Day 6: November 11th
SPOUSE OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
Over these next several days, we are going to be meditating on the many titles of St. Joseph. While there are many aspects of his fatherhood and masculinity that are not only important, but always present, it is good to look at particular aspects and titles, not to limit him to certain things, but because they serve to highlight certain ways of relationship that we have with one another. By looking at these, we are drawn into a particular relationship with him, as he also draws and strengthens us in our relationships with others and in our own virtues. Yet even more, through these titles, we also receive a greater picture of the perfection of love.
While one of the more popular phrases of our time is that “Love is love,” we actually know that it is much deeper, more sacred, holier and much fuller than that. St. Joseph fleshes out for us many of these different dimensions and kinds of love when we focus on particular ways of being in relationship.
Today, we focus on St. Joseph as the Spouse of the Mother of God. What a privileged place that must be, to be the Spouse of the Blessed Mother; to be a protector, supporter, and in a relationship of mutual obedience; to sleep at her side every night, eat at the same table and discuss the care of their family day after day. He was the one to provide for all of her needs, that the one to whom we pray: “To thee do we sigh, mourning and weeping.” would turn to him. And again, God chose him to be her spouse out of confidence and surety that he would indeed respond and be able to provide for all of her needs, in body and in spirit.
We can also recall what has become difficult words for many from St. Paul, who calls wives to be obedient to their husbands. As the Spouse of the Mother of God, both the Mother of God and Son of God were under obedience to St. Joseph. It was not that God took a chance and hoped that this man would be upright, or that he gave Mary and Jesus the option of being obedient only when they agreed with him, but Joseph himself so responds to the Will of God and is such a righteous man, that God would place the Blessed Virgin under his obedience. This obedience finds fulfillment and holiness because it is a mutual obedience.
We also remember St. Paul's words for husbands: To love her as Christ loves his church. Is it truly any cost to us to be obedient to Christ, knowing the love that he has for us, but that we would gladly accept his yoke, not as an instrument of burden, but in him the burden becomes light. As the Spouse to the Mother of God, Joseph gave to Mary the Love that Christ gave to the Church, and as Jesus sought not his will, but to do the Will of the Father, a husband, as revealed through St. Joseph, is likewise to seek the Will of the Father and not his own.
While one of the more popular phrases of our time is that “Love is love,” we actually know that it is much deeper, more sacred, holier and much fuller than that. St. Joseph fleshes out for us many of these different dimensions and kinds of love when we focus on particular ways of being in relationship.
Today, we focus on St. Joseph as the Spouse of the Mother of God. What a privileged place that must be, to be the Spouse of the Blessed Mother; to be a protector, supporter, and in a relationship of mutual obedience; to sleep at her side every night, eat at the same table and discuss the care of their family day after day. He was the one to provide for all of her needs, that the one to whom we pray: “To thee do we sigh, mourning and weeping.” would turn to him. And again, God chose him to be her spouse out of confidence and surety that he would indeed respond and be able to provide for all of her needs, in body and in spirit.
We can also recall what has become difficult words for many from St. Paul, who calls wives to be obedient to their husbands. As the Spouse of the Mother of God, both the Mother of God and Son of God were under obedience to St. Joseph. It was not that God took a chance and hoped that this man would be upright, or that he gave Mary and Jesus the option of being obedient only when they agreed with him, but Joseph himself so responds to the Will of God and is such a righteous man, that God would place the Blessed Virgin under his obedience. This obedience finds fulfillment and holiness because it is a mutual obedience.
We also remember St. Paul's words for husbands: To love her as Christ loves his church. Is it truly any cost to us to be obedient to Christ, knowing the love that he has for us, but that we would gladly accept his yoke, not as an instrument of burden, but in him the burden becomes light. As the Spouse to the Mother of God, Joseph gave to Mary the Love that Christ gave to the Church, and as Jesus sought not his will, but to do the Will of the Father, a husband, as revealed through St. Joseph, is likewise to seek the Will of the Father and not his own.
LITANY OF ST. JOSEPH
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, hear us.
Christ graciously hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world . . .
God the Holy Spirit . . .
Holy Trinity, One God . . .
Holy Mary. Pray for us.
St. Joseph . . .
Renowned offspring of David . . .
Light of Patriarchs . . .
Spouse of the Mother of God . . .
Chaste guardian of the Virgin . . .
Foster father of the Son of God . . .
Diligent protector of Christ . . .
Head of the Holy Family . . .
Joseph most just . . .
Joseph most chaste . . .
Joseph most prudent . . .
Joseph most strong . . .
Joseph most obedient . . .
Joseph most faithful . . .
Mirror of patience . . .
Lover of poverty . . .
Model of artisans . . .
Glory of home life . . .
Guardian of virgins . . .
Pillar of families . . .
Solace of the afflicted . . .
Hope of the sick . . .
Patron of the dying . . .
Terror of demons . . .
Protector of Holy Church . . .
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
℣. He made him the lord of his household.
℟. And prince over all his possessions.
Let us pray: O God, Who in Your ineffable providence deigned to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Your most holy Mother; grant, we beg You, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom we venerate on earth as our Protector; You who live and reign forever, unto the ages of ages.
--AMEN
ST. JOSEPH AT FATIMA
“In October Our Lord will come, as well as Our Lady of Dolors and Our Lady of Carmel. St Joseph will appear with the Child Jesus to bless the world...” (Words of Our Lady, apparition of September 13, 1917)
“After Our Lady had disappeared into the immense distance of the firmament, we beheld St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle, beside the sun. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus appeared to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands. When, a little later, this apparition disappeared, I saw Our Lord and Our Lady; Our Lord appeared to bless the world in the same manner as St. Joseph had done. This apparition also vanished, and I saw Our Lady once more, this time resembling Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.” Lucia’s description of the vision of October 13, 1917)
ACT OF CONSECRATION (St. Alphonsus Liguori)
O Holy Patriarch, I rejoice with you at the exalted dignity by which you were deemed worthy to act as father to Jesus, to give him orders and to be obeyed by him whom heaven and earth obey.
O great saint, as you were served by God, I too wish to be taken into your service. I choose you, after Mary, to be my chief advocate and protector.
I promise to honor you every day by some special act of devotion and by placing myself under your daily protection.
By that sweet company which Jesus and Mary gave you in your lifetime, protect me all through life, so that I may never separate myself from my God by losing his grace.
My dear St. Joseph, pray to Jesus for me. Certainly, he can never refuse you anything, as he obeyed all your orders while on earth. Tell him to detach me from all creatures and from myself, to inflame me with his holy love, and then to do with me what he pleases.
By that assistance which Jesus and Mary gave you at death, I beg of you to protect me in a special way at the hour of my death, so that dying assisted by you, in the company of Jesus and Mary, I may go to thank you in paradise and, in your company, to praise my God for all eternity. --Amen.
--AMEN
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, hear us.
Christ graciously hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world . . .
God the Holy Spirit . . .
Holy Trinity, One God . . .
Holy Mary. Pray for us.
St. Joseph . . .
Renowned offspring of David . . .
Light of Patriarchs . . .
Spouse of the Mother of God . . .
Chaste guardian of the Virgin . . .
Foster father of the Son of God . . .
Diligent protector of Christ . . .
Head of the Holy Family . . .
Joseph most just . . .
Joseph most chaste . . .
Joseph most prudent . . .
Joseph most strong . . .
Joseph most obedient . . .
Joseph most faithful . . .
Mirror of patience . . .
Lover of poverty . . .
Model of artisans . . .
Glory of home life . . .
Guardian of virgins . . .
Pillar of families . . .
Solace of the afflicted . . .
Hope of the sick . . .
Patron of the dying . . .
Terror of demons . . .
Protector of Holy Church . . .
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
℣. He made him the lord of his household.
℟. And prince over all his possessions.
Let us pray: O God, Who in Your ineffable providence deigned to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Your most holy Mother; grant, we beg You, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom we venerate on earth as our Protector; You who live and reign forever, unto the ages of ages.
--AMEN
ST. JOSEPH AT FATIMA
“In October Our Lord will come, as well as Our Lady of Dolors and Our Lady of Carmel. St Joseph will appear with the Child Jesus to bless the world...” (Words of Our Lady, apparition of September 13, 1917)
“After Our Lady had disappeared into the immense distance of the firmament, we beheld St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle, beside the sun. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus appeared to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands. When, a little later, this apparition disappeared, I saw Our Lord and Our Lady; Our Lord appeared to bless the world in the same manner as St. Joseph had done. This apparition also vanished, and I saw Our Lady once more, this time resembling Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.” Lucia’s description of the vision of October 13, 1917)
ACT OF CONSECRATION (St. Alphonsus Liguori)
O Holy Patriarch, I rejoice with you at the exalted dignity by which you were deemed worthy to act as father to Jesus, to give him orders and to be obeyed by him whom heaven and earth obey.
O great saint, as you were served by God, I too wish to be taken into your service. I choose you, after Mary, to be my chief advocate and protector.
I promise to honor you every day by some special act of devotion and by placing myself under your daily protection.
By that sweet company which Jesus and Mary gave you in your lifetime, protect me all through life, so that I may never separate myself from my God by losing his grace.
My dear St. Joseph, pray to Jesus for me. Certainly, he can never refuse you anything, as he obeyed all your orders while on earth. Tell him to detach me from all creatures and from myself, to inflame me with his holy love, and then to do with me what he pleases.
By that assistance which Jesus and Mary gave you at death, I beg of you to protect me in a special way at the hour of my death, so that dying assisted by you, in the company of Jesus and Mary, I may go to thank you in paradise and, in your company, to praise my God for all eternity. --Amen.
--AMEN