Mary and Joseph

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In his Angelus address for Dec. 22, Pope Francis spoke of Mary and Joseph, especially Joseph:

…Joseph and Mary were living in Nazareth but they did not live together yet because the marriage ceremony had not yet taken place. In the meantime Mary, after having received the Angel’s announcement, became pregnant by the work of the Holy Spirit. When Joseph realized that she was expecting he bewildered. The Gospel does not explain to us what his thoughts were but it does tell us the essential: he tries to do God’s will and is ready for the most radical renunciation. Instead of defending himself and demanding his rights, Joseph opts for a solution that represents an enormous sacrifice for him. And the Gospel says: “Because he was a just man and did not want to accuse her publicly, he decided to send here away quietly” (1:19).

This brief sentence sums up a real interior drama, if we think of the love that Joseph had for Mary! But even such a circumstance Joseph wants to do God’s will and resolves, surely with deep sorrow, to part with Mary in secret. We should meditate on these words to understand the trial that Joseph endured in the days that preceded Jesus’ birth. It was a trial similar to the sacrifice asked of Abraham when God asked him for his son Isaac (Cf. Genesis 22): to give up the most precious thing, the person he loved most.

But just as in Abraham’s case, the Lord intervenes: he found the faith that seeks and opens up a different path, a path of love and happiness: “Joseph,” he said to him, “do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20).

This Gospel manifests to us all of Joseph’s greatness of soul. He was pursuing a good plan for his life but God had another design for him, a greater mission. Joseph was a man who always listed to God’s voice, profoundly sensitive to his hidden will, a man attentive to the messages that came to him from the depths of his heart and from above. He did not persist in pursuing his own plan for his life, he did not allow rancor to poison his soul, but was ready to place himself at the service of the thing that was presented to him in a disconcerting way. And it was in this way that he was a good man. He did not hate and he did not allow rancor to poison his soul. But how often does hatred and antipathy too, how often does rancor poison our souls! And this is bad for us. Joseph never permits this to happen: he is a good example of this. And in this way Joseph became freer and greater. Accepting himself according to God’s plan, Joseph finds himself completely, beyond himself. This freedom he has to give up what belongs to him, the ownership of his own life, and this total interior availability to God’s will, grab our attention and show us the way…

I underlined words which blessed me. I’d be grateful for your thoughts, as we ponder the Holy Family: Jesus, Meek and Humble; “…Mary, the woman who is full of grace, who had the courage to entrust herself totally to the Word of God; Joseph, the faithful and just man who preferred to believe the Lord rather than listen to the voices of human doubt and pride.” St. Joseph is perhaps the least thought of, yet how truly he is a model for every member of the human family.

 

[cjforJesus]

 

[wllmjoseph]

I have alway had a strong devotion to St. Joseph. In part what has strengthened this devotion was his great humility despite the fact that he had a significant role in salvation history. My devotion was also strengthened due to the fact that St. Joseph is often the forgotten member of the Holy Family.
Thank you for sharing Pope Francis’ reflection on Mary and Joseph. It was a great testament to their holiness. I love being Catholic and that I am a member or a Church that encourages honoring both Mary and Joseph.

Will Murphy

 

[bcuster]

Those were the exact words that jumped out at me.

 

[Mark121359]

I underlined words which blessed me. I’d be grateful for your thoughts, as we ponder the Holy Family: Jesus, Meek and Humble; “…Mary, the woman who is full of grace, who had the courage to entrust herself totally to the Word of God; Joseph, the faithful and just man who preferred to believe the Lord rather than listen to the voices of human doubt and pride.” St. Joseph is perhaps the least thought of, yet how truly he is a model for every member of the human family.

Can you imagine how St. Joseph must have wrestled with his decision to leave Mary? You can just imagine the deep love he had for her, and how that decision must have pained him tremendously! And I can equally imagine as well the great joy he must have felt when he laid eyes on her for the first time after the Angel appeared to him in a dream and explained Mary’s situation to him. Oh what joy indeed! To spend your life with the finest creature ever created! And to be Foster Father of the Son of God!

And then there are those who believe that St. Joseph knew full well of the miraculous nature of Mary’s pregnancy from the start, and had sought to separate himself from her because of a deep sense of unworthiness. He knew the Child had been conceived “of the Holy Spirit” and he was afraid to take Mary as his wife. St. Thomas Aquinas being one of those who believed this.

***Peace, Mark ***

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear cjfor Jesus,

Thanks for your reply.

 

[MariaChristi]

I have alway had a strong devotion to St. Joseph. In part what has strengthened this devotion was his great humility despite the fact that he had a significant role in salvation history. My devotion was also strengthened due to the fact that St. Joseph is often the forgotten member of the Holy Family.
Thank you for sharing Pope Francis’ reflection on Mary and Joseph. It was a great testament to their holiness. I love being Catholic and that I am a member or a Church that encourages honoring both Mary and Joseph.

Will Murphy

Dear Will,

Thanks for your reply, and for your devotion to St. Joseph… I was also grateful to read of the Pope’s obvious devotion and tender appreciation of Joseph’s love for Mary. On this Feast of the Holy Family, may many more Catholic clergy and people look to Joseph!

 

[MariaChristi]

Those were the exact words that jumped out at me.

Dear bcuster,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, let me repeat those words from Pope Francis:

…This Gospel manifests to us all of Joseph’s greatness of soul. He was pursuing a good plan for his life but God had another design for him, a greater mission. Joseph was a man who always listened to God’s voice, profoundly sensitive to his hidden will, a man attentive to the messages that came to him from the depths of his heart and from above. He did not persist in pursuing his own plan for his life, he did not allow rancor to poison his soul, but was ready to place himself at the service of the thing that was presented to him in a disconcerting way.

The phrase, “greatness of soul” reminded me of something I think St. Therese of Lisieux may have written about herself or someone wrote of her desire to be: “great-souled”. Would that all of us might pray for that grace! On this Feast of the Holy Family today, let us pray for grace to strive for the “greatness of soul” God desires for each one of us. Let us continually listen to His Holy Spirit dwelling within the depths of our own hearts, that we may do the Truth we hear, lovingly.

 

[MariaChristi]

Can you imagine how St. Joseph must have wrestled with his decision to leave Mary? You can just imagine the deep love he had for her, and how that decision must have pained him tremendously! And I can equally imagine as well the great joy he must have felt when he laid eyes on her for the first time after the Angel appeared to him in a dream and explained Mary’s situation to him. Oh what joy indeed! To spend your life with the finest creature ever created! And to be Foster Father of the Son of God!

And then there are those who believe that St. Joseph knew full well of the miraculous nature of Mary’s pregnancy from the start, and had sought to separate himself from her because of a deep sense of unworthiness. He knew the Child had been conceived “of the Holy Spirit” and he was afraid to take Mary as his wife. St. Thomas Aquinas being one of those who believed this.

***Peace, Mark ***

Dear Mark,

Thanks for your reply. We can only speculate, prayerfully, on what might have been going on in St. Joseph’s mind and heart, but we can know what he did, according to God’s Word. Pope Francis has phrased it well:

…Joseph, the faithful and just man who preferred to believe the Lord rather than listen to the voices of human doubt and pride…

St. Joseph, Protector of Mary and Jesus, Guardian of Holy Church, pray for us.
Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Jesus, we trust in You.

Blessings to you, Mark and to all, on today’s Feast of the Holy Family!