patron of the Universal Church in his decree Quaemadmodum Deus, Bl. Pope Pius IX said (with my emphasis),
As almighty God appointed Joseph, son of the patriarch Jacob, over all the land of Egypt to save grain for the people, so when the fullness of time had come and He was about to send to earth His only-begotten Son, the Savior of the world, He chose another Joseph, of whom the first had been the type, and He made him the lord and chief of His household and possessions, the guardian of His choicest treasures.
Indeed, he had as his spouse the Immaculate Virgin Mary, of whom was born by the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ our Lord, who deigned to be reputed in the sight of men as the son of Joseph, and was subject to him.
Him whom countless kings and prophets had desired to see, Joseph not only saw but conversed with, and embraced in paternal affection, and kissed. He most diligently reared Him whom the faithful were to receive as the bread that came down from heaven whereby they might obtain eternal life.
Because of this sublime dignity which God conferred on his most faithful servant, the Church has always most highly honored and praised blessed Joseph next to his spouse, the Virgin Mother of God, and has besought his intercession in times of trouble.
And now therefore, when in these most troublesome times the Church is beset by enemies on every side, and is weighed down by calamities so heavy that ungodly men assert that the gates of hell have at length prevailed against her, the venerable prelates of the whole Catholic world have presented to the Sovereign Pontiff their own petitions and those of the faithful committed to their charge, praying that he would deign to constitute St. Joseph Patron of the Church…
Accordingly, it has now pleased our Most Holy Sovereign, Pope Pius IX, in order to entrust himself and all the faithful to the Patriarch St. Joseph’s most powerful patronage, has chosen to comply with the prelates’ desire and has solemnly declared him Patron of the Catholic Church.
The Church faced many difficulties in the time of Bl. Pius IX: Rome was seized by the Italian army, the Franco-Prussian War broke out, the First Vatican Council was suspended, and our Holy Father thought about taking refuge outside of the Vatican on a couple of occasions.
As I am sure you are all aware, Holy Mother Church is again under attack. In his encyclical Quamquam Pluries, Pope Leo XIII remarks (again with my emphasis),
Now, Venerable Brethren, you know the times in which we live; they are scarcely less deplorable for the Christian religion than the worst days, which in time past were most full of misery to the Church. We see faith, the root of all the Christian virtues, lessening in many souls; we see charity growing cold; the young generation daily growing in depravity of morals and views; the Church of Jesus Christ attacked on every side by open force or by craft; a relentless war waged against the Sovereign Pontiff; and the very foundations of religion undermined with a boldness which waxes daily in intensity...In circumstances so unhappy and troublous, human remedies are insufficient, and it becomes necessary, as a sole resource, to beg for assistance from the Divine power.
This is the reason why We have considered it necessary to turn to the Christian people and urge them to implore, with increased zeal and constancy, the aid of Almighty God…If, on innumerable occasions, she has displayed her power in aid of the Christian world, why should We doubt that she will now renew the assistance of her power and favour, if humble and constant prayers are offered up on all sides to her? Nay, We rather believe that her intervention will be the more marvellous as she has permitted Us to pray to her, for so long a time, with special appeals. But We entertain another object, which, according to your wont, Venerable Brethren, you will advance with fervour. That God may be more favourable to Our prayers, and that He may come with bounty and promptitude to the aid of His Church, We judge it of deep utility for the Christian people, continually to invoke with great piety and trust, together with the Virgin-Mother of God, her chaste Spouse, the Blessed Joseph; and We regard it as most certain that this will be most pleasing to the Virgin herself. On the subject of this devotion, of which We speak publicly for the first time to-day, We know without doubt that not only is the people inclined to it, but that it is already established, and is advancing to full growth…And as, moreover, it is of high importance that the devotion to St. Joseph should engraft itself upon the daily pious practices of Catholics, We desire that the Christian people should be urged to it above all by Our words and authority.
So, when Holy Mother Church is being attacked, when the souls of the faithful are at some greater risk, and when the powers of darkness appear to be tightening their grasp on the world, what have the popes urged? “Go to Joseph” (Gen 41:55)!
Regarding our beloved Joseph’s role as Guardian of the Holy Family, Pope Leo XIII writes,
The special motives for which St. Joseph has been proclaimed Patron of the Church, and from which the Church looks for singular benefit from his patronage and protection, are that Joseph was the spouse of Mary and that he was reputed the Father of Jesus Christ. From these sources have sprung his dignity, his holiness, his glory. In truth, the dignity of the Mother of God is so lofty that naught created can rank above it. But as Joseph has been united to the Blessed Virgin by the ties of marriage, it may not be doubted that he approached nearer than any to the eminent dignity by which the Mother of God surpasses so nobly all created natures. For marriage is the most intimate of all unions which from its essence imparts a community of gifts between those that by it are joined together. Thus in giving Joseph the Blessed Virgin as spouse, God appointed him to be not only her life’s companion, the witness of her maidenhood, the protector of her honour, but also, by virtue of the conjugal tie, a participator in her sublime dignity. And Joseph shines among all mankind by the most august dignity, since by divine will, he was the guardian of the Son of God and reputed as His father among men. Hence it came about that the Word of God was humbly subject to Joseph, that He obeyed him, and that He rendered to him all those offices that children are bound to render to their parents. From this two-fold dignity flowed the obligation which nature lays upon the head of families, so that Joseph became the guardian, the administrator, and the legal defender of the divine house whose chief he was. And during the whole course of his life he fulfilled those charges and those duties. He set himself to protect with a mighty love and a daily solicitude his spouse and the Divine Infant; regularly by his work he earned what was necessary for the one and the other for nourishment and clothing; he guarded from death the Child threatened by a monarch’s jealousy, and found for Him a refuge; in the miseries of the journey and in the bitternesses of exile he was ever the companion, the assistance, and the upholder of the Virgin and of Jesus. Now the divine house which Joseph ruled with the authority of a father, contained within its limits the scarce-born Church. From the same fact that the most holy Virgin is the mother of Jesus Christ is she the mother of all Christians whom she bore on Mount Calvary amid the supreme throes of the Redemption; Jesus Christ is, in a manner, the first-born of Christians, who by the adoption and Redemption are his brothers. And for such reasons the Blessed Patriarch looks upon the multitude of Christians who make up the Church as confided specially 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.
The Holy Father continues by employing some scriptural typology regarding the first Joseph (by the way, we witnessed another example of typology in today’s Gospel: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”)
You well understand, Venerable Brethren, that these considerations are confirmed by the ,opinion held by a large number of the Fathers, to which the sacred liturgy gives its sanction, that the Joseph of ancient times, son of the patriarch Jacob, was the type of St. Joseph, and the former by his glory prefigured the greatness of the future guardian of the Holy Family. And in truth, beyond the fact that the same name-a point the significance of which has never been denied-was given to each, you well know the points of likeness that exist between them; namely, that the first Joseph won the favour and especial goodwill of his master, and that through Joseph’s administration his household came to prosperity and wealth; that (still more important) he presided over the kingdom with great power, and, in a time when the harvests failed, he provided for all the needs of the Egyptians with so much wisdom that the King decreed to him the title “Saviour of the world.” Thus it is that We may prefigure the new in the old patriarch. And as the first caused the prosperity of his master’s domestic interests and at the same time rendered great services to the whole kingdom, so the second, destined to be the guardian of the Christian religion, should be regarded as the protector and defender of the Church, which is truly the house of the Lord and the kingdom of God on earth. These are the reasons why men of every rank and country should fly to the trust and guard of the blessed Joseph. Fathers of families find in Joseph the best personification of paternal solicitude and vigilance; spouses a perfect example of love, of peace, and of conjugal fidelity; virgins at the same time find in him the model and protector of virginal integrity.
Finally, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Quamquam Pluries, our own beloved Bl. John Paul II invokes the intercession of the Church’s mighty Patron in his Apostolic Exhortation, Redemptoris Custos.
This patronage must be invoked as ever necessary for the Church, not only as a defense against all dangers, but also, and indeed primarily, as an impetus for her renewed commitment to evangelization in the world and to re-evangelization in those lands and nations where-as I wrote in the Apostolic Exhortation Christideles Laici - “religion and the Christian life were formerly flourishing and…are now put to a hard test.” In order to bring the first proclamation of Christ, or to bring it anew wherever it has been neglected or forgotten, the Church has need of special “power from on high” (cf. Lk 24:49; Acts 1:8): a gift of the Spirit of the Lord, a gift which is not unrelated to the intercession and example of his saints.
Besides trusting in Joseph’s sure protection, the Church also trusts in his noble example, which transcends all individual states of life and serves as a model for the entire Christian community, whatever the condition and duties of each of its members may be.
As the Constitution on Divine Revelation of the Second Vatican Council has said, the basic attitude of the entire Church must be that of “hearing the word of God with reverence,” an absolute readiness to serve faithfully God’s salvific will revealed in Jesus. Already at the beginning of human redemption, after Mary, we find the model of obedience made incarnate in St. Joseph, the man known for having faithfully carried out God’s commands.
Pope Paul VI invited us to invoke Joseph’s patronage “as the Church has been wont to do in these recent times, for herself in the first place, with a spontaneous theological reflection on the marriage of divine and human action in the great economy of the Redemption, in which economy the first-the divine one-is wholly sufficient unto itself, while the second-the human action which is ours-though capable of nothing (cf. Jn 15:5), is never dispensed from a humble but conditional and ennobling collaboration. The Church also calls upon Joseph as her protector because of a profound and ever present desire to reinvigorate her ancient life with true evangelical virtues, such as shine forth in St. Joseph.”
The Church transforms these needs into prayer. Recalling that God wished to entrust the beginnings of our redemption to the faithful care of St. Joseph, she asks God to grant that she may faithfully cooperate in the work of salvation; that she may receive the same faithfulness and purity of heart that inspired Joseph in serving the Incarnate World; and that she may walk before God in the ways of holiness and justice, following Joseph’s example and through his intercession…
Even today we have many reasons to pray in a similar way: “Most beloved father, dispel the evil of falsehood and sin…graciously assist us from heaven in our struggle with the powers of darkness…and just as once you saved the Child Jesus from mortal danger, so now defend God’s holy Church from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity.” Today we still have good reason to commend everyone to St. Joseph.
Day 8 of our novena. And look at the banner that the angel holds for all to see, Ite ad Ioseph (“Go to Joseph”, Genesis 41:55)
Countdown to St. Joseph’s Day: 4 days
I love art.
Or, rather, I love beauty. In a previous post, I told you of my first experiences with Beauty and how He has captivated my heart ever since. The topic of beauty, particularly in the liturgy, is something I am passionate about and will probably bring up on many occasions.
Artists, therefore, make best use of their creative talents when they are employed in the service of Beauty. Authentic beauty leads one to God who is the Source of all Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. Thus, beauty is objective—for in the end, it leads to an encounter with a Person, a real, objective, living Person: Jesus Christ!
The above picture was hand drawn by the extremely talented edmundofthewest. Here, he uses his talents to do a quick and simply sketch of the Holy Family. He purposely intended for it to be a rough drawing, but there is something about this piece—I never grow tired looking at it.
Like this artist, our Joseph also knew Beauty, for he held in his arms the second Person of the Blessed Trinity Who took on our flesh and willed to be born as a tiny infant. Also, our beloved patron and father was the spouse of the Queen of Heaven, she who radiated virtue is the most beautiful of all God’s creation, far surpassing the most glorious sunset or loveliest of flowers (not to mention any Maxim or import model).
Part of what makes the above picture beautiful is its subject, its content, if you will. The Holy Family has inspired artists and saints throughout the centuries. What I think draws me in to this particular depiction of the Holy Family is that it seems as if Mary has just given the Infant Jesus to the open arms of Joseph who has received Him with great joy and is bearing him towards his heart.
Wow. Can you imagine that? Our mighty God, the glorious Messiah, cradled in the arms of Joseph. Why would such a thing ever happen? Because He willed it so.
What profound moments when our faithful Joseph held in his own poor, week arms his Savior whom he called “Son”! Sr. Maria Cecilia Baij, O.S.B., Abbess of the Benedictine Convent of St. Peter in Montefiascone, Italy, from 1743-1766, describes these moments and much more in the book, The Life of Saint Joseph, which, I think, every son and daughter of St. Joseph should read.
This book is comprised of messages given to Sr. Maria Cecilia by Jesus. Now, before I go further, I suppose it may be helpful to go over public versus private revelation. Public revelation is encompassed in the Word of God; thus, Jesus is the fulness of God’s revelation. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) teaches, “Christ, the Son of God made man, is the Father’s one, perfect, and unsurpassable Word. In him he has said everything; there will be no other word than this one” (CCC 65). So, public revelation ended at the death of the last apostle and “no new public revelation is to be expected before the glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ” (CCC 66).
“Throughout the ages, there have been so-called ‘private’ revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ’s definitive Revelation, but to help live more by it in a certain period of history. Guided by the magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the Church” (CCC 67).
Therefore, the Father’s revelation in Jesus is completely sufficient and should be believed by all. On the other hand, the faithful do not have to believe in private revelations which, if they are truly from a heavenly source, must be in conformity with Sacred Scripture and Apostolic Tradition and are intended to help us live the Christian life.
Okay, with that said, let us return to the messages of Christ to Sr. Maria Cecilia, which I read more as meditations on the hidden and silent life of St. Joseph since not a single word of his is recorded in the Gospels. The content of these messages as they appear in the book have received the Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat: basically, nothing in The Life of St. Joseph is in opposition to the teachings of the Church, although, the individual bishop who reviewed the work and issued the Imprimatur doesn’t necessarily have to agree with its contents.
Recall, yesterday, I reflected on the Holy Family journeying as refugees into Egypt. Of course, scripture does not elaborate much on their exile, however, Sr. Maria Cecilia does provide us with a glimpse of what hardships the Holy Family had to endure as they made their way to the land of Egypt.
(Note that the author or publish chose to capitalize the pronouns relating to Our Lady not to make her like God but, rather, out of great respect.)
Since Joseph was very much concerned about protecting the Infant Jesus as much as possible from the cold, he often asked Mary, whenever She had Him in Her arms, to see if He was really warm or if perchance, He was cold. Mary would comply with his request, and to his comfort, would inform him whenever the Infant was sufficiently covered and warm. But sometimes, the Divine Infant also was cold—which was as He Himself wished it to be—and then Mary, to be obedient, would in like manner inform Joseph of this as well. He would become exceedingly disturbed and would weep disconsolately, since he was not able to provide a fire to warm the Child.
The Divine Infant would then let his Mother know that He wished to be given to Joseph in order that He might comfort him. Joseph would receive the Infant with eagerness, for he wished to impart to Him some of the heat of his own body, and in this way eliminate His feelings of coldness. The Infant Jesus, indeed, was responsive to this desire on the part of Joseph, and He drew unto Himself additional warmth from the fires of love that were burning within Joseph’s heart. The Saint was once more content, and together they again gave thanks to God.
Ah, see our Joseph too poor to afford more blankets or better protection for his baby Boy, lacking even the means to make a fire. Our beloved patron and father has nothing to warm the Christ Child—who has chosen even as a baby to endure the cold and experience suffering for mankind. Our Joseph has nothing but his love and the warmth of his own body. So what does he do? He offers himself, giving without reserve everything that he has in service to Our Lord. And the shivering Jesus finds warmth in the love and arms of Joseph.
O what blessed arms held the Savior of the world close to his heart! Let us be like our humble Joseph: hold nothing back from Jesus; give Him your will, your heart, your body, your loved ones, your plans for the future; offer Him all, for He is your everything!
(Lastly, I want to again thank edmundofthewest for sharing his artistic talents. May our St. Joseph, Model of artisans, help him to continuously refine his gifts and employ them in the service of Beauty.)
Day 6 of our novena. Ite ad Ioseph (“Go to Joseph”, Genesis 41:55)
Countdown to St. Joseph’s Day: 6 days
Last week at their monthly meeting, the Young Adult Ministry of St. Catherine of Siena Parish hosted its very first St. Joseph’s Table (La Tavola di San Giuseppe also called St. Joseph’s Altar). On a three-tiered table surmounted by a statue of St. Joseph, these Catholic young adults placed food to share (including home made focaccia—so they literally broke bread together) as well as canned goods to donate to the hungry.
As we prepare to celebrate the Solemnity of our great patron and father, let us seek to imitate his virtues. The St. Joseph’s Table can help us do this, for around it loved ones gather to pray and share a meal; it is a reminder to model our own family after the Holy Family and, with grateful hearts for the many blessings of God, to show charity to others in need.
There is even an approved blessing for your St. Joseph’s Table, including a special provisions that a lay person can say if a priest or deacon is not available.
As part of the Rite of Blessing, the minister says,
Today we honor the memory of Saint Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary and patron of the universal Church. We rejoice at this table, which is a sign of God’s generous blessings and of our call to serve the poor and hungry. We pray that through the intercession of Saint Joseph we too might join the saints at the banquet of the Lord in the heavenly kingdom.
…
All-provident God, the good things that grace this table remind us of your many good gifts. Bless this food, and may the prayers of Saint Joseph, who provided bread for your Son and food for the poor, sustain us and all our brothers and sisters on our journey towards your heavenly kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
If you can’t have your own St. Joseph’s Table, you can go to the online Virtual St. Joseph’s Altar. There you can place a symbolic item on the altar, submit a prayer request, view photos of more elaborate St. Joseph’s Tables, and even learn traditional recipes.
From the above website, here is a little bit more of the history and customs of the Tavola di San Giuseppe.
The St. Joseph Altar is Sicilian in origin. During a terrible famine, the people of Sicily pleaded to St. Joseph, their patron saint, for relief. St. Joseph answered their prayers, and the famine ended. In gratitude, they prepared a table with foods they had harvested. After paying homage to St. Joseph, they distributed the food to the less fortunate.
The Altar is set up in three tiers, representing the Holy Trinity. A statue of St. Joseph is placed on the top tier, usually surrounded by flowers, greenery & fruit.
No meat is prepared for the Altar. This is probably because St. Joseph’s Feast falls in the Lenten Season and also because meat was a rarity to the Sicilian peasants. Breads, cakes and cookies, baked in symbolic Christian shapes, are prepared for the Altar. Pastries in the shapes of monstrances, chalices, crosses, doves, lambs, fish, bibles, hearts, wreaths and palms adorn the tiers of the Altar. Symbols of St. Joseph - such as lilies, staffs, sandals, ladders, saws, hammers and nails - are also used. There is symbolism in many of the items on the Altar. Breadcrumbs rerpresent the sawdust of St. Joseph the Carpenter. Twelve whole fish represent the apostles. Wine is symbolic of the Miracle at Cana.
The Altar is a medium of petition and thanksgiving. Petitions of the faithful are written on pieces of paper and placed in baskets on the Altar. Photos of deceased relatives & friends may decorate the Altar as well.
Viva San Giuseppe!!!
Day 4 of our novena. Ite ad Ioseph (“Go to Joseph”, Genesis 41:55)
The Holy Family by Rembrandt
When I was little, my parents introduced me to the world of art by taking me to museums, theatre productions, and concerts. For this, I am truly grateful because I experienced Beauty, and He has captivated my entire being ever since.
Hopefully, I’ll post more reflections about beauty later, but for now, here is a commentary on the painting above from The Way of Beauty by Dr. Caroline Farey of the Maryvale Institute.
In this painting we ponder particularly on Our Lady, as Mother of God, Mother of the saviour of the world, Mother of her Son.We can discern a triple revelation here.
The first act of revelation is from the Old Testament Scriptures to Mary.The light picks out the eager attentionon Mary’s young face and on the Scriptures that she is reading. Mary has suddenly but quietly turned in her chair from the text she has been reading to the fulfilment of those words that she now contemplates as ‘made flesh’ in the basket cot beside her.The Scriptures are telling her who her Son is.
But both her face and the book have parts in shadow too. Similarly Christ’s face is part in shadow and part illuminated.The shadows remind us of the shadow of the suffering and death he will endure, as she will, suffering foretold also in the Jewish Scriptures – the Old Testament.
The second act of revelation is by Mary to the world.She holds back a richly embroidered veil: by this she reveals Christ to us the onlookers.Mary has a place in God’s revealing of his Son.
The third act of revelation is by the sleeping child himself. In his sleep, he holds back a bright red coverlet revealing a lining of lamb’s fleece. Christ reveals himself, even as an infant fast asleep.The red coverlet, as we have seen in paintings before, flows over the edge like blood poured out, and it is highlighted further in its brightness in its juxta-positioning against the richly deep red of Mary ‘s skirt. Mary and the child both wear red. By the fleece Jesus is revealing himself as the lamb of God who is to be led silently to the slaughter.
The revelation taking place at the centre of the painting, through an interplay of light and movements, cloths and colours, is reinforced by other details surrounding Mary and the crib.Firstly, of course in the top left hand corner are the angels bursting in on the scene revealing to us that this is no ordinary carpenter’s child.Where are they looking? One is looking lovingly at Mary, the other looking soberly at the baby.Diagonally opposite the angels in the bottom right hand corner is the fire which, together with the angels is the main source of diffused light across the bare boards of the floor and the barren wall behind, with what look like further parts of the yoke being made by Joseph.A contemplative scene, which, despite looking so humble and ordinary is nonetheless imbued throughout by the grace of the Incarnation of the Son of God through Mary, Theotokos, Mother of God.
I love any kind of ‘Holy Family’ Art that gives Joseph some kind of personality. I hate when I look at things like Nativity sets, where he’s just kind of like ‘oh hello there I have a huge stick’ or the majority of paintings that are just like ‘Joseph who? Mary and Jesus are the only people up in this family.’
But Joseph was courageous too. He took a young woman, pregnant out of wedlock, under his wing for protection. He claimed them as his in Bethlehem. He protected them in Egypt. He too was spoken to by the angel twice- and he too responded with a whole-hearted yes- for Mary, for Jesus and for God. When Jesus gets accidentally left behind at the Temple, the Bible says that his parents- not just Mary- were concerned for him- Joseph loved Jesus, just like Mary loved Jesus. Joseph was Jesus’ male role model- and being the role model to an adolescent Person of the Trinty would be a huge role to fill.
Joseph deserves a little more credit than he currently gets.
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