Thought for the Day – 4 January – “The Foster-father”

Thought for the Day – 4 January – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Meditations for Christmastide
“The Holy Infancy”
From “The Devout Year”
By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

“The Foster-father”

At no great distance from the Mother of God stands His holy Foster-father St Joseph, the third person of that earthly trinity. What can we learn from him?

+1. He is the true husband of Mary, united to her by a closer bond than any on earth save that which exists between the Mother and the Son.
He is, moreover, the true earthly father of Jesus in everything except the fact of carnal generation. He has committed to him, the care of God Himself and of her, who is dearer to God than all the world beside. He is, therefore, next to Mary, of all mankind, the most privileged and the most exalted.
How then, can we honour him enough?

+2. When God gives to anyone an office, He gives him the virtues and the qualities which are required for its perfect exercise. What then, must have been the virtues of St Joseph?!
He must have had every virtue, not only in an eminent degree but ,in a degree, to which none other of the sons of men ever attained. In prudence, justice, humility, charity, he was far above all others.
I, therefore, must ask of him every grace which I need.

+3. Above all, St Joseph was eminent for his unspotted purity. Many theologians assert that he was sanctified in his mother’s womb. None save Mary was ever so pure as he This it was which qualified him for his intimate union with Jesus and Mary.
If I desire to be united to them, I too must be pure of heart. St Joseph, please obtain for me this grace of purity!