We must believe that the life of St. Joseph, spent in the presence  of Jesus and Mary, was a continual prayer, abounding in acts of faith, confidence, love, resignation and oblation.  Since then the reward of the saints corresponds to their merits during life, consider how great must be the glory of St. Joseph in heaven.  St. Augustine compares the other saints to the stars but St. Joseph to the sun.

It is then very reasonable to suppose that St. Joseph, after Mary, surpasses all the…

St. Paul writes that in the next life Jesus Christ "will render to every man according to his works"  (Romans, 2:6).  What great glory must we not suppose that He has bestowed upon St. Joseph, who served and loved Him so much while He lived on earth!   Our Lord promised a reward to him who gives a cup of cold water to the poor in His name.  What they must be the reward of St. Joseph who can say to Jesus Christ:  "I not only provided  Thee with food, with a dwelling, and with clothes, but I…

The two disciples going to Emmaus were inflamed with divine love by the few moments which they spent in company with our Savior, and by His words.  What flames of holy love must not, then, have been enkindled in the heart of St. Joseph, who for thirty years conversed with Jesus Christ, and listened to His words of eternal life; who observed the perfect example which Jesus gave of humility and patience, and saw the promptness with which He obeyed and helped him in his labors, and all that was…

In the Gospels, St. Joseph is called "the Just."  What is meant by a just man?  St. Peter Chrysologus says "It means a perfect man -- one who possesses all virtues."  St. Joseph was already holy before his marriage, but how much must his sanctity have increased after his union with the Blessed Virgin?  The example of his holy spouse sufficed to sanctify him.  Since Mary is the dispenser of all graces which God grants to men, in what profusion must she have showered them down on her spouse…

When God destines anyone for a particular office, He gives him the graces that fit him for it.  Therefore, since God chose St. Joseph to fill the office of father over the person of the Incarnate Word, we must certainly believe that He conferred upon him all the sanctity which belonged to such an office.  Gerson says that among other privileges, St. Joseph had three which were special to him:

1)  That he was sanctified in his mother's womb, as were Jeremiah and St. John the…

According to St. John Damascene, "God gave St. Joseph the love, the care and the authority of a father over Jesus.  He gave him the affection of a father that he might guard Him with great love; the solicitude of a father that he might watch over Him with great care; and the authority of a father that he might feel sure that he would be obeyed in all that he arranged concerning this Son."

St. Joseph, be always a father to us, and grant that we may always be thy faithful…

All the faithful should be devoted to St. Joseph in order to obtain the grace of a good death and this for three reasons.

1)  Because Jesus Christ loved him not only as a friend but as a father, and therefore his intercession is more powerful than that of the  other saints.

2)  Because Our Lord, in return for having saved Him from Herod, has given St. Joseph the special privilege of protecting the dying from the snares of the devils.

3)  Because St. Joseph, who…

St. Bernardine of Siena says that we should be persuaded that Our Lord, Who respected St. Joseph on earth as His father, will refuse him nothing in heaven but, on the contrary, will most abundantly grant his petitions.  Jesus Himself advised St. Margaret of Cortona to cherish a special devotion to St. Joseph and never allow a day to pass without rendering some homage to him as His foster father.   Let us not, then, fail to recommend ourselves every day to St. Joseph and to ask him for…

The example of Jesus Christ, Who wished to honor St. Joseph so much and to be subject to him on earth, ought to inflame all with a fervent devotion toward this great saint.  Since the Eternal Father shared His own authority with St. Joseph, Jesus always regarded him as a father and respected and obeyed him for thirty years.  St. Luke says, "He was subject to them," (Luke 2:51).  These words mean that all during that time the sole occupation of the Redeemer was to obey Mary and Joseph.  To…

We should indeed honor St. Joseph, since the Son of God Himself was graciously pleased to honor him by calling him "father."   "Christ," says Origen, "gave to St. Joseph the honor due to a parent."  The Holy Scriptures speak of him as the father of Jesus.  "His father and mother were marveling at the things spoken concerning Him.  (Luke 2.33) "  Mary also used this name.  "in sorrow thy father and I have been seeking Thee.  (Luke 2:48)"  If then, the King of Kings was pleased to raise Joseph…

     God, because of the great love He bears for us and His great desire to see us saved, has given us among other means of salvation the practice of devotion to the saints.  It is His Will, that they, who are His friends, should intercede for us, and by their merits and prayers obtain graces for us which we ourselves do not deserve.

     But everyone must know that, after the Mother of God, St. Joseph is, of all the saints, the one dearest to God.  He has, therefore, great…