Reflecting on Saint Joseph: A Nine-Day Devotion, by Sister Emily Joseph Daly, C.S.J.

Reflecting on Saint Joseph - Third Day

"Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5:5)

Fidelity to Grace

The few passages in the Gospel narratives in which Saint Joseph appears present to us episodes of anguish and sorrow matched in no other human life, except that of Christ and of Our Lady. The explanation of their singular poignancy lies in the fact that each sorrow had as its focal point the glorious Son of God.

Review these seven sorrowful incidents in Saint Joseph's life: his anguish of heart after his espousal to Our Lady when she was found to be with child; his grief at being able to find no shelter but a stable at the time of Christ's birth; his pain as he beheld the knife which was to draw the first drops of the Precious Blood at the circumcision; the thrust of the double-edged sword of Simeon's prophecy, which foretold the future sufferings of the two whom Saint Joseph cherished more than life itself; his distress when he had to oblige Mary to take flight to escape the murderous designs of Herod; his fear, on the return from Egypt, of the reaction of the new king, Archelaus, and his uncertainty as to the wisest course of action; his inconceivable heartache during the agonizing period of search when the Christ Child was lost in Jerusalem.

Each incident, however painful, formed part of God's design for His Incarnate Son. The prophets had foretold the virgin birth of the Messias, had designated Bethlehem as His birthplace, and had said that "He shall be called a Nazarene" (Matthew 2:23). In both the circumcision and the presentation in the Temple, the Holy Family were obeying prescriptions of the Mosaic Law. Christ's own answer to His Mother's quiet rebuke in the Temple after His absence of three days indicated clearly that His parents' pain was inseparable from His conformity with His Father's will.

Grace is often spoken of as a "light" in the soul. "In your light we see light," says the psalmist (Psalm 35:10). Saint Joseph's fidelity to grace brought him the gift of understanding, which enabled him to see in each painful episode of his life the mystery of the divine dispensation. In each of his sorrows the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, brought him divine comfort.

Prayer

Dear Saint Joseph, be my model in the acceptance of sorrow. May I recognize each pain and sorrow that comes to me as a part of God's design for my sanctification. Teach me to meditate frequently upon your seven joys and sorrows that I may derive from them inspiration and strength.

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

Mystery invites meditation. Each incident of Christ's early life in which Saint Joseph is mentioned is shrouded in deep mystery. The strange prophecy of the aged Simeon, in particular, involved Saint Joseph in profoundest thought and prayer.

Simeon's first words, acclaiming the tiny Babe as the "light of revelation to the Gentiles, and a glory for Thy people Israel," left "His father and mother . . . marveling at the things spoken concerning Him." Boundless joy surged up in the heart of Saint Joseph as God's mercy and providence were thus publicly recognized and praised. Then Simeon spoke again. This time his words were directed to Mary alone: "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and for the rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (cf. Luke 2:32-35)

Saint Joseph was a man of prayer. From frequent recitation of the psalms he had become familiar with their figurative language. Beneath the symbolism of a sword he could easily discover the real meaning of Simeon's words. Sorrow which would pierce to the depths of Mary's being, pain which would drain her very life - this was to be the lot of Mary - and she must bear it alone! Such, Saint Joseph realized at once, was the import of the aged man's prophetic utterance.

As the years unfolded, this episode ever more deeply penetrated the heart of Saint Joseph. Time and again he pondered the phrases in which Isaias had foretold the humiliations, the sufferings, and ignominious death of the Messias. As he called to mind again and again the words of Simeon which seemed to imply that Mary would suffer alone, the conviction grew that he was not to be asked to witness the redemptive act of Christ. The quick protective instinct of this man of strength rose up in protest; his strong faith restrained his impulse and made him yield to whatever was demanded by the divine plan. From his submission there flowed into his soul the grace and peace which brought him comfort. "Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

Prayer

Dear Saint Joseph, teach me in my sorrows and disappointments not to turn to creatures for comfort but to seek the comfort of the Holy Spirit who dwells within my heart. Help me to cultivate a deep love of the Holy Scriptures, that by prayerful study of them I may come to look upon my own sorrows in the light of Christ's life and teachings.

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

A joy shared is doubled. A sorrow shared is diminished. Like any other family, the Holy Family experienced periods of joy and sorrow. Mary and Joseph shared all these together. Mary found comfort in Joseph's steady protection as they faced rejection at door after door in Bethlehem. She relaxed beneath his reassuring glance as they hastily gathered up the sleeping Christ and set out upon their flight to Egypt. She welcomed the warm clasp of his calloused hands as he helped her dismount from the donkey before the dwelling they had selected in a strange Egyptian town. It was lonely in that foreign land. Poverty and the haste of their flight imposed countless inconveniences. On every side Mary and Joseph encountered difficulties in their social contacts. Without the cheering resourcefulness of Saint Joseph, Our Lady's heartaches would have been intensified beyond measure.

In the Old Testament the author of Genesis recounts how God once used the jealous designs of men to arrange an extraordinary set of circumstances in Egypt. Within the royal palace, the Pharao had established in a position of honor and power one from a foreign land who would turn the mourning of his brothers into joy. This was Joseph, son of Jacob, whom the Pharao had made "lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt" (Genesis 45:8). In him was prefigured Saint Joseph who, when forced to flee from his homeland into Egypt because of the jealous designs of Herod, comforted and protected Mary and her Divine Babe in their sad exile. Just how long the sojourn in Egypt lasted - whether as long as two years - is not known. But when we read of the earlier Joseph that "the Lord was with him and prospered all his undertakings" (Genesis 39:3), can we not think that Divine Providence assisted Saint Joseph in his efforts to earn a livelihood and establish a comfortable home for Our Lady and the Divine Child while they dwelt in a foreign land?

Prayer

Dear Saint Joseph, be my protector as you were the protector of Jesus and Mary during their exile in Egypt. When others are suffering, help me to be quick to detect their trouble and to offer tactful sympathy and comfort. When circumstances place strangers or visitors in my path, teach me to be gracious and to extend to them on all occasions the courtesy and hospitality I would like to have shown to you and to Jesus and Mary during your sojourn in Egypt.

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

To those who look upon them with the eyes of faith, the hidden years of Christ's life reveal many of the secrets they hold. One of these is the relationship between Saint Joseph and his foster Son. Holy Scripture hints strongly at the most salient feature of this relationship: its lack of an unusual quality before the eyes of the world.

In the early days of His public ministry, Jesus returned to His home town of Nazareth. "All bore . . . witness," says Saint Luke, "and marveled at the words of grace that came from His mouth. And they said, 'Is not this Joseph's son?'" (Luke 4:22). All four evangelists record this reaction on the part of Christ's fellow townsmen. Matthew (who may have learned of it from Saint Joseph)' and Mark add the pathetic comment: "And they took offense at Him." (Matthew 13:57; Mark 6:3)

Christ's fellow Nazarenes knew Him as the lad whom they had watched grow up among them as apprentice to the village carpenter. Joseph had exercised such perfect self-control that no word or gesture or attitude of his had deviated in the slightest degree from the normal relationship of father to son. From him came no revelation of the secret that this Child was the Son of God. It was not for him to disclose God's plan.

Prayer

Dear Saint Joseph, help me to learn, from the example of your holy life, that I must do the ordinary things of life in an extraordinary way. Strengthen within me the gift of faith which I received in Baptism. Let me see in each of my companions "another Christ." By frequent meditation on the doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ may I come to love Him in all and all in Him.

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.