31 Meditations for Advent and Christmas
"The King Who is to come; O come let us adore Him."
28th Day: THE FOSTER-FATHER
"The King Who is to come; O come let us adore Him."
28th Day: THE FOSTER-FATHER
At no great distance from the Mother of God
stands His holy foster-father St. Joseph, the third
person of that earthly Trinity. What can we learn
from him?
He is the true husband of Mary, united to her by a closer bond than any on earth save that which exists between the Mother and the Son. He is moreover the true earthly father of Jesus, in everything except the fact of carnal generation. He has committed to him the care of God Himself, and of her who is dearer to God than all the world. He is, therefore, next to Mary, of all mankind the most privileged and the most exalted, How then can we honor him enough?
When God gives to any one an office, He gives him the virtues and the qualities which are required for its perfect exercise. What then must have been the virtues of St. Joseph? He must have had every virtue, not only in an eminent degree, but in a degree to which none other of the sons of men ever attained. Prudence, justice, humility, charity, in all he was far above all else. I, therefore, may ask of him every grace that I need.
Above all, St. Joseph was eminent for his unspotted purity. Many theologians assert that he was sanctified in his mother's womb. None save Mary was ever so pure as he. This it was that qualified him for his intimate union with Jesus and Mary. If I desire to be united to them, I must be pure of heart. St. Joseph, obtain for me this grace of purity!
He is the true husband of Mary, united to her by a closer bond than any on earth save that which exists between the Mother and the Son. He is moreover the true earthly father of Jesus, in everything except the fact of carnal generation. He has committed to him the care of God Himself, and of her who is dearer to God than all the world. He is, therefore, next to Mary, of all mankind the most privileged and the most exalted, How then can we honor him enough?
When God gives to any one an office, He gives him the virtues and the qualities which are required for its perfect exercise. What then must have been the virtues of St. Joseph? He must have had every virtue, not only in an eminent degree, but in a degree to which none other of the sons of men ever attained. Prudence, justice, humility, charity, in all he was far above all else. I, therefore, may ask of him every grace that I need.
Above all, St. Joseph was eminent for his unspotted purity. Many theologians assert that he was sanctified in his mother's womb. None save Mary was ever so pure as he. This it was that qualified him for his intimate union with Jesus and Mary. If I desire to be united to them, I must be pure of heart. St. Joseph, obtain for me this grace of purity!