The Festival of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Guardian of our Lord
Posted on March 19, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 1:18-21 (NKJV)
1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Devotion
St. Joseph wonderfully keeps the Eighth Commandment—“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Ex. 20:16)—because he refuses to disgrace Mary, even though he had a right to do it in the eyes of the world. Joseph did not know, before the angel told him, that Mary’s child was the Son of God. It appeared that she had been unfaithful and his decision to protect her reputation was motivated by mercy. St. Matthew calls him “a just man,” because his sincere faith in God’s mercy bore fruit in showing mercy to Mary when it appeared she did not deserve it. St. Joseph’s attitude toward Mary exemplifies what Christ says in Matthew 25: “inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (v. 40).
In our own vocations we also are called to keep the Eighth Commandment, because Godly love, says St. Paul, “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:7). We keep the commandment when we protect our neighbor’s reputation and do not expose him to public embarrassment. Our Lord Jesus Christ, also, became man and died for the forgiveness of our sins, even though He knows how deeply evil we are.
Collect: O Lord, by the working of the Holy Spirit, Thou didst inspire in St. Joseph a quiet obedience to the Word: Guide and direct us to emulate such virtue in our life and conversation as shall glorify Thee in faithfulness day and night; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for Reminiscere Sunday
O God, Who seest that of ourselves we have no strength: Keep us both outwardly and inwardly; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
