March 19, St. Joseph The Bible pays Joseph the highest compliment: he was a "just" man. The quality meant a lot more than faithfulness in paying debts. When the Bible speaks of God "justifying" someone, it means that God, the all-holy or "righteous" One, so transforms a person that the individual shares somehow in God's own holiness, and hence it is really "right" for God to love him or her. In other words, God is not playing games, acting as if we were lovable when we are not. By saying Joseph was "just," the Bible means that he was one who was completely open to all that God wanted to do for him. He became holy by opening himself totally to God. The rest we can easily surmise. Think of the kind of love with which he wooed and won Mary, and the depth of the love they shared during their marriage. It is no contradiction of Joseph's manly holiness that he decided to divorce Mary when she was found to be with child. The important words of the Bible are that he planned to do this "quietly" because he was "a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame" (Matthew 1:19). The just man was simply, joyfully, wholeheartedly obedient to God—in marrying Mary, in naming Jesus, in shepherding the precious pair to Egypt, in bringing them to Nazareth, in the undetermined number of years of quiet faith and courage. Comment: The Bible tells us nothing of Joseph in the years after the return to Nazareth except the incident of finding Jesus in the Temple (see Luke 2:41–51). Perhaps this can be taken to mean that God wants us to realize that the holiest family was like every other family, that the circumstances of life for the holiest family were like those of every family, so that when Jesus' mysterious nature began to appear, people couldn't believe that he came from such humble beginnings: "Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary...?" (Matthew 13:55a). It was almost as indignant as "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (John 1:46b). Quote: "He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph's wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying: 'Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord'" (St. Bernardine of Siena). (This entry appears in the print edition of Saint of the Day.)

The Sinlessness and Assumption of Joseph

Canterbury Tales by Taylor Marshall

---

The Sinlessness and Assumption of Joseph Many great saints, doctors, and theologians have taught the sinlessness of Saint Joseph, and also his bodily assumption. Please keep reading below to learn more, or just listen to this excellent homily (from www.AudioSancto.org) for more on "The Holiness of Saint Joseph": http://www.AudioSancto.org/auweb/20061224-The-Holiness-of-Saint-Joseph.mp3 The Sinlessness of Saint Joseph Francisco Suarez, Jean Gerson, and Saint Alphonsus Ligouri each teach that Saint Joseph was sanctified and regenerated in his mother's womb prior to birth. As you know, our Blessed Mother was sanctified at the very moment of her conception in the womb of Saint Anne - this is the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. In the case of Joseph, this sanctification occurred after his conception and before his birth. Sacred Scripture teaches us that the Prophet Jeremiah and Saint John the Baptist received this honor of sanctification in the womb. The eminent theologians above, notably Saint Alphonsus - a doctor of the Holy Church, extend this privilege to Saint Joseph. They even teach that Saint Joseph was confirmed in the grace, which means that he was so filled with grace that he never committed a mortal sin or a deliberate venial sin. The great doctor of the Holy Church Saint Bernard taught: "Power is given to some of the saints to help in particular necessities; but to St. Joseph power is given to help in all necessities." The Bodily Assumption of Saint JosephFrancis Suarez maintained St. Joseph was taken up into heaven bodily. St. Bernardino of Siena, Gerson, and St. Vincent Ferrer held the same. St. Francis de Sales points out the fact that nobody claims the tomb of St. Joseph and that there are no relics of this saint. Then he continues in Les Vrais Entretiens Spirituels: Surely, when Our Lord went down into Limbo, St. Joseph addressed Him in this wise: "Be pleased to remember, Lord, that when you came down from Heaven to earth I received you into my house and family, that I took you into my arms from the moment you were born. Now you are going back to Heaven, take me with you (body and soul). I received you into my family, receive me into yours; I took you in my arms; take me into yours; I looked after you and fed you and guided you during your life on earth; stretch forth your hand and lead me into life everlasting." Some have speculated that Saint Joseph was among the "saints" who were resurrected shortly after the death of Christ on Good Friday: "And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many" (Mt 27:51-53). Here's the Saint Joseph homily again: http://www.AudioSancto.org/auweb/20061224-The-Holiness-of-Saint-Joseph.mp3

Painting: Saint Joseph...with his Father-in-Law I just came across this great painting of Saint Joseph and his father-in-law Saint Joachim by Albert Dürer. As you know, Saint Joachim is the father of the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Other than Jesus Christ, I imagine that these two men were closest to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Novena (Nine Day Invocation) for Saint Joseph's intercesssion

Canterbury Tales by Taylor Marshall


Today: Begin Your Novena to Saint Joseph!
Posted: 10 Mar

We are now officially nine days from the feast day of Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church and Guardian of the Holy Family. Let's begin the novena!

If you've been reading the newspapers or following events on the internet, you know that there are many crises in the Church throughout the world: scandals, martyrdom, controversies. Let's begin today and ask Saint Joseph to protect our Holy Mother the Church. Oh how our Lord Jesus loves Saint Joseph!

Here's the Novena (Nine Day Invocation) for Saint Joseph's intercesssion:

Saint Joseph, I, your unworthy child, greet you. You are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have special confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in you, for you are especially powerful with God and will never abandon your faithful servants. Therefore I humbly invoke you and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:

(Mention your request).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that your prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

Memorare to Saint Joseph
Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection or asked for your aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in your goodness, I come before you and humbly implore you. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.