We are told so little of him, and yet we seem to know so much. We are told nothing of his birth, nothing of his death, and nothing, except by inference, of his life at Nazareth. But then we know his office, and we know that God endows a man according to his rank, and that as St. Joseph was chosen Guardian Spouse of Mary Immaculate, foster-father to Jesus the Son of God, he must be privileged above all other mortals.
A lily of purity was St. Joseph because he had to guard the Virgin Mother and the Spotless One; the most prudent of councillors, for he had the secrets of the Most High in his keeping; the most tender of fathers, for he had to foster the Babe of Bethlehem, feed Him, and guard Him and hide Him; the most Godlike of workmen, for he had to teach the Divine Boy. All this was St. Joseph, Carpenter of Nazareth.
Must we not look to him in our striving after holy purity, to him when oppressed with care, to him when the trials of life weigh us down, to him—Father—when our hearts are sore? Will not the remembrance of the little arms once twined round his neck, the little hands held in his with loving confidence, rouse us to confidence and love!
If there were only space, how we could linger with these holy three, how we would learn from them, be rested by them, and enjoy their company. They would never be tiresome nor tedious, nor selfish. Why do we not oftener turn our eyes upward and pick out one or other heavenly companion and live with them not in imagination, but in very truth? It only wants an effort; let us try to make the effort.
Source: Manual of the Holy Catholic Church, Imprimatur 1906
A lily of purity was St. Joseph because he had to guard the Virgin Mother and the Spotless One; the most prudent of councillors, for he had the secrets of the Most High in his keeping; the most tender of fathers, for he had to foster the Babe of Bethlehem, feed Him, and guard Him and hide Him; the most Godlike of workmen, for he had to teach the Divine Boy. All this was St. Joseph, Carpenter of Nazareth.
Must we not look to him in our striving after holy purity, to him when oppressed with care, to him when the trials of life weigh us down, to him—Father—when our hearts are sore? Will not the remembrance of the little arms once twined round his neck, the little hands held in his with loving confidence, rouse us to confidence and love!
If there were only space, how we could linger with these holy three, how we would learn from them, be rested by them, and enjoy their company. They would never be tiresome nor tedious, nor selfish. Why do we not oftener turn our eyes upward and pick out one or other heavenly companion and live with them not in imagination, but in very truth? It only wants an effort; let us try to make the effort.
Source: Manual of the Holy Catholic Church, Imprimatur 1906
RSS Feed