We need not fear to apply this name to the holy
foster-father of the Son of God, since it was given
to him by Our Lady herself, when she said to Him
in the Temple, "Thy father and I have sought
Thee, sorrowing."
He had the position of father of Jesus, and
was recognized as such by the common consent.
He had all the rights and the authority of a
father, so far as any could have over the Son of
God. His Divine Foster-Son from His Birth depended
on him, as the child naturally depends
upon his father. He fulfilled the office of father.
God delegated to him the duties, the rights, the
privileges of a father, and therefore the father of
Jesus he is truly called.
We may also piously believe that his Divine
Son was made like to him in outward form. In
the natural order of things, Jesus would not be
made after the likeness of His Holy Mother alone.
The Holy Spirit, in fashioning the features of the
Son of God, would have taken St. Joseph as in
some sort the model to be followed in form and
face. What must have been St. Joseph's beauty,
sweetness of expression, symmetry of form, perfect
purity of body and soul! What a contrast to my
unsightliness and impurity!
When God calls a man by any name. He
thereby ascribes to him whatever that name implies.
How often Jesus called St. Joseph by the
endearing name of father! By so doing, He showed
that he was truly His father. His words were no
mere fiction. O happy St. Joseph! It is no wonder
that thou hast such power in Heaven!