|
|
|
ST. JOSEPH
“The just shall spring as the lily; and shall flourish forever before the Lord.” (Alleluia verse from the Mass of St. Joseph). The virtue of purity is inseparable from the name of St. Joseph. This explains the lily of purity displayed so prominently in the sketch. The trinity is indicative of St. Joseph’s closeness to God while the chi rho denotes the reason for this closeness to God, Joseph’s fatherhood of Christ. The reason for Mary’s greatness and her influence with God lies in the fact that she is the Mother of God. Similarly, Joseph is one of the greatest of saints and has immeasurable influence with God because he is the foster-father of Jesus. |
| |
|
|
SCION OF DAVID
“And Joseph also went up from Galilee... to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David.” (Luke 2, 4). The star, the kingly crown, and the shepherd’s staff on the card all betoken the royal Image of Joseph, a descendant of King David. The shepherd’s staff also fittingly intimates Joseph’s lowliness. Although Joseph was of royal lineage he gladly did God’s will and accepted the humble position of a carpenter of Nazareth.
|
| |
|
|
LIGHT OF PATRIARCHS
“Thou shalt shine with a glorious light: and all the ends of the earth shall worship thee.” (Tobias 13, 13). This was said by the elder Tobias in praise and thanksgiving to God, but it seems very fitting to apply it to Joseph. The patriarchs, who were the foundations of the Jewish race, are represented in the sketch by the three mountains (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the outstanding of the patriarchs). The star is Joseph who hovers above all the other patriarchs, as the most inspirational. Of old, the pharaoh of Egypt testified to this fact when he said of the patriarch Joseph (an archetype of St. Joseph): “Where can we find such another man that is full of the spirit of God.” (Genesis 41, 38).
|
| |
|
|
SPOUSE OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
“Joseph, rising up, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded, and took unto him his wife.” (Matthew I, 24). The marriage of Mary and Joseph is symbolized by the ring. However, since this was a virginal marriage we find two lilies encompassed by the ring. The lilies betoken the complete purity and virginity of both parties. The upright lily signifies that Joseph was the head and the support of the family, upon whom Mary depended for the protection of her Divine Motherhood.
|
| |
|
|
CHASTE GUARDIAN OF THE VIRGIN
“Mary is God’s garden of delights, His garden enclosed, a fountain signed with the seal of the entire Trinity.” (2nd antiphon from the Office of the feast of the interior life of the Blessed Virgin*). As the owner of a beautiful garden and fountain will put around this treasure a protective wall and gate, so God commissioned Joseph to be the guardian of the Virgin Mary. He is the protective gate we see pictured in the drawing.
*NB: this is a feast specific to the Friar Servants of Mary (aka, Servites), whose members wrote and illustrated this spiritual commentary.
|
| |
|
|
FOSTER FATHER OF THE SON OF GOD
“Son, why hast thou done so to us? Behold Thy Father and I have sought Thee sorrowing.” (Luke 2, 48). God the Father begets the Son from all eternity and hence the divine fatherhood belongs only to the first person of the Blessed Trinity. This truth is indicated by the trinity hovering above the chi rho. However, because of his foster fatherhood, St. Joseph was privileged to share in God’s paternal rights over the Son. These paternal rights of Joseph are symbolized on the card by the staff and the rod upon which the chi rho is supported.
|
| |
|
|
DILIGENT PROTECTOR OF CHRIST
“Who arose and took the Child and His Mother by night and retired into Egypt,” (Matthew 2, 14). The flight into Egypt was one instance in which Joseph protected the life of Christ. The occasions in which Joseph shielded the growing boy must have been numerous. The sword and shield signify the protective shelter the Christ child found in Joseph.
|
| |
|
|
HEAD OF THE HOLY FAMILY
“He made him lord of His house, and ruler over all His possessions.” (From the antiphon to St. Joseph). In the drawing we see the crown, the ensign of Joseph’s authority, is suspended prominently above the chi rho and the Ave Maria. This is to indicate Joseph’s position as head of the Holy Family. The authoritative Hand of God is set above all else, showing Him to be the author of Joseph’s rank.
|
| |
|
|
JOSEPH MOST JUST
In speaking of Joseph the Gospel merely says, “being a just man,” but justice here must be understood in the language of the Scriptures. A just man was one who faithfully accomplished all his duties and possessed the highest practice of all the virtues.
In praising the mighty works of God King David said: “Who makests Thy angels spirits: and Thy ministers a burning fire.” (Ps. 103, 4). King David’s words here are very aptly applied to Joseph, the faithful and prudent minister, whom the Lord set over His family. On the card we see Joseph pictured as this “burning fire”
|
| |
|
|
Posted third week of March
|
| |
|
|
JOSEPH MOST CHASTE
In the Little Office of the Immaculate Conception we praise Mary’s spotless purity with such titles as “A lily among thorns” and “Cedar of chastity.” The lily has always been the accepted emblem of purity and that is why we so often see Mary’s virginal spouse, St. Joseph, pictured with the lily. Cedar is known for its preserving qualities; the moth, for instance, can not bear to breathe its pungent fragrance. Hence whatever garment is protected by this scent is free from all injury by this insect. In bestowing the title, Cedar of chastity, on Mary and her spouse we pay tribute to the fact that they were secure from all stains of impurity.
|
| |
|
|
JOSEPH MOST PRUDENT
“Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves.” (Matthew 10, 16). Prudence is the virtue that relates all the other virtues. Prudence is wisdom in action, or in other words, practical wisdom. And who can doubt the supreme practical wisdom of Joseph in the way he was attentive to every wish of God. His was the candid disposition of a soul that goes straight to its end with the certainty of attaining it.
|
| |
|
|
JOSEPH MOST STRONG
“When a strong man armed keepeth his court, those things are in peace which he possesseth.” (Luke 11, 21). Joseph being a just man, we know that he anticipated the advice of St. Paul and carried the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). Thus he was able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one (Ephesians 6, 15-16).
|
| |
|
|
JOSEPH MOST OBEDIENT
“And His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the solemn day of the Pasch.” (Luke 2, 41). The book of Exodus commanded the Jews to “keep the feast of the unleavened bread.” In the words of St. Luke above, we have an example of Mary’s and Joseph’s obedience to the Mosaic law. The Ten Commandments shown in the sketch recall this instance and the many other occasions when Joseph portrayed his complete obedience to the will of God. During His discourse after the last supper, Christ told us: “If you love me keep my commandments.” The world has never contained anyone who loved Jesus more than Mary and Joseph; after all, He was their son. Realizing their great love it is easy to picture their complete docility to God’s will.
|
| |
|
|
JOSEPH MOST FAITHFUL
“And how they shared everything, joys and sorrows, trials and consolations!” With these words our constitution puts forth for our meditation the beautiful and intimate family life of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The rings of the card should remind us that it was the virginal marriage of Mary and Joseph, and the self-sacrifice and faithfulness of Joseph in preserving this virginal marriage that made it possible for Mary to conceive and bring forth Christ without fear of being calumniated by the Jews. On the card we also see signs for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, depicting Joseph’s faithfulness to God.
|
| |
|
|
MIRROR OF PATIENCE
“Joseph, rising up, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife.” (Matthew 1, 24). When we remember that our word “patience” comes from the Latin “to suffer”, we see clearly what constant and great patience Joseph had to practice. Recall the pain of discovering: “before they came together, she was found with child” but upon the command of the angel he immediately took Mary as his wife, without a sign of impatience for being left in the dark concerning the workings of the Holy Spirit. His patience in this instance is represented by the open door of the house, symbolizing Joseph receiving Mary into his home. The temple and pyramid also recall examples of Joseph’s patience; the sudden flight into Egypt and the three days loss in the temple. Other instances could be multiplied; but no matter how unreasonable they were Joseph accepted them.
|
| |
|
|
LOVER OF POVERTY
“And to offer a sacrifice... a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.” (Luke 2, 24). According to the Mosaic Law, after the time of Purification the mother had to present herself at the temple and make a holocaust of a lamb and a turtle dove or young pigeon. The poor, however, could replace the lamb with a second dove or pigeon. Thus, on the drawing, we see the two doves which Joseph and Mary offered at the temple. They claimed the Creator of the universe as their son and so naturally speaking they might claim a large share of this world’s wealth; but no, they wished to continue living in that spirit of poverty their Son taught them by being born in a stable.
|
| |
|
|
MODEL OF ARTISANS
“Is not this the carpenter’s Son?” (Matthew 13, 15). On the picture we see the tools Joseph used throughout his life. Joseph, like all the other workers of Nazareth, labored from sunrise to sunset. He knew by experience the toil, the difficulties, the hardships, and the satisfactions of work well done. From Joseph Christ learned the trade of a carpenter, learned to handle a saw and a hammer, to make furniture for the homes and plows for the fields. Joseph indeed had a wonderful inducement to work carefully and arduously. After all was he not supporting and instructing his son, the very Word of God?
|
|
|
| |
|
Posted fourth week of March
|
| |
|
|
|
GLORY OF HOME LIFE
“Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, that walk in His ways.” (From the Introit of the Nuptial Mass, Ps. 8, 19). The very core of the Christian home is the true love of the spouses. In this, all married couples can look to Joseph and Mary for an example to follow. In this virginal marriage there was never “two in one flesh”; there was much more—a pure love made them “one heart and one soul.” Mary always had the greatest respect for her husband and recognized him as head of the family. Joseph, on his part, ever had the most chaste affection and respect for his spouse. In them we can readily see the glory of home life.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
GUARDIAN OF VIRGINS
“Guardian and father of virgins, holy Joseph, to whose faithful custody Christ Jesus, Innocence itself, and Mary, Virgin of virgins, were committed; I pray... that I may ever serve Jesus and Mary most chastely.” (From the Prayer to St. Joseph to obtain the Virtue of Purity). As this prayer indicates, Joseph spent his life in the service of two virgins, Jesus and Mary. By his virginal marriage he safeguarded Mary and her offspring from all defamation and even physical harm. Joseph, in heaven, has not lost, but rather increased, his care for the virgins invited to the Divine marriage feast, perhaps for the five foolish as well as the wise virgins.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
PILLAR OF FAMILIES
“He made him Lord of His House.” (Antiphon to St. Joseph). The master of the house is the source, the foundation, the pillar of home life. Joseph, then, as the head of the Holy Family, the model head of the model family, merits this title of “Pillar of Families.” Inscribed on the pillar in the drawing are the symbols of faith, hope, and charity, the virtues which are essential to a Christian life, a Christian family life. Joseph, being a just man, possessed these three requisites in their fullness.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
SOLACE OF THE WRETCHED
“Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; and thy own soul a sword shall pierce...” (Luke 2, 34-35). With these few words Simeon confirmed Mary’s expectations of having to undergo the most cruel of sufferings as the Mother of the Redeemer. Following this event she needed the strong arm of Joseph all the more to comfort her. Especially did she need the consoling presence of Joseph at the stable, during the flight into Egypt and the long exile there; not to mention the hours of pain when she thought of the sufferings her child was destined to undergo. Depicted on the card, we see the wounded heart of Mary while the crown of thorns hints at the reason for that wound, Christ s coming passion. The sketch can also represent the souls wretched with suffering who appeal to Joseph confident that he will give consolation to them as he did to Mary.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
HOPE OF THE SICK
“Bless the Lord... Who forgiveth all thy iniquities: Who healeth all thy diseases.” (Ps. 102, 3). King David here makes reference to the two kinds of afflictions that can beset a man, those of the soul, sin, and those of the body, disease. Because of Joseph’s position as foster father of Christ, we feel confident that he can draw down the healing balm of God’s grace into our beseeching hands. Thus we can be cured of our diseases of soul and body. The palm we see in the picture is the palm of victory all of us are assured of receiving if we are fervent and persevering in our devotedness to Joseph.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
PATRON OF THE DYING
“He asked life of Thee and thou hast given hi1n length of days for ever and ever.” (Introit of the Votive Mass of St. Joseph, Ps. 20, 5). The sign of the cross we see sketched on the card symbolizes Christ and His redeeming action. At the foot of the cross we see Our Mother who shared in Christ’s sacrifice. According to our Catholic tradition Joseph had the supreme happiness of dying in the presence of our Redeemer and Co-Redeemer. For this reason we beg of him to obtain for us the grace of a happy death accompanied by Jesus and Mary.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
TERROR OF DEMONS
‘‘In whatever tribulation they shalt cry to me, I shalt hear them and be their protector always.” (Alleluia Verse, Feast of the Solemnity of St. Joseph). We by ourselves are no match for Satan, but when St. Joseph enters the fray in our behalf the Demon must tremble in terror to see upon his armorial bearings the Ave Maria and the crib. These two signs declare Joseph’s close alliance with her who has crushed the head of Satan and with Him who destroyed the empire of Satan upon the cross.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
PROTECTOR OF HOLY CHURCH
“As once thou didst rescue the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversities.” (From the prayer to St. Joseph for the Church). On the card we see Joseph standing watchfully over the basilica of St. Peter, the center of Christendom. It is most fitting that Joseph should be proclaimed the protector of Christ’s mystical body since he is surely most anxious for the members of this body, as once he was privileged to carefully watch over the very body of Christ here on earth.
|
| |
|
|
You need to be a member of Crusaders of the Immaculate Heart to add comments!
Join Crusaders of the Immaculate Heart