It is an opinion held by many learned theologians that St. Joseph, like Our Lady, enjoys the
honor of having had his body raised from the grave
at the time of Our Lord's Resurrection, and that
he is present in Heaven now, body as well as soul.
There are no relics of St. Joseph, no tomb where
his body is honored. His assumption is moreover
what we might expect in reward for such spotless
purity as his. The spouse of Mary deserved this
honor, and one who had tended Jesus with such
loving care had a sort of claim to it. We may
therefore piously believe that St. Joseph enjoys this
wonderful privilege.
We have already spoken of St. Joseph as the
most glorious of all the saints. What else does
this mean but that he has the highest place in
Heaven after Our Lady? The Church calls him
the glory of the inhabitants of Heaven (caelitum
decus). How would this be possible unless he surpassed them all? Congratulate St. Joseph on his
great glory, and thank God that you have a friend
so near His throne.
St. Joseph was, after Mary, more like to his
Divine Son in form and feature than anyone else
ever was. This likeness extended to his beautiful
and stainless soul. In Heaven he still retains this
intimate likeness to Jesus, which grew and increased by reason of his close union with the Son
of God and familiar intercourse with Him. Likeness to Christ! That is the increase of glory in
Heaven. Pray that you may become, through St.
Joseph's help, more like to Jesus.