Dear Readers, Today is March 19, 2013 - the great feast of the Solemnity of St. Joseph! The Church has had a documented devotion to St. Joseph recorded in the 40 year after Jesus' Death and Resurrection. It is believed that when Jesus released all those holy souls (From Adam and Eve to Abraham to St. John the Baptist) who were waiting for redemption and entrance into paradise, that many of these souls were seen or appeared in Jerusalem on first Good Friday. One of those holy spirits that appeared to many in Jerusalem was St. Joseph who probably comforted his wife, Mary, who has stood valiantly under the cross.
But St. Joseph's compassion for Mary on the day of her loss of Jesus was not his first manifestation of his Compassionate Heart. Let me recount the ways:
1) In today's Gospel, it says that Joseph did not wish to expose Mary to shame or stoning because she was pregnant not by her fiancee, Joseph, because everyone knew they were not fully married yet nor did they live together.
2) Therefore, thinking of Mary's safety and honor more than his own hurt, he decided to quietly divorce her. This was a very compassionate and merciful thing to do. So, his Compassionate Heart was truly being shown; and God saw his heart and blest him by relieving his worry and anxiety and hurt all at once. God sent an angel in a dream who said to Joseph: "Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife because what is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit." Wow..what a wonderful relief.
3) So Joseph obeyed this word from Lord and took Mary into his home as his wife.
4) More compassion was shown now because he honored her vow of virginity and gave up his natural husbandly desires to instead love her supernatually by celibately loving her in the way that most honored her position as Mother of God and by honoring her vow of virginity she had so guarded when the Angel Gabriel came to her. She said: "How can this be since I do not know man." She only consented to becoming Jesus' mother only when the angel assured her that "The Holy Spirit will come and overshadow you so that what is born is you shall be called the Son of God!" Mary was a virgin before, during birth and after birth of Jesus" The Greek Church always depicts Mary in Icons that have three small crosses that means: "Virgin before birth; Virgin during birth; Virgin after birth of Jesus." "During birth" means that Jesus was not born though the birth canal but was passed through her womb like He did after resurrection as he passed through the wall and said: "Peacet be to you."
5) It has been said that husband and wife begin to look alike because of a spiritually bonded and close marriage. They take on the looks of each other. I have seen this. Well, Mary and Joseph did both have this in common and also:
a) both were so open to the Word of God from angels;
b) both were so obedient to the Word of God from angels and from Jesus who is the Word of God.
c) both said their "Fiats to God" by both saying their "Yes" to the angels sent to them! (Fr. Nick).
So let us honor St.Jospeh today...the greatest saint in heaven after Our Lady, herself.
Compassionate Heart of St. Joseph, pray for us!
Please see the painting of the Compassionate Heart of St. Joseph (by Helen Foley) which did hang in the Church of St. Joseph in Down Town Detroit for many years. I ask my dearest brother, Joseph Cusumano, to send me this painting in a link or paste it into the comments so that all can see it soon! Thank you, Joseph! Amen.
Love, Pio. "St. Joseph, we love you!"
"Hail Joseph, full of the family of God, the Lord is with you in your arms. Blessed are you among me; and blessed is your son, Jesus. Holy Joseph, foster father of Jesus and husband of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of hour death amen!"
No comments:
Post a Comment