"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3)"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3)
Fidelity to Grace
In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ stated, as the A first of the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Although we do not know whether Saint Joseph lived long enough to hear Christ's preaching, it is clear that the Holy Spirit filled his heart with an understanding of the blessedness that results from being poor in spirit. To find contentment in his lot as the village carpenter of Nazareth, to accept the humiliations of Bethlehem and see in them God's holy will, to accept the rich gifts of the Magi and to use them solely for the interests of his foster Son - such were the lessons that Saint Joseph learned well.
Grace enlightened Joseph's mind and he came to know that, in itself, poverty is indifferent; that is, it is neither good nor bad. It can lead to sin when a wrongful desire for the goods one does not have impels one to cheat, to lie, to steal, or even to kill. Saint Joseph, on the other hand, came to realize that wealth, luxury, and preoccupation with the comforts of this life can weigh down the spirit of man, keep him engrossed in the affairs of earth, and prevent his growth in grace and union with God. Saint Joseph recognized poverty as a potential spiritual good, a condition which can speed man on his way to his final end. By his fidelity to grace he acquired a steadily increasing conviction of the value of such poverty, which Christ made one of the counsels of perfection in His Church.
Prayer
Dear Saint Joseph, ever faithful to the inspirations of grace, obtain for me a proper appreciation of the spirit of poverty. Guide me in my efforts to acquire this spirit and teach me to invoke the Holy Spirit for enlightenment regarding the practice of that poverty which is so directly opposed to the spirit of the world. Help me in all things to surrender myself to all that your Divine foster Son desires of me.
Concluding Prayer
Almighty Father, from whom all graces come: I praise and bless and thank Thee for Saint Joseph's fidelity to grace. Grant that, through his loving intercession, I, too, may be faithful to grace. O my powerful patron Saint Joseph, obtain for me the favor I now ask.
Fidelity to the Interior Life
"The kingdom of God is within you!" It follows, then, that if you are faithful to this kingdom of the interior life, you are truly rich.
In this sense, Saint Joseph was a rich man. Yet his lot in life left him free from the possessions which add an element of distraction to those who would advance in perfection. Saint Joseph's skill as a carpenter probably netted him but a meager income. By his fidelity to the interior life, Saint Joseph gained increasing awareness of the treasures of grace with which God was adorning his soul. God revealed to him the hierarchy of values wherein each thing, a good in itself, serves as a steppingstone to a higher good as one mounts the path of sanctity to the Summum Bonum, God. Within his own heart reigned peace with God and all his fellow men. There he enjoyed a foretaste of that beatitude of which Saint Paul was speaking when he said: "Eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what things God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9; cf. Isaiah 64:4)
Prayer
Dear Saint Joseph, help me to search my heart that I may detect my secret attachment to creature comforts. Pray for me that I may have the clear spiritual vision necessary to distinguish between true supernatural riches and the world's tinsel. May I learn to put first things first; to follow the admonition of our Lord and "seek first the kingdom of God and His justice." (Matthew 6:33)
Concluding Prayer
Almighty Father, from whom all graces come: I praise and bless and thank Thee for Saint Joseph's fidelity to the interior life. Grant that, through his loving intercession, I, too, may be faithful to the interior life. O my powerful patron Saint Joseph, obtain for me the favor I now ask.
Devotion to Our Lady
Certain non-material possessions - for example, love and companionship - are often more precious to us than worldly goods. Somewhere along the road of life, God graciously provides us with a friend whose understanding heart, kindred interests, ready sympathy, and encouraging advice prove beyond question the truth of the Scriptural proverb: "A brother is a better defense than a strong city." (Proverbs 18:19)
Imagine the joy of Saint Joseph during the days following his espousals with the beautiful daughter of Joachim and Anne! With what tenderness he pledged to her his undying loyalty; with what earnestness he offered her his support and protection. It was Saint Joseph's privilege to be chosen by God to enjoy the intimacy of home life with Mary, the Immaculate Mother of Christ, whom we honor as "Cause of our joy."
But, to be poor in spirit one must be ready to relinquish, when God's will demands it, not only worldly goods but also non-material possessions. In this, Saint Joseph quietly sets the example. Before the day on which he was to take Mary to his home as his wife, Joseph discovered that she was bearing a child. The Gospel tells us, quite clearly and simply, of his decision: "But Joseph, being a just man, and not wishing to expose her to reproach, was minded to put her away privately." (Matthew 1:19)
Sickness, death, or merely the vicissitudes of everyday life may impose upon us separation from one whose friendship constitutes a very dear possession. To recognize in this deprivation the holy will of God and to accept it generously is the mark of one who is truly poor in spirit. Even as God immediately reassured Saint Joseph after this trial of his virtue, so will He, according to His own most adorable designs, reward us with peace of soul in this life and the possession hereafter of the kingdom of heaven, where "death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away." (Apocalypse 21:4)
Prayer
Dear Saint Joseph, let no particular attachment hold captive part of the love I owe to Christ. Let not my affection for any person or for any position in life interfere with my observance of God's law. When circumstances upset my plans concerning my friends or my projects, enable me to adjust myself, without interior disturbance, to this manifestation of the holy will of God.
Concluding Prayer
Almighty Father, from whom all graces come: I praise and bless and thank Thee for Saint Joseph's devotion to Our Lady. Grant that, through his loving intercession, I, too, may be truly devoted to Our Lady. O my powerful patron Saint Joseph, obtain for me the favor I now ask.
Devotion to the Divine Child
As one meditates on the first Beatitude, there comes to mind another forceful statement which Christ made: "Amen I say to you, with difficulty will a rich man enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:23). Yet it is noteworthy that the heavenly Father sent a luminous star to summon wise and wealthy Gentiles to be among the first worshipers of His Divine Son.
The visit of these colorful foreigners, which caused such excitement and consternation in the household of Herod, must have attracted even greater attention in Bethlehem. What an accumulation of celebrated personages in a single spot! In the arms of Heaven's Queen lay the Prince of Peace. Close by stood Joseph, whom we salute in his litany as the renowned offspring of King David. Crowding into the tiny quarters of the Holy Family came Kings from the East (sages and members of a sacred caste). "They found the child with Mary His mother, and falling down they worshiped Him. And opening their treasures they offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh." (Matthew 2:11)
These were men possessing great material riches. They had been called in a special manner to the kingdom of heaven. By their response they proved their poverty of spirit. Without stint they gave of their wealth to the King of heaven, and thus secured for themselves the happiness which Christ so lavishly bestows on those who are generous with Him.
Saint Joseph, accepting the Magi's gifts, presents a charming picture of the man of tact. At first sight, it might appear that the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh were extremely inappropriate and impractical. But, as the poet Hilaire Belloc has said, "The grace of God is in courtesy"; and Saint Joseph sensed instinctively that these Wise Men with their luxurious trappings were really needy: their noble hearts were filled with a human need - to give. From Saint Joseph we can learn that poverty of spirit consists in gracious humility, in order to accept without offense material gifts, or service, or anything which others wish to bestow - gifts which our independence and self-sufficiency find unwelcome.
With gracious dignity Joseph accepted these royal offerings from the Magi. In a spirit of poverty and in poverty of spirit, he consulted Mary as to how they might best use such gifts for the good of the Divine Child.
Prayer
Dear Saint Joseph, lover of poverty, help me to acquire a spirit of indifference with regard to food, clothing, house furnishings and other necessities of life. Following your example, I will strive to develop a correct outlook on creatures and the comforts they provide. In this way I will heed the prayer of the liturgy which asks that we may so pass through the good things of time as not to lose those which are eternal.
Concluding Prayer
Almighty Father, from whom all graces come: I praise and bless and thank Thee for Saint Joseph's devotion to the Divine Child. Grant that, through his loving intercession, I, too, may be truly devoted to Jesus. O my powerful patron Saint Joseph, obtain for me the favor I now ask.
- taken from Reflecting on Saint Joseph: A Nine-Day Devotion, by Sister Emily Joseph Daly, C.S.J.