Guido Reni Gallery
Pope John Paul II wrote in Redemptoris Custos (The Guardian of the Redeemer, 1987) that Joseph "remained faithful to God's call until the end" (par 17). Today's busy people, living and working in a complex society, may not look upon Joseph as a man who carried many burdens. He is seen as the one who took Mary to Bethlehem, Egypt, Jerusalem and surely other place. He was the man who had to face the dilemma brought about by the Jewish laws about a betrothed woman who became pregnant through infidelity. Such a woman would be condemned to death by stoning. What was he to do?
How many fathers and mothers have had to deal with the surprise" pregnancy of either an unmarried daughter or her boy friend? Of course there are no worries about physical stoning. Perhaps more painful is the hurt created by the stones of embarrassment and gossip.
God spoke to Joseph through dream In a dream he leaned what his mission and his life would become. When the angel appeared in the first of several dreams, he was told what he was to do. The angel did not ask if he would consider doing what God wanted. From the time when he awoke from his dream, he did not question the message as St Matthew recorded, "... he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home."
Joseph's love for his wife was extraordinary ... it had to be because of the graces granted to him to care for Mary and the child Jesus. Could there have been a greater example of "complete self-sacrifice"? This was the manner whereby this skilled carpenter "... gave her a husband's 'gift of self'.'"
As a brother, a a friend or a model, Joseph comes to each of us. We need the graces of fidelity to our vocations, our works and our families that strengthened Joseph each day. How strong was this very quiet man? Listen to some of the titles attributed to him in a Litany to Saint Joseph. He has never been a man without the heavy burdens of others' needs.
Noble Son of the house of David; Light of patriarchs; Husband of the Mother of God; Guardian of the Virgin; Foster father of the Son of God; Faithful guardian of Christ; Head of the Holy Family. Add to these responsibilities the following: Pattern of patience; Lover of poverty; Model of workers; Example to parents; Guardian of Virgins; Pillar of family life; Comfort of the troubled; Hope of the sick; Patron of the dying; Terror of evil spirits and Protector of the Church. In addition to these "duties," Joseph was chaste and just, prudent and brave, obedient and loyal.
"Joseph, your heart must have been pierced when you thought you would have to quietly send Mary, your wife, away!! How deep was your joy, though, when an angel brought the directions God wanted you to follow. Hear my voice today and the emotions of my heart: intercede for me, for all, to share the graces of God to enable me, and us, to be "faithful to God's call until the end."
