Friday, March 14, 2014

The Virtues of St Joseph

As we approach his feast day, I hope you have been able to make a novena to St Joseph. I am going to divert from the subject of Divine Mercy just for a post to share with you the words of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St Bridget of Sweden about her most chaste spouse. 

"St Joseph was so reserved and careful in his speech that not one word was ever issued from his mouth that was not good and holy, nor did he ever indulge in unnecessary or less than charitable conversation. He was most patient and diligent in bearing fatigue; he practiced extreme poverty; he was most meek in bearing injuries; he was strong and constant against my enemies; he was the faithful witness of the wonders of Heaven, being dead to the flesh and the world, living only for God and for heavenly goods, which were the only things he desired. He was perfectly conformed  to the Divine Will and so resigned to the dispositions of Heaven that he ever repeated:'May the Will of God be ever done in me!'  He rarely spoke with men but continually with God, whose Will he desired to perform. Wherefore, he now enjoys great glory in Heaven."

Unlike his spouse, St Joseph was not conceived without original sin, yet he was well-endowed with God's grace and perfectly conformed to His Divine Will. There is much to emulate in him. 

St Teresa of Avila said of her patron:"Would that I could persuade all men to be devoted to this glorious Saint."

1 comment:

  1. I sometimes think of St. Joseph as I interact with my son. I'm not sure we know what kind of a child Jesus was, but if He was anything like a typical little boy, Joseph must have had some patience to not sin.

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