The
Solemnity of Saint Joseph is celebrated on the Wednesday after the
Second Sunday after Easter and during the octave following. In
locations where the feasts of the Saints are celebrated, each day of the
Octave is commemorated with the collects of Saint Joseph, the Credo, and
the Preface of Saint Joseph (in Masses lacking a proper preface).
In the Divine Office the commemoration is as follows
Commemoration for the Octave of St Joseph
Ant. Joseph, thou Son of David, * fear not to take unto thee Mary thy
wife; for That Which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost alleluia.
V. Thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation, alleluia R. And
thy right hand hath holden me up, alleluia
Oratio God, Who in thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose thy
blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of thine Own most holy Mother;
mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with thee, we who on
earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be holpen by the
succour of his prayers to thee on our behalf;
In
those locations where the Solemnity is celebrated throughout the Octave,
the Mass is celebrated as it is on the Solemnity. The readings for
the Divine Office follow:
Wednesday (the Solemnity)
Lesson i
Genesis 39:1-6
A reading from the book of Genesis
And Joseph was brought into Egypt, and Putiphar an
eunuch of Pharao, chief captain of the army, an Egyptian, bought him of
the Ismaelites, by whom he was brought. And the Lord was with him,
and he was a prosperous man in all things: and he dwelt in his master's
house, who knew very well that the Lord was with him, and made all
that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found favor in the
sight of his master, and ministered to him: and being set over all by
him, he governed the house committed to him, and all things that were
delivered to him: And the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian
for Joseph's sake, and multiplied all his substance, both at home, and
in the fields. Neither knew he any other thing, but the bread
which he ate. And Joseph was of a beautiful countenance, and comely to
behold.
Lesson ii
Genesis 41: 37-43
The counsel pleased Pharao and all his
servants. And he said to them: Can we find such another man, that
is full of the spirit of God? He said therefore to Joseph: Seeing
God hath shown thee all that thou hast said, can I find one wiser and
one like unto thee? Thou shalt be over my house, and at the
commandment of thy mouth all the people shall obey: only in the kingly
throne will I be above thee. And again Pharao said to Joseph:
Behold, I have appointed thee over the whole land of Egypt. And he
took his ring from his own hand, and gave it into his hand: and he put
upon him a robe of silk, and put a chain of gold about his neck.
And he made him go up into his second chariot, the crier proclaiming
that all should bow their knee before him, and that they should know he
was made governor over the whole land of Egypt.
Lesson iii
Genesis 41: 44-49
And the king said to Joseph: I am Pharao;
without thy commandment no man shall move hand or foot in all the land
of Egypt. 45 And he turned his name, and called him in the Egyptian
tongue, The saviour of the world. And he gave him to wife Aseneth the
daughter of Putiphare priest of Heliopolis. Then Joseph went out to the
land of Egypt: 46 (Now he was thirty years old when he stood before king
Pharao) and he went round all the countries of Egypt. 47 And the
fruitfulness of the seven years came: and the corn being bound up into
sheaves was gathered together into the barns of Egypt. 48 And all the
abundance of grain was laid up in every city. 49 And there was so great
abundance of wheat, that it was equal to the sand of the sea, and the
plenty exceeded measure.
Lesson iv
From the Sermons of St Bernardine of Siena. (1st on St Joseph.)
When any special favours are conferred upon a reasonable being,
it is the common rule that whenever the grace of God electeth such and
such an one for such and such a grace, or for such and such an high post
of duty, the person so elected receiveth all the gifts of grace which be
needful for him in that state of life whereunto he is called, and
receiveth them abundantly. Of this there is an excellent instance in the
case of the holy Joseph, the socalled father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the real husband of her, who is Queen of the world, and Lady of
Angels. He had been elected by the Eternal Father to be the faithful
nurse and warder of His two chief treasures, that is, His Son, and
Joseph's own Wife. This duty Joseph faithfully discharged, and
consequently the Lord hath said to him: Well done, thou good and
faithful servant enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
Lesson v
This man Joseph, if we compare him with the Universal
Church of Christ, is he not that elect and chosen one, through whom, and
under whom, Christ is orderly and honestly brought into the world? If,
then, the Holy Universal Church be under a debt to the Virgin Mother,
because it is through her that she hath been made to receive Christ,
next to Mary she oweth love and worship to Joseph. Joseph is the key of
the (Church of the Saints) which were under the Old Testament, in whose
person the noble structure of Patriarchs and Prophets reacheth her
completion and realiseth her promises. He is the only one of them who
actually enjoyed in full fruition what God had been pleased to promise
before to them. It is, therefore, with good reason that we see a type of
him in that Patriarch Joseph who stored up corn for the people. But the
second Joseph hath a more excellent dignity than the first, seeing that
the first only gave to the Egyptians bread for the body, but the second
was the watchful guardian for all the elect of that Living Bread Which
came down from heaven, of Which whosoever eateth will never die.
Lesson vi
There can be no doubt that Christ still treateth Joseph in
heaven with that familiarity, honour, and most high condescension which
He paid him, like a Son to a father, while He walked among men; nay,
rather, that He hath now crowned and completed those habits. We may very
reasonably suspect that it was with a peculiar meaning that Christ said
(to him) Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. The joy of being blessed
for ever entereth into the heart of man, but when the Lord said (to
Joseph), Enter thou into joy, He probably meant mystically to bid him
realise a joy which should not be within him only, but outside him also,
above him, and below him, and all round about him, and overflowing him
as it were a great bottomless pit of joy to swallow him up altogether.
Therefore, O thou blessed Joseph! remember us! In thy helpful prayers,
make intercession for us with Him Who vouchsafed to be supposed thy Son!
Likewise, obtain some pity for us from that most blessed Maiden who was
thy wife, and the Mother of Him, Who, with the Father and the Holy
Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.
Lesson vii
Luke 3:21
+ The continuation of the Holy
Gospel according to Luke:
And at that time: When all the people were baptized, it came to pass,
that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was opened. Etc.
A Homily of Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo.
Book ii., on the Harmony of the
Evangelists.
And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age,
being (as was supposed) the Son of Joseph. These words, as was supposed,
were evidently here written for the correction of such as might think
that the Lord was the Son of Joseph, in the same sense as other men are
called the children of their fathers. Those who find any trouble in the
fact that the ancestors reckoned downward by Matthew from David to
Joseph, are other than those reckoned upward by Luke from Joseph to
David, such, I say, as are troubled by this, may get over it by
supposing that Joseph had two fathers; one, that is, who begat him, and
another who adopted him. The custom of adopting children, whereby those
who have none of their own surround themselves with a family, is very
ancient, even among the people of God. Hence, Luke is understood to have
included in his Gospel, under the name of father of Joseph, that, not of
the father by whom he was begotten, but of him by whom he was adopted,
and it is the ancestors of this adoptive father who are reckoned up as
far as David.
Lesson viii
Thus since we are required to believe that what each of the
Evangelists said was true, Matthew as well as Luke; and therefore that
one of them names the father who begat, and the other, the father who
adopted, Joseph; we naturally suppose that the Evangelist, who names
the adoptive father, was he who abstains from using the term
"beget." Matthew begins: "Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat
Jacob, and so on, always with the use of this word begat, till he comes to:
"and Jacob begat Joseph." By the word which he uses he sufficiently
indicates that the genealogy which he is giving is that of him who begat.
Lesson ix
Luke says Joseph was the son of Heli, not Joseph
was begotten of Heli; but even if he had said the latter, it would not
have troubled this interpretation of ours, that one Evangelist names the
natural, and the other the adoptive father of Joseph. It is not an
outrageous thing to say that one who adopted another hath begotten him,
albeit he hath done it, not carnally, but by love. Even so hath God
given to us the power to become His sons, albeit He hath not begotten us
of His Own Nature and Substance, as He has His Only - Begotten Son, but
only reckons us, in His love, among His children.
Oratio:
Let us pray God, Who in thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose
thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of thine Own most holy
Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with thee, we who
on earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be assisted by
the succour of his prayers to thee on our behalf; Who liveth
Thursday within the Octave of the Solemnity of Saint
Joseph
Lesson i
Acts 24:10-16
A reading from the Acts of Apostles
Then Paul answered, (the governor making a sign to him to speak:)
Knowing that for many years thou hast been judge over this nation, I
will with good courage answer for myself. For thou may understand,
that there are yet but twelve days, since I went up to adore in
Jerusalem: And neither in the temple did they find me disputing with
any man, or causing any concourse of the people, neither in the
synagogues, nor in the city: Neither can they prove unto thee the
things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess to thee, that
according to the way, which they call a heresy, so do I serve the Father
and my God, believing all things which are written in the law and the
prophets: Having hope in God, which these also themselves look for,
that there shall be a resurrection of the just and unjust. And herein
do I endeavor to have always a conscience without offence toward God,
and towards men.
Lesson ii
Acts 24:17-21
Now after many years, I came to bring alms
to my nation, and offerings, and vows. In which I was found purified
in the temple: neither with multitude, nor with tumult. But certain
Jews of Asia, who ought to be present before thee, and to accuse, if
they had any thing against me: Or let these men themselves say, if
they found in me any iniquity, when standing before the council, Except it be for this one voice only that I cried, standing among them,
Concerning the resurrection of the dead am I judged this day by you.
Lesson iii
Acts 24:22-27
And Felix put them off, having most
certain knowledge of this way, saying: When Lysias the tribune shall
come down, I will hear you. 23 And he commanded a centurion to keep him,
and that he should be easy, and that he should not prohibit any of his
friends to minister unto him. 24 And after some days, Felix, coming with
Drusilla his wife, who was a Jew, sent for Paul, and heard of him the
faith, that is in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he treated of justice, and
chastity, and of the judgment to come, Felix being terrified, answered:
For this time, go thy way: but when I have a convenient time, I will
send for thee. 26 Hoping also withal, that money should be given him by
Paul; for which cause also oftentimes sending for him, he spoke with
him. 27 But when two years were ended, Felix had for successor Portius
Festus. And Felix being willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul
bound.
Lesson iv
From a Sermon of Saint Bernardine of Siena
Sermon on Saint Joseph
The marriage between Mary and
Joseph was a real marriage, for it was contracted under divine
inspiration. Now in marriage there is so close a union of souls that the
bridegroom and the bride are said to be one person, for which reason
marriage is like unto the very perfection of unity. Hence how can any
discerning mind think that the Holy Spirit would unite, in a union of
this intimacy, a mind such as the Virgin's, with the soul of a man who
had not within him the operation of a godliness like unto hers?
Wherefore I believe that this Joseph was holy, the most chaste of men and a
virgin, completely humble, burning with a passion of charity towards
God, and full of the highest graces of contemplation. And since the
Virgin knew that he was given her by the Holy Spirit to be her spouse,
and the faithful guardian of her virginity, and to share besides in
devoted love and affectionate care towards that One who was in the most
divine fashion the very offspring of God; therefore I believe that
she sincerely loved Saint Joseph with all the affection of her heart.
Lesson v
Now Joseph was most ardent in his love for Christ. For who,
pray, would deny that Christ, whether as a child or as a grown man,
would most deeply inspire ineffable affection, and the peculiar joys
which He alone could give? And what would be the effect on one who held
Him in his arms, and conversed at will with Him? And besides all this,
who can reckon the bliss of receiving from the Christ Child those gazes
of filial love? or his words spoken as a devoted son? or the giving of
his trustful embraces? O how sweet were the kisses that Joseph received
from Him! O how sweet to hear the little One lisp the name of father, and
how delightful to feel His gentle caresses! Think again how often (when
the little Jesus was growing bigger, and was wearied with much walking
on the journeys which they made) Joseph must have been filled with
compassion, and so carried Him at rest in his bosom. For Joseph bore
towards Jesus all the fullness of an adoptive love, as to a most dear
son, given to him by the Holy Ghost in his Virgin bride.
Lesson vi
Hence it was that a most prudent Mother, who knew the
devotion of Joseph to Jesus, said to her Son, when she found him in the
temple : Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I
have sought thee sorrowing. In order to understand this, we must note
that Christ hath within himself, as it were, two savours, sweetness and
bitterness. And since the most holy Joseph was in a wonderful manner (as
we shall see) a partaker of these two savours, therefore the blessed
Virgin doth bestow upon him in a special sense the title of Father of
Christ. This is the only place where we read that she did call Saint
Joseph the father of Jesus, doubtless because the bitterness of sorrow
which he felt at the loss of Jesus shewed the fatherly affection which
he bore him. For if according to human laws, which are approved by God,
a man can adopt as his son the child of another family, how much more
truly ought the Son of God to be called the Son of Joseph. For he was
given to this Joseph by his most holy Spouse, in the wonderful mystery
of a virginal marriage. And so it is also to be believed that in Joseph
there were the two savours of Jesus, sweetness and bitterness, which
were manifested as the sweetness of paternal love, and the bitterness of
his compassion, towards his beloved Jesus.
Lesson vii
Luke 3:21-23
+ The continuation of the
Holy Gospel according to Luke
At that time : When all the people were baptized, it came to
pass, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was opened.
Etc.
A Homily of Saint Augustine, Bishop
Book II on the agreement of the Gospels.
Joseph cannot be denied the name of father of Christ, merely because he
did not beget him by coition. For he would have been called the father
of any child whom he adopted, even if the child were not the issue of
his wife, but from another family. It is true that Christ was supposed
to be the son of Joseph in another sense ; namely, in that of having
been actually begotten by Joseph according to the flesh. But this
supposition was made only by those from whom Mary's virginity was
concealed. It is of this that Luke saith : And Jesus himself began to be
about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph.
However, Luke sheweth no hesitation in giving the name of parent, not to
Mary only, but also to Joseph, when in another place he saith : And the
child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom : and the
grace of God was upon him : Now his parents went every year to
Jerusalem, at the Feast of Passover.
Lesson viii
But lest anyone should think that by the word Parents
there is here to understood Mary and her forbears only, we must take
into account what Luke recordeth earlier, And Joseph and his mother
marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. Since, therefore,
Luke witnesseth that Christ was born, not by the begetting of Joseph,
but of the Virgin Mary, how can he call Joseph the father of Jesus,
except in the sense that Joseph was a real husband to Mary by virtue of
the true bond of marriage, saving only that there never was any carnal
intercourse between them? And yet, on account of this bond of marriage,
Joseph was the father of Jesus in a much closer sense (seeing that the
Christ Child was born of his wife) than if Joseph had adopted Jesus from
another family. Hence, also, if anyone could prove that Mary did not
trace her origin from David, the same reasoning by which Joseph is
called the father of Christ would be sufficient reason for giving Christ
the name, Son of David.
Lesson ix
Luke gives the genealogy, not at the beginning of
his Gospel, but after the account of the Baptism of Christ. And he gives
it, not in the descending order, but in the ascending, more as if he
were pointing to Christ as Priest, making atonement for sins. This was
the occasion when the voice spake in testimony from heaven. And also at
this time John himself gave testimony, saying : Behold the Lamb of God,
which taketh away the sin of the world. By thus beginning with Jesus and
tracing back, Luke passeth up through Abraham and eventually cometh to
God, to whom we are reconciled after purification and atonement. Rightly
then doth Luke give the origin by adoption, for through adoption and
faith in the Son of God we become God's sons. In this fashion, Luke
sheweth clearly enough why he nameth Joseph as the son of Heli ; that
is, not because Joseph was betotten by Heli, but because he was adopted
by him. For Luke calleth Adam himself the son of God, and this because
he was made by God, being set in the paradise of Eden as a son by virtue
of the grace which afterwards he lost in sinning.
Oratio:
Let us pray God, Who in thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose
thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of thine Own most holy
Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with thee, we who
on earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be holpen by
the succour of his prayers to thee on our behalf; Who liveth.
Friday within the Octave of the Solemnity of Saint
Joseph
Lesson i
Acts 25:1-5
A reading from the Acts of Apostles
Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days, he went up
to Jerusalem from Caesarea. And the chief priests, and principal men
of the Jews, went unto him against Paul: and they besought him,
Requesting favour against him, that he would command him to be brought
to Jerusalem, laying wait to kill him in the way. But Festus answered:
That Paul was kept in Caesarea, and that he himself would very shortly
depart thither. Let them, therefore, saith he, among you that are
able, go down with me, and accuse him, if there be any crime in the man.
Lesson ii
Acts 25:6-8
And having tarried among them no more than
eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he sat in
the judgment seat; and commanded Paul to be brought. 7 Who being
brought, the Jews stood about him, who were come down from Jerusalem,
objecting many and grievous causes, which they could not prove; 8 Paul
making answer for himself: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor
against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in any thing.
Lesson iii
Acts 25:9-12
But Festus, willing to show the Jews a
pleasure, answering Paul, said: Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there
be judged of these things before me? 10 Then Paul said: I stand at
Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have
done no injury, as thou very well knowest. 11 For if I have injured
them, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die.
But if there be none of these things whereof they accuse me, no man may
deliver me to them: I appeal to Caesar. 12 Then Festus having conferred
with the council, answered: Hast thou appealed to Caesar? To Caesar
shalt thou go.
Lesson iv
From a Sermon of St. John Chrysostom
Homily IV on Matthew
It
was the custom in ancient times for betrothed brides to dwell in the
houses of their bridegrooms. And it would seem that Mary thus dwelt with
her Spouse. And herein we find answer to the question : Why did not the
virgin conception take place before Mary was wedded? In order that the
mystery might be hid in the meantime, and that the Virgin might escape
all danger of evil suspicion. For Joseph had the best right to be moved
by jealousy. Yet we see that he not only refrained from sending away his
Espoused, or branding her with infamy, but that he received her as his
own, and did cherish her after she conceived. And verily, it is evident
that he would never have kept her in his house, or ministered to all her
needs, if he had not clearly come to know that she had conceived by the
operation of the Holy Ghost.
Lesson v
Joseph being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately. After the
Evangelist hath told us that she was with child, of the Holy Ghost, and
not of any sexual commerce, Luke brings testimony from another source
to confirm the statement. For lest anyone should say : And how can this
be proved? who saw it? who ever heard of any such thing having happened?
and lest you might think that a disciple had invented this tale to
please his Master, the Evangelist thus brings forward the grief of
Joseph, and what he did thereafter, to confirm the story, as if to say :
If ye will not believe me, or if ye hold my testimony in suspicion, at
least believe the husband.
Lesson vi
He said : "Joseph her husband, being a just man." To be
just, as the word is here used, implies that full growth of
righteousness which cometh from the habitual service of God. Being
therefore a just man (that is, a worthy and good man), he was minded to
put her away privately. Thus the Evangelist records the grief of this
just man before he knew the secret of the virgin conception, lest thou
should have doubts concerning what happened after he knew that secret.
And certainly if Mary had been such as suspicion would make her out to
be, she would have deserved not only to be denounced, but to be punished
by the authority of the Law. But Joseph was not only unwilling to
condemn her, but even to denounce her. Herein thou dost see an instance
of a man full of spiritual understanding, and free from the tyranny of
suspicion. But was this a matter of mere suspicion, seeing that the very
swelling of her body seemed to prove a fact? Nonetheless, this man was
so pure, and free from that kind of jealousy, that he would not cause
the Virgin even the slightest grief. And although he lived under the
Law, his spiritual understanding was above the Law. For now that the
reign of grace was approaching, it was fitting that there should be a
shining example of a more sublime spirituality than was common under the
Law.
Lesson vii
Luke 3:21-23
+ The Continuation Holy Gospel according to Luke
At that time : When all the people were baptized, it came to pass,
that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was opened. Etc.
A Homily of Saint Augustine, Bishop
Book XXIII against Faustus, cap. 7-8
The words uttered from heaven over the river Jordan : This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased : were said also on the Mount of the Transfigurátion. Now these words should not be understood to imply that
he was not the Son of God before the voice from heaven was heard. For we
know that he who received the form of a servant from the Virgin's womb,
being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.
Indeed, the same Apostle Paul clearly declares elsewhere: "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a Woman,
made under the Law, that he might redeem them that were under the Law,
that we might receive the adoption of sons." He therefore is the Son of
God, who is according to his divinity the Lord of David, and at the same
time according to the flesh the Son of David, and of the seed of David.
Lesson viii
Except it were profitable to believe this, the same
Apostle would not have exhorted Timothy so earnestly, saying : Remember
that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, is risen again from the dead,
according to my Gospel. Why then should any follower of the holy Gospel
be troubled concerning this ; to wit, that Christ, who was born of the
Virgin without cohabitation with Joseph, hath his line of descent traced
by the Evangelist Matthew through Joseph rather than through Mary ; or
again, that because of Joseph's descent from David, the Evangelist
should call Christ the Son of David? For we know good reasons for this.
The first is that the genealogy of her husband would be preferred to
hers as a matter of honor to the male sex. For even though he was not
joined to her in cohabitation, he was not on that account any the less
her husband, since Matthew himself witnessed that Mary was called the
wife of Joseph by the Angel, and yet he also said that she had
conceived by the Holy Ghost.
Lesson ix
Note that one and the same narrator both makes and
approves all these statements : to wit, that Joseph was the husband of
Mary ; that the Mother of Christ was a Virgin ; that Christ was of the
seed of David ; and that Joseph was in the line of Christ's ancestors
from David. From all this we perceive several other reasons for the
giving of Joseph's genealogy : to wit, that Mary was not without
blood-relationship to David ; and that in consideration of their union
as souls, according to the due order of sex, she was not falsely given
the title of Joseph's wife ; and that Joseph, chiefly on account of his
dignity as a man, was not to be separated from the line of their common
genealogy, lest he should appear as separated from that Woman, to whom
the affection of his soul bound him.
Oratio
Let us pray. God, Who in thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose
thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of thine Own most holy
Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with thee, we who
on earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be helped by
the succor of his prayers to thee on our behalf; Who live.
Saturday within the Octave of the Solemnity of Saint
Joseph
Lesson i
Acts 28:16-20
A reading from the Acts of Apostles
And when we were come to Rome, Paul was suffered
to dwell by himself, with a soldier that kept him. And after the
third day, he called together the chief of the Jews. And when they were
assembled, he said to them: Men, brethren, I, having done nothing
against the people, or the custom of our fathers, was delivered prisoner
from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans; Who, when they had
examined me, would have released me, for that there was no cause of
death in me; But the Jews contradicting it, I was constrained to
appeal unto Caesar; not that I had any thing to accuse my nation of. For this cause therefore I
desired to see you, and to speak to you. Because that for the hope of
Israel, I am bound with this chain.
Lesson ii
Acts 28:21-24
But they
said to him: We neither received letters concerning thee from Judea,
neither did any of the brethren that came hither, relate or speak any
evil of thee. But we desire to hear
of thee what thou think; for as concerning this sect, we know that it is
every where contradicted. And when they had appointed him a day,
there came very many to him unto his lodgings; to whom he expounded,
testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, out
of the law of Moses and the prophets, from morning until evening. And
some believed the things that were said; but some believed not.
Lesson iii
Acts 28:25-31
And when they agreed not among themselves,
they departed, Paul speaking this one word: Well did the Holy Ghost
speak to our fathers by Isaias the prophet, Saying: Go to this
people, and say to them: With the ear you shall hear, and shall not
understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive. For
the heart of this people is grown gross, and with their ears have they
heard heavily, and their eyes they have shut; lest perhaps they should
see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their
heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it
known therefore to you, that this salvation of God is sent to the
Gentiles, and they will hear it. And when he had said these
things, the Jews went out from him, having much reasoning among
themselves. And he remained two whole years in his own hired
lodging; and he received all that came in to him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the
things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, without
prohibition.
Lesson iv
From a Sermon of Saint John Chrysostom
Homily IV on Matthew
Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife. But
what is : To take? Undoubtedly, to maintain, and that in his own house.
For he had already sent her away in his mind. But now the Angel commands :
Her whom thou wouldst send away, maintain ; her, do thou,
and not her parents, maintain, for God joins her to thee ; her, God
verily joins to thee, not in the sacred commerce of marriage, but in
the fellowship of a common home ; and her, God joins to thee through
the ministry of my words. Just as Christ himself later entrusted her to
the care of his disciple, so now the Angel gives her to her spouse ; in
such manner that she may have the consolation of his company without
other conjugal rights. By this means her confinement would be explained
in a worthier and more honorable way, and suspicion would be allayed.
It is as though the Angel said : Not only was she not dishonored by an
unlawful embrace, but indeed she is fruitful in a manner above nature
and usage ; therefore grieve not at the happy confinement of thy Bride,
but break forth into greater joy! For that which is conceived in her is
of the Holy Ghost.
Lesson v
And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shall call his
Name Jesus. That is : Think not that the ministry of this great
dispensation, because it is of the Holy Ghost, is a thing apart from
thee. For even thought thou hast no part in his generation, since the
Virgin remains inviolate, yet do I readily grant thee this, namely ;
that thine are all the rights of a father, in so far as they obscure not
the dignity of the Virgin ; thou shalt certainly give the new-born his
Name ; thou shall be the first to call him by his Name. For even though
he who is born is not thy son, nonetheless thou shalt shew him the care
and solicitude of a parent ; and therefore I unite thee to him by this
immediate giving of the Name. But, lest anyone might think from this
that Joseph was the begetter of Christ, the Angel was first careful to
say : She shall bring forth a Son. He doth not say : She shall bear thee
a son : but makes his statement in an undetermined and indefinite way.
For Mary did not bear a son to Joseph, but brought forth Christ to the
whole world.
Lesson vi
Therefore the Evangelist relates that the Angel brought
his Name from heaven, so that thus might be shown how wonderful was his
birth, seeing that he himself taught his Name to Joseph by an Angel sent
from God. For this Name, which tuly contains a thousand treasures of
good, was not given without meaning. Therefore the Angel doth himself
interpret it, thereby consoling Joseph's grief with good hopes ; and
thus also inviting him to believe these words. For we are easily
summoned to that which is pleasant, and give prompt credence unto good
tidings. Wherefore the Angel said : He shall save his people from their
sins. This also shows the novelty of the gift. For he announces that
this people are to be saved, not indeed from external wars, nor from the
swords of barbarians, but from what is far greater than these : From
their sins. And no mere man could ever accomplish this.
Lesson vii
Luke 3:21-23
+ The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
At that time : When all the people were baptized,
it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven
was opened. Etc.
A Homily of Saint Ambrose, Bishop
Exposition of Luke, Book III
No one
should be troubled at the words : As was supposed, the son of Joseph.
For it was no more than a supposition, seeing that Christ was not the
son of Joseph by nature. Albeit, it was so supposed because Mary who was
espoused to her husband Joseph, gave Christ birth. And so, referring to
Joseph as father, it is written : Is not this the carpenter's son? We
have already discussed why the Lord of salvation chose to be born of a
Virgin. We have also discussed why she was an espoused Virgin when her
conception took place ; and why it took place at the time of the
enrollment for taxing. Hence it is not fitting to explain why Christ had
a working-man for his father. For thereby is figured Christ's divine
Father, who as Maker of all things, framed the world. Even though human
and divine matters be not equal to each other, yet is this figure a
complete one. Christ's Father worketh by fire and by breathing on
things. Yea, like a good carpenter of the soul, he chippeth away our
defects. Promptly doth he lay his axe to the barren trees and hew them
down. Skilful is he in correcting whatever is built scantily, and in
buttressing whatever is to be built magnificently. He tempereth the
hardness of hearts as with fire, and with his gentle Breath. And by his
divers workings he formeth the quality of the human race.
Lesson viii
We might wonder why the genealogy of Joseph, rather than of
Mary, is given (since Mary conceived Christ by the Holy Ghost, and
Joseph had not part in the Lord's conception), were it not that the Holy
Scripture teaches us how it was the custom to trace descent on the male
side. For in this fashion the person of the man is set forth as
pre-eminent, and his dignity maintained, even as it is wont to be done
in the Senate and the other high places of the commonwealth. And how
unseemly it would have been to have passed over the lineage of the
father, and to have given that of the mother, since the so doing would
have appeared to proclaim to all the people in the world that Christ had
not father. It is a world-wide custom to trace the genealogy of a family
in the male line. Therefore, be not perplexed that the lineage of Joseph
is given. Forasmuch as Christ was born in the flesh, he was bound to
follow this custom of the flesh. And he who came into the world had to
be enrolled for taxing in the worldly manner, the more so that Joseph's
descent was the same as Mary's.
Lesson ix
But some explanation is required as to why Saint Matthew reckoneth Christ's descent from Abraham forward, whilst Saint Luke
traceth the same from Christ backward to the creation of Adam by God. By
this, Luke would have us understand that Christ's lineage should be
traced to God, because God was Christ's true Progenitor, both as his
Father whereof he was begotten, and as the Author, in the laver of
baptism, of the mystical gift of the Spirit. Wherefore Luke doth not
begin his Gospel with the reckoning of Christ's lineage, but recordeth
it after the account of the baptism, thereby shewing forth in baptism
the working of God, the Author of all things. Thus also Luke asserteth
that Christ came forth from God according to a certain rule of
orderliness. For he weaveth all things together to prove that Christ is
by nature, by grace, and in the flesh, the Son of God. But what more
evident proof of Christ's divine descent could we have than what Luke
giveth? For before the Evangelist reckoneth the genealogy of Christ, he
giveth the words of the Father himself : This is my beloved Son, in whom
I am well pleased.
Oratio
Let us pray. God, Who in thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose
thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of thine Own most holy
Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with thee, we who
on earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be helped by
the succor of his prayers to thee on our behalf; Who live.
Third Sunday after Easter
Sunday within the Octave of the Solemnity of Saint
Joseph
Lesson i
Apocalypse 1:1-6
A reading from the Apocalypse of Saint John
The
Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to make known to
his servants the things which must shortly come to pass: and signified,
sending by his angel to his servant John, Who hath given testimony to
the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, what things soever
he hath seen. Blessed is he, that readeth and heareth the words of
this prophecy; and keepeth those things which are written in it; for the
time is at hand. John to the seven churches which are in Asia. Grace
be unto you and peace from him that is, and that was, and that is to
come, and from the seven spirits which are before his throne, And from
Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of the
dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth, who hath loved us, and
washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us a kingdom,
and priests to God and his Father, to him be glory and empire for ever
and ever. Amen.
Lesson ii
Apocalypse 1:7-11
Behold, he cometh with the clouds, and every
eye shall see him, and they also that pierced him. And all the tribes of
the earth shall bewail themselves because of him. Even so. Amen. I am
Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord God, who is,
and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. I John, your
brother and your partner in tribulation, and in the kingdom, and
patience in Christ Jesus, was in the island, which is called Patmos, for
the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus. I was in the
spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a
trumpet,
Saying: What thou seest, write in a book, and send to the seven churches
which are in Asia, to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamus, and to
Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.
Lesson iii
Apocalypse 1:12-19
And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me.
And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks: And in
the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, one like to the Son of man,
clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about the paps with a
golden girdle. And his head and his hairs were white, as white
wool, and as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire, And his
feet like unto fine brass, as in a burning furnace. And his voice as the
sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars. And from his
mouth came out a sharp two edged sword: and his face was as the sun shineth
in his power. And when I had seen him, I fell at his feet as
dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying: Fear not. I am the
First and the Last, And alive, and was dead, and behold I am
living for ever and ever, and have the keys of death and of hell. Write
therefore the things which thou hast seen, and which are, and which must
be done hereafter.
Lesson iv
A Sermon of Blessed Saint Augustine, Bishop
Sermon 147 de
Tempore
In these holy days of the Lord's resurrection, let us treat as
far as we are able, of that gift of the resurrection of the body. For
this is our faith, this gift is promised us in the Body of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and in him we have the first example. He willed, not only
to tell us of our future hope, but to show it to us. He came to the
disciples, and they were terrified when they saw him, and supposed that
they seen a spirit, yet he gave them proof of the firmness of his body.
Lesson v
Lesson v He spoke to them, not only with his word for their ears, but
also with his form for their eyes. He proved his identity, not only by
appearing before them, but also offering himself to be touched and
handled, for he said, Why are ye troubled, and why do thoughts arise in
your hearts ? Behold my hands and my feet; handle me , and see, for a
spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Lesson vi
Lesson vi It is a greater miracle that so many men are born every
day, who have not already existed, than that some of them, who do
already exist, should rise from the dead, and yet this is not considered
a miracle at all, but it is taken for granted. Christ is risen: it is a
cetain fact. He was body; he was flesh; he hung on the cross; he gave up
the ghost; his flesh was laid in the sepulchre. He who lived in it,
showed that flesh to be living. Why are you amazed? Why do you not
believe? It is God who has done this.
Lesson vii
John 16:16-22
+ The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to John:
At that time Jesus said to his disciples:16 A little while, and
now you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you shall see
me: because I go to the Father. Etc.
A Homily of Saint Augustine, Bishop
Tract 101 of John
This little
while is the whole duration of this present world. In the same sense
this same Evangelist says in his Epistle, It is the last time.
The words, "because I go to the Father," refer to the first clause of the
text, namely, "A little while and ye shall not see Me", and not to the
latter clause, that is, and again a little while, and ye shall see Me.
By His going to the Father He was about to bring it to pass that they
should see Him no more. And thus it was that He said, not that He was
about to die, and that after His death they should not see Him until He
rose again, but that He was going to the Father, which He did when,
after that He was risen again and had manifested Himself to them for
forty days, He ascended up into heaven.
Lesson viii
But now, to them which were looking on Him in the Body,
He says, A little while, and ye shall not see Me, a little while, and
they who now saw Him clad in a dying nature, should see Him so no more,
because He was about to go to the Father. But He says : And again a
little while, and ye shall see Me, and these words are a promise to the
Universal Church, just as are those others: "Lo, I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world." Our Lord delays not His promised
coming. Again a little while, and we shall see Him. We shall see Him.
And when we shall see Him, then we shall beg, we shall ask no more; for
no desire will be unsatisfied, and no riddle unsolved.
Lesson ix
This little while seems a very long while to us now,
while as it is still going on, but when it is over we shall feel indeed
how truly it is but a little while. Therefore, may our rejoicing never
be like the rejoicing of that world whereof it is said: The world shall
rejoice. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, and yet, while
hitherto our gladness is still coming to the birth through throes of
sorrow, let us not be altogether sorrowful, but, as the Apostle hath it:
Rejoicing in hope : patient in tribulation. "A woman, when she is in
travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come : but as soon as she is
delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy
that a man is born into the world." And so will it be with us. And with
that let me end my discourse. The next passage is one of extreme
difficulty; nor is it possible to treat it briefly, if, (with the will
of God,) it is to be treated satisfactorily.
Oratio
Let us pray Almighty God, Who show to them that be in error the
light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of
righteousness grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship
of Christ's Religion, that they may eschew those things that are
contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are
agreeable to the same. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Monday within the Octave of the Solemnity of Saint
Joseph
Lesson i
Apocalypse 2:1-7
A reading from the Apocalypse of Saint John
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things sys he, who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in
the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them that are
evil, and thou hast tried them, who say they are apostles, and are not,
and hast found them liars: And thou hast patience, and hast endured
for my name, and hast not fainted. But I have somewhat against thee,
because thou hast left thy first charity. Be mindful therefore from
whence thou art fallen: and do penance, and do the first works. Or else
I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except
thou do penance. But this thou hast, that thou hate the deeds of the
Nicolaites, which I also hate. He, that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith to the churches: To him, that overcomes, I will give
to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of my God.
Lesson ii
Apocalypse 2:8-11
And to the angel of the church of Smyrna
write: These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and is
alive: I know thy tribulation and thy poverty, but thou art rich:
and thou art blasphemed by them that say they are Jews and are not, but
are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt
suffer. Behold, the devil will cast some of you into prison that you may
be tried: and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful
until death: and I will give thee the crown of life. He, that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches: He that shall
overcome, shall not be hurt by the second death.
Lesson iii
Apocalypse 2:12-17
And to the angel of the church of Pergamus write: These things, says he, that hath the sharp two edged
sword: 13 I know where thou dwell, where the seat of Satan is: and
thou hold fast my name, and hast not denied my faith. Even in those
days when Antipas was my faithful witness, who was slain among you,
where Satan dwelleth. 14 But I have against thee a few things: because
thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac
to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat, and to
commit fornication: 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of
the Nicolaites. 16 In like manner do penance: if not, I will come to
thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17
He, that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches: To him that overcomes, I will give the hidden manna, and will
give him a white counter, and in the counter, a new name written, which
no man knows, but he that receives it.
Lesson iv
From a Sermon of Saint Bernard, Abbot
Homily II super Missus est
Mary was
espoused to Joseph, or rather, as says the Evangelist Luke: "To a man
whose name was Joseph." He is called a man, not because he was her
husband, but because he was a person of manliness. And again, the same
is said by the Evangelist Matthew, to wit: "Joseph the husband of Mary":
and: "Joseph her man": for he rightly calls Joseph by this title of
manliness, for so Joseph was expected to be, that his virtuous manhood
might be given in marriage to Mary. And we must conclude that he is here
called what he was, a man ; and further, that he was called her man
because it was necessary that he should be publicly accepted as her
man. And likewise, he was found worthy to be called the father of the
Savior, not that he was, but that he was publicly accepted as such, as
the Evangelist himself says: "And Jesus himself began to be about
thirty years of age, being (as it was supposed) the son of Joseph."
Lesson v
Without doubt, good and faithful was this Joseph who
espoused the Mother of the Savior. Yea, I say unto you, he is that
faithful and wise servant whom the Lord hath made ruler over his
household. For the Lord appointed him to be the comfort of his Mother,
the keeper of his own body, and, in a word, his chief and most trusty
helper on earth in the carrying out the eternal counsels. Add to this
that he is said to have been of the house of David, as he verily was.
For this Joseph was a true son of a race of kings, noble in descent,
nobler yet in mind. A true son of David, not so much according to the
flesh as in faith, holiness, and devotion. Whom, like another David, the
Lord found to be a man after his own heart, to whom he therefore safely
entrusted the most hold and hidden secret of his heart. To whom also,
like another David, he showed the uncertain and hidden things of his
wisdom, and granted that he should not be ignorant of a mystery which
was known to none of the princes of this world.
Lesson vi
Lastly, there was given to him not only to see and hear,
him whom many kings desired to see yet saw not, and to hear yet heard
not, but even to carry him in his arms, to kiss him with his lips, to
clothe him and to guard him. We must believe that Mary too, like Joseph,
was descended from the house of David. For she would not have been
espoused to a man of the house of David, if she had not herself been of
the house of David. Both therefore were of the house of David. But in
Mary the truth, which the Lord had sworn to David, was fulfilled ;
whereas to Joseph it was therefore given to know and bear witness unto
the fulfilment of the promise.
Lesson vii
Luke 3:21-23
+ The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke:
At that time : When all the people were baptized, it came to
pass, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was opened.
Etc.
A Homily of Saint Ambrose, Bishop
Exposition of Luke, Book iii
That
Matthew should trace the lineage of Christ through Solomon, and Luke
through Nathan, would seem to indicate that the one desires to show the
royalty of Christ's descent, and the other the priestliness thereof. We
need not infer from this that one is more accurate than the other. On
the contrary, each agrees with the other, with an equal good faith and
veracity. For he was indeed, according to the flesh, of both a royal and
a priestly family, a King sprung from kings, a Priest from priests. But
the voice from heaven is speaking of divine things rather than of human.
So then, as it is written : The King shall rejoice in God : that is, in
God's strength, from which come to him the judgments of his royal Father
; and likewise, he is that Priest of whom it is written : Thou art a
Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech.
Lesson viii
Therefore both Evangelists keep well within the truth.
For Matthew doth establish descent through the kings ; whereas Luke, by
tracing through the priests the lineage transmitted to Christ from God, manifests his more sacred origin. And from this we perceive the
significance of the symbol used for this Evangelist ; namely, the
sacrificial calf , for everywhere he brings forward the mystery of the
sacrificial priesthood. Nor need it surprise us that Luke gives many
more generations from Abraham to Christ than doth Matthew, since we can
recognize that the line of descent is led through different persons. It
may be that some lived long lives, whilst persons of the other line died
young. For we are used to seeing many old men living with their
grandchildren, and others dying soon after the birth of their children.
Lesson ix
We notice also a further difference. Saint Matthew says
that Jacob, the son of Matthan, was the father of Joseph. Whereas Luke
says that Joseph, to whom Mary was espoused, was the son of Heli, and
that Heli was the son of Matthat. How then could Joseph have had two
fathers, that is Heli and Jacob? Perchance he is called the son of two
men, because one was his father according to nature, whereas the other
became his father according to the Law. The particulars of the Law
regarding the raising up of seed to a dead brother were not understood
by the Jewish people as a promise to us that the seed of the dead should
be perpetuated for ever. But in so far as they read it only according to
the letter, they failed to grasp its revelation of spiritual truth. For
the living brother that raised up seed unto his dead brother, is not to
be considered a brother after the flesh, but only according to the
purity of his motives. And on that account, perchance we read : But no
man may deliver his brother, nor make agreement unto God for him (for it
cost more to redeem their souls, so that he must let that alone for
ever): yea, though he live long, and see not the grave. For the man
Christ Jesus was not our natural brother, but the Mediator between God
and man, whereby he hath engendered in us the grace of the resurrection
unto perpetual life.
Oratio
Let us pray. God, Who in thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose
thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of thine Own most holy
Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with thee, we who
on earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be helped by
the succor of his prayers to thee on our behalf; Who live.
Tuesday within the Octave of the Solemnity of Saint
Joseph
Lesson i
Apocalypse 4:1-5
A reading from the Apocalypse of Saint John
After these things I looked, and behold a door was opened in
heaven, and the first voice which I heard, as it were, of a trumpet
speaking with me, said: Come up hither, and I will show thee the things
which must be done hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and
behold there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne one
sitting. And he that sat, was to the sight like the jasper and the
sardine stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight
like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty
seats; and upon the seats, four and twenty ancients sitting, clothed in
white garments, and on their heads were crowns of gold. And from the
throne proceeded lightning, and voices, and thunders; and there were
seven lamps burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of
God.
Lesson ii
Apocalypse 4:6-8
And in the sight of the throne was, as it
were, a sea of glass like to crystal; and in the midst of the throne,
and round about the throne, were four living creatures, full of eyes
before and behind. And the first living creature was like a lion: and
the second living creature like a calf: and the third living creature,
having the face, as it were, of a man: and the fourth living creature
was like an eagle flying. And the four living creatures had each of
them six wings; and round about and within they are full of eyes. And
they rested not day and night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God
Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.
Lesson iii
Apocalypse 4:9-11
And when those living creatures gave glory,
and honour, and benediction to him that sitS on the throne, who
liveth for ever and ever; 10 The four and twenty ancients fell down
before him that sitteth on the throne, and adored him that liveth for
ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 Thou
art worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory, and honour, and power:
because thou hast created all things; and for thy will they were, and
have been created.
Lesson iv
From a Sermon of Saint Bernard, Abbot
Homily II super
Missus est
It is written: Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not
willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away
privately. Being a just man, he was rightly unwilling to expose her. For
as he would not have been a just man if he had connived at known guilt,
so he would have been even less just if he had condemned proven
innocence. Being a just man, therefore, and not willing to make her a
public example, he was minded to put her away privately. Why did he wish
to put her away? On this point hear, not my opinion, but that of the
Fathers. Perchance Joseph wished to put her away for the same reason of
reverence that made Peter seek to put away the Lord, when he said:
Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord: just as the centurion
also sought to keep the Lord away from his house, when he said: "Lord, I
am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof. "
Lesson v
In like manner Joseph may have held himself to be sinful and
unworthy, in such wise that he thought he ought no longer to enjoy the
familiar companionship of her whose marvelous dignity filled him with
awe. Perchance he saw and trembled at the unmistakable signs of the
divine presence; and, since he could not fathom the mystery, he was
minded to put her away. Peter trembled at the greatness of the divine
power. The Centurion trembled at the presence of the divine Majesty.
Joseph too, being but a man, was filled with awe at the strangeness of
this mystery. Dost thou wonder that Joseph judged himself unworthy of
the companionship of this pregnant Virgin, when thou hear that Saint
Elizabeth too was filled with reverence and trembling at her presence?
For she said: Whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should
come to me?
Lesson vi
And so Joseph was minded to put her away. But why privately,
and not publicly? Lest perhaps enquiry should be made about this
separation, and he should be asked for reasons. What should a just man
reply to a stiff necked people, a faithless and perverse generation? If
he were to have said what he thought, and what he had proved, concerning
her purity, would not all the cruel and unbelieving amongst the Jews
have soon laughed him to scorn, and stoned her to death? How would they
have believed in the Truth lying silent in her womb, when they
afterwards despised the Truth preaching in the temple? What would they
have done to him before his appearance in the flesh, when afterwards
they laid impious hands on him in spite of his signs and wonders? The
just man, therefore, was right in wishing to put her away privately, lest
he should be thought to lie, or to defame an innocent woman.
Lesson vii
Luke 3:21-23
+The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke:
At that time: When all the people were baptized, it came to
pass, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was opened.
Etc.
A Homily of Saint John of Damascene
Oratio 3 Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Matthew begins his Gospel with the words: The book of the generation of Jesus
Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. But he doth not stop here.
In fact, he continues his genealogy down to the very Spouse of the
Virgin. Luke, on the other hand, after relating the manifestation of the
Savior at his baptism, makes a digression in his account, and writes
thus: And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as
was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, which was
the son of Matthat: and so on, in an ascending line, going up even to
Seth: which was the son of Adam, which was the Son of God. Thus after
reckoning up Joseph's genealogy in this fashion, we are shown clearly at
the same time how Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, was herself also of
the same lineage as Joseph. For the Mosaic Law strictly forbade
marriages between the different tribes, in order that the hereditary
rights of one tribe might not pass into another.
Lesson viii
Note that there was good reason for these following
things: namely, that the birth of Christ by the power of the Holy Ghost
was kept secret from the people; and that Joseph stood to Jesus in the
place of a father; and that on that account, as was truly fitting, he
was counted the father of the Child. Otherwise, it would have seemed
that the Child had no father, because he had no recorded descent from
his father's side. Wherefore it was of the utmost importance that the
Evangelists should record Joseph's lineage. Had they not done so, but
had given the Child's lineage on his mother's side, they would have done
unseemly, and gone contrary to the usage of divine Scripture. It was
therefore fitting that they should give the lineage of Joseph from
David, for the reason which we have already given of the kinship between
her and her husband. They thereby attest that the Virgin Mary was of the
lineage of David.
Lesson ix
It is indeed clear to all that Joseph was endued with
righteousness, and led a life in accordance with the Law. Therefore,
living by what the Law prescribed, he certainly would not marry a wife
sprung from any other but his own tribe. If, then, Joseph belonged to
the tribe of Judah, and came of the seed and family of David, is it not
a matter of course that Mary should come from the same? Whence it is
that her husband's descent is recorded. For if, according to the
Apostle's saying, the head of the woman is the man, doth it not follow
in consequence that when the descent of the head is registered, that of
the body in included in that of the head? I think it is therefore
clearly shewn that the Evangelists purposely chronicle Joseph's
genealogy, so that, in consequence, it would be understood that the
Virgin was also sprung of the family of David; thereby implying the
surpassing wonder that it was the Christ, before all ages the Son of
God, who was born of her.
Oratio
Let us pray. God, Who in thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose
thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of thine Own most holy
Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with thee, we who
on earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be helped by
the succor of his prayers to thee on our behalf; Who live.
Wednesday, the Octave Day of the Solemnity of Saint
Joseph
Lesson i
Apocalypse 5:1-7
A reading from the Apocalypse of Saint John
And I saw in the
right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book written within and
without, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel,
proclaiming with a loud voice: Who is worthy to open the book, and to
loose the seals thereof? And no man was able, neither in heaven, nor
on earth, nor under the earth, to open the book, nor to look on it.
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open the book, nor
to see it. And one of the ancients said to me: Weep not; behold the
lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the
book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I saw: and behold in
the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the
midst of the ancients, a Lamb standing as it were slain, having seven
horns and seven eyes: which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth
into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right
hand of him that sat on the throne.
Lesson ii
Apocalypse 5:8-10
And when he had opened the book, the four
living creatures, and the four and twenty ancients fell down before the
Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors,
which are the prayers of saints: And they sung a new canticle,
saying: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take the book, and to open the seals
thereof; because thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God, in thy
blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation. And
hast made us to our God a kingdom and priests, and we shall reign on the
earth.
Lesson iii
Apocalypse 5:11-14
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels
round about the throne, and the living creatures, and the ancients; and
the number of them was thousands of thousands, Saying
with a loud voice: The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive power,
and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and
benediction. And every creature, which is in heaven, and on the earth,
and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in
them: I heard all saying: To him that sitteth on the throne, and to the
Lamb, benediction, and honour, and glory, and power, for ever and ever. And the four living creatures said: Amen. And the four and twenty
ancients fell down on their faces, and adored him that liveth for ever
and ever.
Lesson iv
A Sermon of Saint Augustine, Bishop
Book 1 on Marriage and Concupiscence, ch 11
The Angel did not speak falsely when he said to Joseph :
Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife. She is called wife because of
the mutual confidence established between them at the time of her
espousal, although he had not known her carnally, nor was he ever so to
do. And the name of wife was not lost or rendered untrue because there
had not been any carnal intercourse, and would not be in the future. She
was, in fact, The Virgin ; and therefore she was holier and a more
wonderful source of joy to her husband just because she became a mother
without a man's intervention. Thus he knew her to be like unto himself
in faithfulness, unlike him as regards her offspring. On account of his
faithful union, both of them merited the name of Christ's parents. And
not only is she called his Mother, but he also is called his father, as
being the husband of his Mother, not according to the flesh, but
according to the spirit. But even though he was a father only in spirit,
whilst she was Mother according to the flesh, yet they both were the
parents of his humility, not of his glory ; of his infirmity, not of his
divinity.
Lesson v
For the Gospel doth not lie, when it says : And Joseph and
his Mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him. And in
another place : "His parents went to Jerusalem every year". And a little
further on : "And his Mother said unto him ; Son, why hast thou thus
dealt with us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." But,
to show that, apart from them, he had a Father who begat him without a
mother, he answered them : "How is it that ye sought me? Know ye not
that I must be about my Father's business?" And, as a set-off to this,
lest anyone might think that by these words he denied his parents, the
Evangelist immediately adds: "And they understood not the saying which
he spoke unto them ; and he went down with them, and came to Nazareth,
and was subject unto them." To whom was he subject but to his parents?
And who was thus subject but Jesus Christ, who, "being in the form of
God, thought it not robbery to be equal to God?"
Lesson vi
Why therefore was he subject to them who were so far below
the form of God, except that he humbled himself, taking upon himself the
form of a servant, of which form they were the parents? But truly,
neither of them would have attained unto the parenthood of this form of
a servant, except they had become respectively husband and wife, albeit
without any carnal intercourse. And hence, when the ancestors of Christ
are recounted in direct line of succession, the genealogy was fittingly
traced down to Joseph. Otherwise, it would have been a slur upon the
male sex, which is wont to be accorded the greater dignity. At the same
time the truth did not suffer, for both Joseph and Mary were of the seed
of David, from which it was prophesied that Christ should come. Note how
thus all the good things of marriage are found in these parents of
Christ : offspring, fidelity, the marriage bond. The offspring we know,
was the Lord Jesus himself ; their fidelity is proved because there was
no adultery ; the marriage bond, because there was no divorce.
Lesson vii
Luke 3:21-23
+ The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke:
At that time : When all the people were baptized, it came to
pass, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was opened.
Etc.
A Homily of Saint Augustine, Bishop
Serm. 36 on the time of the Baptism of Christ
The day of his baptism is, as it were, a second birthday of the Savior.
For we know that he was born with signs and wonders like to those of his
baptism, and that in the latter is a great mystery like to his birth.
For God said : This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. This
second birth is indeed more glorious than the first. For then, he was
born in silence, and without witnesses. Now, the Lord is baptized with a
proclamation of his divinity. Then, Joseph, who was supposed to be his
father, denied that he was. Now, his true Father, who was not believed
to be so, proclaims himself so to be. Then, the Mother was enduring
suspicion, because no father was acknowledged. Now she that bore him is
honored because the Divinity makes him known as his Son.
Lesson viii
I say that the second birth was more glorious than the
first. For now, the God of majesty proclaimed himself as his father.
Then, the carpenter Joseph was so accounted. And although it was the
Holy Ghost through whom the Lord was born and baptized, yet the Father,
whose voice was heard from heaven, is greater than the father who
labored on earth. Therefore Joseph the workman on earth was supposed to
be the father of the Lord and Saviour. But God, the true Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, is also a workman, and cannot be excluded from those
who work at the carpenter's trade.
Lesson ix
Commemoration of the Saint of the Day
Oratio:
Let us pray. God, Who in thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose
thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of thine Own most holy
Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with thee, we who
on earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be helped by
the succor of his prayers to thee on our behalf; Who live.
