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Joseph Begins to Walk and Speak - Part 4

"Oh, Joseph, instead of this you were actually destined to hold the Messiah in your arms and to live in close intimacy with him for 30 years! It is for this purpose that, unknown to you, God molded you day by day, and also for which you yourself, humbly and unwittingly, generously prepared yourself by the practice of the virtues and by the perfect fervor of your prayers!"

"Indeed, who could ever adequately describe Joseph's preparation for his mission? How numerous, eminent, powerful, and precious were the graces bestowed upon him! No angel or saint ever received anything comparable. What cooperation was there on his part, since his soul was so profound, so generous, and at the same time, so docile" (Sauve, Le Culte de S. Joseph, Elevat. 4, p. 3).{/footnote}2

During his prayers, he obtained extensive illuminations from God, and beheld the delights of the heavenly Jerusalem. This made him beseech God to send the promised Messiah very soon, so that by means of the Redemption, souls would be enabled to enter into and enjoy eternal bliss. Almighty God was most pleased with these prayers of his servant.

Joseph's father had provided plentifully for donations, which he now gave to his son for the making of the offerings. He did this because he realized full well Joseph's great predilection for the bestowal of alms, and that he always gave with such a virtuous disposition and such joy, that the recipient most certainly never experienced more joy than did Joseph as donor. Joseph's intentions were always most pure whenever he made these offerings, and would include a personal oblation of his own being to God.

Joseph had a great longing to remain in Jerusalem indefinitely, so that it would be possible for him to be in the temple more often. Knowing their son's desire, the parents prolonged the customary length of their sojourn in the holy city so that they might please him. During the whole time of their stay, Joseph never left the temple, except to go and eat his regular meals or to retire to his bed for his night's rest. The remainder of the time was all taken up with prayers, in which he implored God to grant his desires.

He promised God that after the death of his parents he would make Jerusalem his residence, so that he could frequently come to pray in the temple as he wished. God not only accepted his pledge, but in His own good time, also provided him with the opportunity to fulfill it. Joseph was never to be seen going about the city to gander at new and strange things as one is accustomed to do at that age. Nor did he ever look for a companion.

He held in great esteem those who served in the temple, and was very subservient towards them. Consequently, he was very much liked by the priests. One and all they held him in special regard, both because of the generous alms which he was wont to distribute, and because they observed in him the loftiest of dispositions.

Still, Joseph was entirely unconcerned about all this, being of a mind only to love God and to please Him alone. One day, as he was praying in the temple with greater fervor than usual, Joseph perceived within himself the Voice of God, which assured him that these prayers were pleasing to Him, and that all his petitions would be granted. God also assured him of His great love, and invited him to respond to His advances. So great was Joseph's joy upon hearing these words, that he went into an ecstasy. For hours he remained immovable. He was enjoying the incomparable sweetness and delight of the Divine Spirit. He became increasingly enkindled and inflamed with divine love. He did not wish to hear anyone speak of anything else except God and His divine perfections. He longed fervently to find a true friend with similar appreciations, to whom he could unburden himself. When it appeared that he would not be able to find such a one, he asked God to send him one.

On another occasion, when he was making this same plea, he recognized interiorly the Voice of his Lord, telling him that he would eventually be granted an even greater consolation than that which he was requesting. This turned out actually to be just as He said, for Joseph was destined to have the great consolation of the continual companionship of the Incarnate Word and of His most pure Mother. This certainly was to be a greater favor than he presently asked for and desired.

Joseph was greatly comforted by God's promise. He waited longingly for its fulfillment, but never desisted from making steadfast supplications for it. Since he recognized how much he was being blessed by God, and to what extent he was the object of His mercies, he gave continual thanks for all these benefits, and offered himself up completely to God.

After their return to Nazareth, Joseph was inclined to speak only of the magnificence of the temple and of the happy lot of those who could abide therein. His conversation was of sublime things and he spoke of the heavenly Jerusalem thus: "If so much joy is experienced merely by abiding in Jerusalem's temple, what must that happiness and consolation be like which shall be experienced by those who enter into and abide in that house wherein God Himself resides! How magnificent will its beauty be! Oh, let us beg God to condescend to send quickly the promised Messiah, so that through Him we may be made worthy to enter into heaven after our death and may be permitted to abide there forever."

The ardent spirit with which he spoke caused his parents to become inflamed with a great longing for the coming of the Messiah and to make fervent supplications to God. Joseph not only conversed thus with his own parents, but also with everyone who visited at their home. He would say to them: "Pray that our God, in His clemency, may hasten the fulfillment of His promises. Oh, what bliss would be ours if we could secure this favor and have the privilege of seeing the Messiah in our midst! Oh, what happiness would thereby be allotted to us! Indeed, I would sacrifice everything to be able to serve Him and render homage to Him!"

Sometimes Joseph's mother would say to him: "And what would you do, my son, if you were to have the grand privilege of seeing the Messiah with your own eyes?" To which Joseph, as he raised his hands towards heaven, replied: "What would I do? I would make a complete gift of myself to Him, and offer to serve Him always. I would never leave Him." His mother, however, continued to question him. "Don't you realize," she said, "that such service would demand a great deal of strenuous effort?"

"Not only would I be willing to undertake such strenuous efforts, but I would consider myself most fortunate if my servitude were to cost me my life," Joseph replied. "But who knows," the mother then countered, "whether the Messiah would even consider the idea of taking you into His service?"

"Oh, it is quite true that I would not be worthy of it," Joseph responded, "but I would nevertheless, keep on pleading with Him until, moved by pity, He would accept my service; for, if God is infinitely good, the Messiah will surely be the same. And Just as God accepts my petitions and prayers, so would the Messiah accept my services."

His mother comforted him by saying: "Well, my son, in that case, do not give up making your appeals to God, and beg Him to deign to send the Messiah; for I have the hope that He will hear your prayers and give heed to your earnest desires, and grant you the great consolation of having your longings realized." Joseph again raised his hands up towards heaven and cried out: "Oh, my God, may it please You to grant that all this may happen to me! Oh, who could, then, be more happy and content than I!"

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This article was originally published by Mother of All Peoples and has been reproduced here with kind permission of them

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