Feast of St Joseph of Nazareth : Chaste Spouse of the Virgin Mary

IMPORTANT FACTS :

Joseph of Nazareth was a very simple man and he was very quiet.He was humble and if people looked at him,there was no looks or richness to attract anyone but this did not mean that the Almighty God did not admire him.The Almighty God instead made him be such a way so that he may not attract wrong things towards him.Therefore he was always pleasing to the sight of God and that made the Almighty chose him 

as the foster father for His Beloved Son,Jesus.The Almighty knew that Joseph will be the perfect father to take His place here on earth and to mould Jesus into a proper human being. 

As we can see,Joseph brought Jesus up with the help of Mary,his chaste spouse and the Almighty was always directing Joseph's ways.Though Jospeh was only human,he was very blessed to be given the authority to take charge of the Child Jesus here on earth. He was given God's blessings to instruct Jesus
and Jesus obeyed His foster father and loved him dearly for Jesus knew how much of trouble Joseph went through to keep Him safe from all harm that came darting His way.

Joseph,Mary and the Child Jesus : Flight into Egypt 

On the other hand,Joseph never thought that one day he will be holding God's son in his own hands and be the protector of God's son.He never imagine it but when that day came,he embraced every moment of it even if he had many doubts because who would ever imagine the words of the Angel who proclaimed this words:"Do not be afraid, Joseph,son of David,to take to thee Mary thy wife, for that which is begotten of her is of the Holy Spirit.And she shall bring forth a son,and thou shall call his name Jesus;for he shall save the people from their sins." If anyone was in Joseph's situation would have doubt as much as he did because it was unbelievable for an Angel of the Lord to appear out of a sudden to a humble and poor man.Many if were in Joseph's place would have ran away in fear and doubt but Joseph was given the grace from God to not run but stay and see the end of this mystery which soon would transform his entire life.

The Angel appeared to Joseph

Joseph was a good foster father and he taught Jesus many secret things which only the Almighty God knows because Joseph was the hidden image of God to the Child Jesus.As the Child Jesus grew,then Joseph knew that this Child was truly from the Most High because Jesus taught Joseph many things he did not know and increase his faith in God.Especially the time when the boy Jesus was 12 years of age,went missing for 3 days without letting Joseph and Mary know where he was going.They searched every place and was so worried until the third day;they found him in the temple.When Joseph asked boy Jesus why did he go missing without them knowing,the boy Jesus replied :“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”Joseph did not understand what the boy Jesus was saying to him and Mary  but Joseph admired the brightness of his foster child's knowledge and praised God for His only Son, Jesus.

The boy Jesus in the Temple was finally found by Joseph and Mary 

Time came when Joseph knew that he became apart of God's family which many would have deeply desired to be chosen but only he was chosen to be the Foster Father of Jesus.He started to understand that he had many privileges from God to be by Jesus throughout the journey of  Jesus childhood and witness the birth and arrival of God into this poor and hopeless world.Joseph was amazed to think that he was able to be by Mary's side and the Child Jesus to witness the homage of the Magi that came from the East with valuable gifts for the Little Child Jesus laying in the manger.Which Joseph still did not understand who was really the Child and what was the purpose of the Child coming to this world because his soul was not enlightened
by the touch of God.

Arrival of the Magi to honour the Infant Jesus

But it was partly revealed in the presentation the Child Jesus in the temple when Simeon blessed them but then said to Mary, “A sword shall pierce your soul,for this child shall be rejected by many in Israel,and this to their undoing.But he will be the greatest joy of many others.And the deepest thoughts of many hearts shall be revealed.” Though Simeon's words made Joseph and Mary speechless,it did make their hearts open to the words of the Almighty speaking through Simeon.

The Simeon with the Child Jesus and the Prophecy given to Mary and Joseph

As Joseph grew older each day,his soul increased in faith,his mind increased with knowledge of Heavenly things and his heart increased in a deeper love for the Almighty God.His soul was stronger since the presence of Jesus and Mary was always with him and he grew in a holy surrounding which enabled his soul to flourish with many extraordinary graces from the Most High.As the days came by,Jesus and Mary knew the exact hour that Joseph was going and so Mary prayed seeking her Son's blessings upon Joseph's soul.

The exact words of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Venerable Mary of Jesus of Agreda :-

The Blessed Virgin asked her Son,Jesus on behalf of Joseph:

"Lord God Most High, Son of the eternal Father and Savior of the world, by thy divine light I see the hour approaching which thou hast decreed for the death of they servant Joseph. I beseech Thee, by thy ancient mercies and by thy infinite bounty, to assist him in that hour by thy almighty power.Let his death be as precious in the eyes, as the uprightness of his life was pleasing to Thee, so that he may depart in peace and in the certain hope of the eternal reward to be given to him on the day in which Thou shalt open the gates of heaven for all the faithful.Be mindful, my Son, of the humility and love of thy servant;of his exceeding great merits and virtues; of the fidelity and solicitude by which this just man has supported Thee and me, thy humble handmaid, in the sweat of his brow."

The Lord Jesus answered: "My Mother, thy request is pleasing to me, and the merits of Joseph are acceptable in my eyes.  I will now assist him and will assign him a place among the princes of my people
(Ps. 115, 15),so high that he will be the admiration of the Angels and will cause them and all men to break forth in highest praise.With none of the human born shall I do as with thy spouse."

For nine days and nights before the death of Joseph he uninterruptedly enjoyed the company 
and attendance of Mary or her divine Son. By command of the Lord the holy angels,
three times on each f the nine days, furnished celestial music, mixing their hymns of praise with the benedictions of the sick man.Moreover, their humble but most precious dwelling
 was filled with the sweetest fragrance and odors so wonderful that they comforted not only Joseph,but invigorated all the numerous persons who happened to come near the house.

The exact words of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Venerable Mary of Jesus of Agreda :-

The last words which Joseph spoke to his Spouse were:

"Blessed art Thou among all women and elect of all the creatures.  Let angels and men praise Thee; 

let all the generations know, praise and exalt thy dignity; and may in Thee be known, adored and exalted 

the name of the Most High through all the coming ages; may He be eternally praised for having 

created Thee so pleasing in his eyes and in the sight of all the blessed spirits.I hope to enjoy thy 

sight in the heavenly fatherland."

As we can see,Joseph was the first one to once to the Holy Ones in limbo the Good News that soon Jesus,

the Redeemer of the World shall rescue them from the dark limbo and conducted them to Heaven.Joseph was given the news from Jesus that conformably to the will and mandate of the Lord, Joseph's arrival spread unutterable joy in this countless gathering of the saints by the announcement of their speedy rescue.

The moment of Joseph's death was given to Venerable Mother Mary of Jesus of Agreda (1602-1665) by the Blessed Virgin Mary herself and is very inspiring and shows why the Church has acclaimed St. Joseph as the Patron of a Happy Death.

The video of the Life of Saint Joseph

That is why Joseph was crowned Saint in Heaven and was raised above all the other Saints in Heaven because his life was worth Glorifying.The Almighty was pleased with the life of Joseph and has given him much grace that whoever seek his intercession shall never be disappointed for his prayers are never declined by the Almighty God.  

PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH OF NAZARETH :