When angels visit us, we do not hear the rustle of wings, nor feel the
feathery touch of the breast of a
dove; but we know their presence by the love they create in our hearts."
Anonymous
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March 19th - Saint Joseph, Spouse of Mary.
All of the factual knowledge we have of Joseph is from the first chapter of
the Gospel of Matthew and the 2nd chapter of Luke. Joseph was descended from
the royal line of King David of the Old Testament. He was betrothed to Mary
and was hesitant to continue the engagement when he learned of Mary's
pregnancy. However, in a dream, he learned of the Divine mystery of her
virginal conception and accepted the angel's encouragement, "do not be
afraid to take Mary to be your wife..." (Matt. 1:20).
Because of a Roman census, Joseph had to take Mary four days journey to
Bethlehem, and while there Mary gave birth to "Jesus, the Christ". (Luke
2:1-7) While in Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to be presented to God
in the temple, as was required by Jewish law (Lk 2:22-38). Later, after the
visit of the Magi, Joseph was warned of Herod's intention to kill Jesus, so
he took Mary and Jesus to Egypt for safety (Matt 2:13-15) and verse 19-23
tells of his returning and making his home in Nazareth after the death of
Herod.
It is in Luke 2:41-51 that we learn of Jesus, at the age of twelve,
accompanying his parents to Jerusalem and staying behind listening and
talking with the teachers. Joseph and Mary are very concerned when they at
last locate him in the temple. They express their concern, but do not
understand Jesus' response that He must be about His Father's business, so
Jesus returns to Nazareth with them. Matt 13:55, tells us that Joseph was a
"craftsman," which tradition has understood as a carpenter.
We know from scripture that Joseph was recognized as the legal father of
Jesus (Matt 1:1-16, Lk 3:23-28). While he did not share in the generation of
Jesus, he must have taken on the responsibility of accepting Jesus as his
son, and he protected and supported Him. He provided, with Mary, his wife,
the earthly home in which Jesus was raised. He would have naturally
developed a very strong paternal bond with Jesus, since he cared for Him
right from his birth in Bethlehem. He would have seen it as his
responsibility to teach his foster-son the moral tenets of his Jewish faith.
It seems only natural that he would have taught Jesus carpentry, as it was
the common tradition that the son always took over the father's work.
As to Joseph's death, we can only speculate. He doesn't appear after the
infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke and he was certainly dead when Jesus
gave Mary into the care of John at the crucifixion (Jn. 19:27). It seems he
lived long enough for Jesus to grow to an age and ability to care for Mary
after Joseph's death.
Perhaps what is most important for this feast day is to recognize the
tremendous love God must have had for Joseph in making him responsible for
the care of His "Beloved Son" (Mk 1:11.). Joseph is the Patron of the
universal Church, which is the "Mystical Body" of His Son. We can be
confident that we too can have that same trust in Joseph and know that he
will intercede for us that we may come to the holiness of eternal life.
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Whoever will come after Me, let him deny himself. (Matthew 16:24)
"The principal thing upon which we have to turn our attention, that we may
mortify it and eradicate it from our hearts, is the predominant passion-that
is, the affection, inclination, vice, habit, which reigns most in us, which
makes us its captive, which brings us into greatest danger, and most
frequently causes us to fall into grave transgressions. When the king is
taken, the battle is won. And until we do this, we shall make no great
advance in perfection"
-St. Alphonsus Rodriguez
An event of the kind upon which Rodriguez founds his comparison occurred, as
Holy Scripture narrates, in the war between the King of Syria and the King
of Israel. The latter commanded all his captains to attack no one in the
hostile army except the king himself, wisely judging that if the king should
be conquered, the whole army would be overcome. This happened in fact, for
when King Achab was struck down, the battle ended.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". March - Mortification)
Bible Quote
40. And when the sun was down, all they that had any sick with divers
diseases, brought them to him. But he laying his hands on every one of them,
healed them. 41. And devils went out from many, crying out and saying: Thou
art the Son of God. And rebuking them he suffered them not to speak, for
they knew that he was Christ.
(Luke 4:40-41)
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The first sorrowful mystery prayer of the Eucharistic Rosary,
to be offered before the Blessed Sacrament:
The Agony in the Garden, offered for fervor in prayer and
sorrow for sin:
Divine Saviour, under the weight of sorrow and sadness
caused by our sins, Thou fallest, bathed in a sweat of blood,
and Thou endurest a mortal agony. In the Blessed Sacrament,
also, Thou art still more humbled and annihilated on account
of our sins.
We adore Thee and we compassionate Thy agony of suffering
in the Garden of Gethsemane, as well as Thy agony of
humiliation in the Eucharist, and we beg of Thee, through the
intercession of Thy holy Mother, a heartfelt sorrow for our
sins.
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In honor of Saint Joseph, Protector of the Church, a prayer:
O glorious Saint Joseph, chosen by God to be the foster-
father of Jesus, the chaste spouse of Mary ever Virgin, the
head of the Holy Family and then appointed by the Vicar of
Christ to be the heavenly patron and defender of the Church
founded by Jesus, most confidently do I implore at this
moment thy powerful aid for all the Church militant on earth.
Do thou shield with thy truly paternal love especially the
Supreme Pontiff and all the Bishops and priests who are in
union with the Holy See of Peter. Be the defender of all who
labor for souls amidst the trials and tribulations of this life,
and cause all the peoples of the earth to submit themselves in
a docile spirit to that Church which is the ark of salvation for
all men.
Be pleased also, dear Saint Joseph, to accept this dedication
of myself which I now make unto thee. I dedicate myself
which I now make unto thee, that thou mayest ever be my
father, my patron and my guide in the way of salvation.
Obtain for me great purity of heart and a fervent devotion to
the interior life. Grant that, following thine example, I may
direct all my actions to the greater glory of God, in union
with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the immaculate heart of
Mary and in union with thee. Finally pray for me that I may
be a partaker in the peace and joy which were thine at the
hour of thy holy death. Amen.
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