St. Joseph’s Joy; St. Joseph’s Cross

St. Joseph and Christ Child

From Fr. Faber's "Bethlehem"

To St. Joseph the sacred infancy was his cross; Bethlehem instead of Calvary. The earthly troubles and incon­veniences which the Incarnation brought along with it fell in great measure upon him as his peculiar burden…The treasures of God were committed to his sole keeping. Doubts and fears, anxiety and haste, public notice and difficult responsibility were trials which pressed heavily on him and more heavily than common on a tender and affectionate heart like that of Joseph.

We cannot avoid picturing him to our­selves as one who was rather fitted for contemplation than for action, both on account of his exceeding tenderness and also of his remarkable quietness of spirit: yet out of the bashful timidity of a contemplative he had to draw the bravery of an apostle.

For well nigh thirteen years the Incarnation hardly allowed him one day of peace; and then, when something of an anxious peace came to him at Nazareth, the fires of divine love from the vicinity of Jesus silently fretted his life away. We feel that his whole early life was but a preparation for the unworldly office he was at last to assume.

 Most saints have one eminent cross, which towers above their other crosses and gives the character as well to their sanctity as to their lives. Who can doubt but that Bethlehem was Joseph's cross? Yet was it also a land of pleasantness, a very world of joy, even to him. He would hardly have exchanged Bethlehem for heaven, just as we know Simeon had prayed for his rest and release to wait until he had seen the Lord's Christ on earth. It was dear to him, not only because it was a cross and he a saint, and the saints are ever enamored of their crosses, but bec­ause it was a marvelous and abounding joy.

The mysteries which checkered the twelve years were fountains to him of holy gladness and of divine love. The sight of Jesus was an endless vision, not only soothing the soul, but filling it to overflowing with spiritual sweetness. The light in his eyes, the tones of his voice, the play of his fingers, his attitudes in his various occupations, were all an overwhelming delight to Joseph's soul. His spiritual discernment, and his union with God, enabled him to penetrate deeply into all these things.

If the unborn Baptist leaped for joy when he heard the sound of Mary's voice, what must the company of the sinless Mother have been to Joseph, to whom next to Jesus she most belonged…His tenderest ministries to her were a worship which sanctified him and raised him near to God. Mary is the copious fountain of joy to the whole earth; and it was Joseph who dwelt nearest to the fountain where it sprang all fresh and abundant from the rock. What a joy must she must have been to him. His office toward the Incarnate Word was one which he could hardly ever exercise without trembling…love wore him out and it was thus that he died in an excess of bliss…

Subscribe to CE
(It's free)

Go to Catholic Exchange homepage

MENU