Mar 19, 2025. Gospel: Matt 1:18-21. Feast of St. Joseph.

18 Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost.Christi autem generatio sic erat : cum esset desponsata mater ejus Maria Joseph, antequam convenirent inventa est in utero habens de Spiritu Sancto. 19 Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately.Joseph autem vir ejus cum esset justus, et nollet eam traducere, voluit occulte dimittere eam. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost.Haec autem eo cogitante, ecce angelus Domini apparuit in somnis ei, dicens : Joseph, fili David, noli timere accipere Mariam conjugem tuam : quod enim in ea natum est, de Spiritu Sancto est. 21 And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name JESUS. For he shall save his people from their sins.Pariet autem filium : et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum : ipse enim salvum faciet populum suum a peccatis eorum.To be convinced how much the intercession of St Joseph prevails with Jesus Christ, we have only to consider these words of the Evangelist: And he was subject to them. The Son of God employed thirty years assiduously obeying Joseph and Mary! It was sufficient for Joseph by the least word or sign, to show that he wished Him to do anything; Jesus immediately obeyed. This humble obedience of Jesus teaches us that the dignity of Joseph is above that of all the other Saints, except that of the Queen of Saints. Let us hear what St Teresa says of the confidence which all should place in the protection of St Joseph: "To the other Saints," she says, "it appears that the Lord may have granted power to succour us on particular occasions; but to this Saint, as experience proves, He has granted power to help us on all occasions. Our Lord would teach us, that, as He was pleased to be subject to Joseph on earth, so He is now please to grant whatever this Saint asks for in heaven. Others whom I have recommended to have recourse to Joseph, have known this from experience. I never knew anyone who was particularly devout to him, that did not continually advance more and more in virtue. For the love of God, let him who believes not this make his own trial. And I do not know how anyone can think of the Queen of Angels, at the time when she laboured so much in the infancy and childhood of Jesus, and not return thanks to Joseph for the assistance which he rendered both to the Mother and to the Son." We should be particularly devout to Saint Joseph, that he may obtain for us a happy death.