St. Joseph the Chaste Spouse of the Blessed Virgin

                           MARCH 9            

               NINTH MEDITATION

Come, O Holy Ghost, replenish the hearts of thy servants, and enkindle in them the fire of Thy divine love.

V. Send forth Thy Spirit, and our hearts shall be regenerated.

R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

                    Let us pray

St. Joseph the Chaste Spouse of the Blessed Virgin

And Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ . . . When as His Mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. . . . behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (Matt. 1: 6-20)

Reflect on the intimate union between husband and wife, and consider then the purity and sanctity of St. Joseph, who was chosen by God to be the spouse of Mary Immaculate. It is from Jesus and Mary we learn the glories of Joseph. According to the Old Testament the Blessed Virgin was all fair, without spot, beautiful, sweet and comely, the Perfect One, the only one. The Gospel styles her full of grace, and proclaims that she had found grace with God, that the Lord is with her, and in no fewer than in four passages pronounces her blessed. The Precious Blood of the Sacred Heart of Jesus had its source in the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary is the Mother of God; and hence she is the purest, the holiest, the most immaculate soul ever created by the hands of the Almighty. In one word, Mary is nearer and dearer to God than all the Saints and Angels put together.

     God was so delighted, if we may so speak, with the work of His hands, and so jealous of Mary's honour and privileges, that He would choose none to be her spouse but the purest, the chastest, the most holy man that ever saw the light of day. This man was St. Joseph. Let us hear the sayings of the Saints on St. Joseph as the spouse of Mary.

Saints on St. Joseph as the spouse of Mary

St. Thomas Aquinas says: If the Saviour, in dying on the cross, wished to leave His Blessed Mother under the protection of His virgin disciple how could He allow her spouse to be anything but the purest of men?

Husband of Mary, writes St. John Damascene, than which nothing else greater can be said.

St. Bernard, writes: Joseph was made like unto Mary, his spouse. Spouse of Mary, that is, of the most sublime of creatures, the delight of the Father and the Son. Spouse of Mary, one heart and one soul with that soul, who bore in her heart the soul of the Son of God.

St. Leonard of Port Maurice writes: The Evangelists say very little of the virtues of St. Joseph, but when they call him the spouse of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, they give him the most glorious title possible, for he was nearest in every way to Mary, the purest creature ever made by God Almighty. It is thus from Mary we learn the glories of St. Joseph.

     PRACTICAL RESOLUTION

Jesus is God. Jesus is infinitely holy, in finitely sacred, infinitely wise, infinitely powerful, and worthy of the supreme homage, adoration, and love of men and Angels for all eternity. Next to Jesus, but of course in finitely inferior in dignity and sanctity, is Mary His Mother. Mary Immaculate Mother of God is the holiest soul ever created by the hands of the Almighty. The next noblest and holiest soul that issued from the breath of God to animate the slime of the earth is that of Joseph. St. Joseph is next to Mary, yet unspeakably beneath her, in dignity, sanctity, and glory. When I adore Jesus and pay my loving and Blessed Saviour supreme homage and worship, I resolve always to invoke the aid and intercession of Mary and Joseph.

               PRAYER

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I offer to you my heart and soul. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you. 

Foster-father, Joseph, our guide, protect us and our holy Church. Guardian of virgins and holy Father Joseph, to whose faithful custody Jesus Christ, Innocence itself, and Mary, Virgin of virgins, were committed, I pray and beseech thee, by these dear pledges, Jesus and Mary, that being preserved from all uncleanness, I may, with a spotless mind, pure heart, and chaste body, serve Jesus and Mary all the days of my life.

     God who in Thine ineffable Providence didst vouchsafe to choose Blessed Joseph to be the husband of Thy most holy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be made worthy to receive him for our intercessor in heaven, whom on earth we venerate as our holy Protector, who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.