N
nevadagardener
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In following back the many posts to this forum topic, the Scriptural quotes contained in so many of the articles regarding the Perpetual Virginity of Mary are plentiful. A few reference Joseph the same way, but are lacking in number.
So, we go next to what Church Tradition has to offer, and for that, I would quote the following Saints and Church Fathers:
Saint Bernardine of Siena, a Franciscan saint who died in the year 1444 and whose feast day is May 20, says of Saint Joseph that he was a holy man, “most pure in his virginity, most profound in humility, most ardent in charity and the love of God, most exalted in contemplation, and most solicitous for the welfare of his spouse, the Virgin.”
Saint Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church, who died in 1622 when he was 55 years old and whose feast day is January 29, says of Saint Joseph that he “surpasses all the saints, and even the angels and the cherubim, in his beautiful virtue of virginity.”
Saint John Damascene, a Doctor of the Church who died in 749 and whose feast day is March 27, tells us that God gave such a sublime dignity to Saint Joseph by making him the virginal spouse of Mary that it is impossible to express or imagine it.
Saint Peter Damian, a Doctor of the Church, who died in 1072 and whose feast day is February 23, said: “Saint Joseph was made in the image of the Virgin, his spouse.”
Saint Piux X, … who died in 1914 and whose feast day is September 3, approved the Litany of Saint Joseph in 1909. His baptismal name was Joseph and he indulgenced this prayer to his patron saint: “O Joseph, virgin father of Jesus, most pure spouse of the Virgin Mary, pray for us daily to the same Jesus, the Son of God, that armed with the weapons of His grace, we may fight as we ought during life, and be crowned by Him at the moment of our death.”
And … Saint Augustine, Doctor of the Church, who died in 430 when he was 76 years old and whose feast day is August 28, declares that Saint Joseph is “the guardian of chastity and the honor of virginity.”
Nor can I believe that God would leave the marriage of the Foster Father of His Son and the Virginal Queen of Heaven, to be determined by a game of chance, the “casting of lots”, as described in the “Protoevangelicum of James”. His Coming was long awaited through the ages, foretold by prophets, and had to meet certain conditions, among them that the Savior would be of the House of David, and that the Savior would be of a virgin birth. (I’m pretty sure one more: that 40 generations would elapse between King David and the Savior, but did not look it up.)
The following accounts from the Church Fathers tell us how carefully Joseph was Divinely selected:
Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Doctor of the Church, who died in 1787 when he was 90years old and whose feast day is August 2, says of Saint Joseph that God wanted him to be “in a certain sense a cooperator in the redemption of the world, the work which belongs properly to the three Divine Persons.”
Saint Bernard, Doctor of the Church, who was 62 years old when he died in 1153, and whose feast day is August 20, said of Saint Joseph, “If you want to form an idea of Saint Joseph’s greatness, consider that by a divine privilege he merited to bear the title, ‘father of Jesus’.”
Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church, who died when he was 64 years old in the year 604 and whose feast day is March 12, said of Saint Joseph that he was “the only one found worthy among men to be the spouse of Mary.”
And … Saint Jerome, Doctor of the Church, who died in 420 at the age of 80 and whose feast day is September 3, calls dear Saint Joseph, “the saviour of the honor of God’s Mother.” He also tells us that “Joseph was called just because of his perfect possession of all virtues.”
I am more likely to understand that the betrothal of Joseph and Mary followed the customs of the time, that the marriage was prearranged by Saint Joachim long before his and Saint Anne’s expiration, that Joseph was most likely a friend of the family, and that he literally waited for Mary to grow up. Most importantly, because Saint Joachim knew the vows his daughter had taken, he also had to find a man who was also a virgin, so that they would be equally yoked, as any loving father would do for his one, only precious daughter. That just as Saint Anne was inspired to induct their only child into the temple, as gratitude to God for their ever having conceived a child at all, that perhaps so, too, was Saint Joachim inspired by God, to “make a match” with the most chaste man he could find, with our keeping in mind (and unbeknownst to Joachim) that God had prophecies to fulfill. (Remember, the engagement was prior to the pregnancy, no one could yet suspect what was happening as to the unfolding of Scripture.)
Knowing what we now know, and following the reasoning of Saint Jerome, it does not follow that the selection process for the man who would most influence the character of Our Savior during His Youth, would have included a man who was a widower and did not want Mary, the man who “drew the shortest straw”, so to speak, in a “Town Meetin’ of Eligible Men”.
That Mary and Joseph would choose to be engaged, with the intention of living a chaste life together in a marriage, has shown to be common during that time.
But because they did, they were the perfect predestined couple to fulfill God’s Plan for the Coming of His Son. It was their Only Mission, their Role in all of Humankind, for the benefit of us all, Jesus’s brothers and sisters. They did not want nor need any other children, as the rest of us would, in our ordinary marriages.
So, we go next to what Church Tradition has to offer, and for that, I would quote the following Saints and Church Fathers:
Saint Bernardine of Siena, a Franciscan saint who died in the year 1444 and whose feast day is May 20, says of Saint Joseph that he was a holy man, “most pure in his virginity, most profound in humility, most ardent in charity and the love of God, most exalted in contemplation, and most solicitous for the welfare of his spouse, the Virgin.”
Saint Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church, who died in 1622 when he was 55 years old and whose feast day is January 29, says of Saint Joseph that he “surpasses all the saints, and even the angels and the cherubim, in his beautiful virtue of virginity.”
Saint John Damascene, a Doctor of the Church who died in 749 and whose feast day is March 27, tells us that God gave such a sublime dignity to Saint Joseph by making him the virginal spouse of Mary that it is impossible to express or imagine it.
Saint Peter Damian, a Doctor of the Church, who died in 1072 and whose feast day is February 23, said: “Saint Joseph was made in the image of the Virgin, his spouse.”
Saint Piux X, … who died in 1914 and whose feast day is September 3, approved the Litany of Saint Joseph in 1909. His baptismal name was Joseph and he indulgenced this prayer to his patron saint: “O Joseph, virgin father of Jesus, most pure spouse of the Virgin Mary, pray for us daily to the same Jesus, the Son of God, that armed with the weapons of His grace, we may fight as we ought during life, and be crowned by Him at the moment of our death.”
And … Saint Augustine, Doctor of the Church, who died in 430 when he was 76 years old and whose feast day is August 28, declares that Saint Joseph is “the guardian of chastity and the honor of virginity.”
Nor can I believe that God would leave the marriage of the Foster Father of His Son and the Virginal Queen of Heaven, to be determined by a game of chance, the “casting of lots”, as described in the “Protoevangelicum of James”. His Coming was long awaited through the ages, foretold by prophets, and had to meet certain conditions, among them that the Savior would be of the House of David, and that the Savior would be of a virgin birth. (I’m pretty sure one more: that 40 generations would elapse between King David and the Savior, but did not look it up.)
The following accounts from the Church Fathers tell us how carefully Joseph was Divinely selected:
Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Doctor of the Church, who died in 1787 when he was 90years old and whose feast day is August 2, says of Saint Joseph that God wanted him to be “in a certain sense a cooperator in the redemption of the world, the work which belongs properly to the three Divine Persons.”
Saint Bernard, Doctor of the Church, who was 62 years old when he died in 1153, and whose feast day is August 20, said of Saint Joseph, “If you want to form an idea of Saint Joseph’s greatness, consider that by a divine privilege he merited to bear the title, ‘father of Jesus’.”
Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church, who died when he was 64 years old in the year 604 and whose feast day is March 12, said of Saint Joseph that he was “the only one found worthy among men to be the spouse of Mary.”
And … Saint Jerome, Doctor of the Church, who died in 420 at the age of 80 and whose feast day is September 3, calls dear Saint Joseph, “the saviour of the honor of God’s Mother.” He also tells us that “Joseph was called just because of his perfect possession of all virtues.”
I am more likely to understand that the betrothal of Joseph and Mary followed the customs of the time, that the marriage was prearranged by Saint Joachim long before his and Saint Anne’s expiration, that Joseph was most likely a friend of the family, and that he literally waited for Mary to grow up. Most importantly, because Saint Joachim knew the vows his daughter had taken, he also had to find a man who was also a virgin, so that they would be equally yoked, as any loving father would do for his one, only precious daughter. That just as Saint Anne was inspired to induct their only child into the temple, as gratitude to God for their ever having conceived a child at all, that perhaps so, too, was Saint Joachim inspired by God, to “make a match” with the most chaste man he could find, with our keeping in mind (and unbeknownst to Joachim) that God had prophecies to fulfill. (Remember, the engagement was prior to the pregnancy, no one could yet suspect what was happening as to the unfolding of Scripture.)
Knowing what we now know, and following the reasoning of Saint Jerome, it does not follow that the selection process for the man who would most influence the character of Our Savior during His Youth, would have included a man who was a widower and did not want Mary, the man who “drew the shortest straw”, so to speak, in a “Town Meetin’ of Eligible Men”.
That Mary and Joseph would choose to be engaged, with the intention of living a chaste life together in a marriage, has shown to be common during that time.
But because they did, they were the perfect predestined couple to fulfill God’s Plan for the Coming of His Son. It was their Only Mission, their Role in all of Humankind, for the benefit of us all, Jesus’s brothers and sisters. They did not want nor need any other children, as the rest of us would, in our ordinary marriages.
