God had foreseen that His Son would be born of the Virgin Mary, in a family just like any other, and that in her He would develop in His humanity. The life of Jesus had to be in this respect the same as that of other men. He was to be born defenseless, in need of a father who would protect Him and teach Him the things that all fathers should teach their sons.

The essence and ultimate meaning of Joseph’s life had to lie in the fulfillment of his mission as Mary’s husband and the father of Jesus. He was born into the world to act as the father of Jesus and be Mary’s most chaste spouse, in the same way that every person who comes into the world has a specific vocation from God, in which is rooted the whole meaning of his life.

When the angel revealed to him the mystery of the virgin birth of Jesus, Joseph fully accepted his vocation, in which he was to remain faithful until death. His worldly mission was to be the head of the Holy Family. Saint Joseph’s whole glory and happiness lay in his knowing how to understand what God wanted of him and in his having faithfully carried it out to the end.

Today in our prayer let us contemplate Joseph at the side of the Blessed Virgin, who is with Child and soon to give birth to her only begotten Son. Let us resolve to spend the time of Christmas at Saint Joseph’s side, a place as unnoticed as it is privileged. How good Joseph is!

Fr. Francis Fernandez

The post Advent Waiting with Saint Joseph first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on Jan 23, 2023, the feast of the Espousal of Mary to St. Joseph. He covers the history of the feast, the biblical record of the marriage, and the reasons for marriage despite her perpetual virginity given by theologians and saints.

Notes:
The fact that she was married to Joseph
Why she got married.
Bl. Bartolo Longo Joseph was prepared in absolute purity for this virginal marriage to protect Mary.
Three reasons of St Jerome:
1 – Geneology can come through Joseph
2 – Protect her reputation and life from being stoned
3 – Flight to Egypt, she would have solace and protection.
St Ignatius – that his birth will be hidden from the devil, hide the fact that she was still a virgin, thus hiding his identity.
Devil’s attempt to discern who Jesus was.
God’s plan to undo the knot of disobedience of Eve, a married virgin, was to undo it in a reverse way by the obedience of another virgin.

Ave Maria!

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The post Pure Virginal Marriage to Joseph – Jan 23 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence first appeared on AirMaria.com.