Joseph Begins to Walk and to Speak

The following excerpts are taken from the The Life of St. Joseph (first referred to as the "Revelations of St. Joseph" in the original Italian) as received through a series of inner locutions from Our Lord to Mother Maria Cecilia Baij, O.S.B., abbess of the Benedictine Convent of St. Peter in Montefiascone, Italy, during the middle of the 18th century (1743-1766). These revelations have received wide acceptance, both theological and popular, in Italy and Germany, where copies and translations of the text were originally distributed. Mother Baij also received from Jesus through inner locutions the contents which presently make up the Inner Life of Jesus Christ, a five-volume work presently published in Italian and German. Pope Benedict XV reportedly granted initial approval and encouraging support for the revelations received by Mother Baij, according to the text's introduction. Moreover, numerous theologians in the past two centuries have likewise granted their theological support and approval of this series of revelations.

The Life of St. Joseph as described in these locutions provides a profound and inspiring example of Christian purity, patience, gentleness, and coredemption, which certainly would be appropriate for the man that the Church has designated as the greatest saint after Our Lady.
—Ed.

Joseph was privileged to talk very early as well as to walk. The first words that he lisped were "My God!" That is what the angel had taught him, and upon his sudden awakening, this expression burst forth from his lips. His parents heard it with amazement and deep emotion, and were filled with jubilation over their son's first spoken words. They were particularly joyous because his first words were directed to God, and a call upon Him for help. Joseph was destined to use these same words very often, and rightly so, as he had given himself completely to God, Who was his all.

Whenever he heard his parents refer to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, he would add, "and the God of Joseph." He would say this with such amenity for his tender age that his parents were delighted. In order to hear him express himself thus, and in order to give him the consolation he derived therefrom, they would frequently make reverential reference to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The little one's responses of "and the God of Joseph," were made with such devotion, that it was quite evident that to him God was the "only good," the object of all his affections and desires, and that he had no other thoughts and no other love than for Him. Consequently he was always jubilant and exultant whenever the name of God was mentioned.

The first steps that Joseph made were offered to God, with a request for grace that God might thereafter always be served, and never offended by him in his goings and comings. This petition was made in accordance with the instructions he received beforehand from the angel, and God certainly granted these prayers, for Joseph always gave glory to God and never offended or grieved Him by means of his speech or deportment, nor through any other of his activities.

He had the characteristic habit of directing his glance heavenwards, and asking God for help and for grace in all his undertakings, so that they might, at all times, be carried out according to the divine good pleasure. Joseph did this whenever he prepared to eat, sleep, or speak, or to go somewhere. Being unable, while so young, to perform all the virtuous deeds for which he yearned, he offered to God his desires, and with them all these ordinary activities, which were in themselves indifferent and common to everyone for the preservation of life, namely: eating, drinking, sleeping, and recreating.

All these Joseph made valuable by means of the right intention, doing everything for the love of God. Specifically, he would sometimes deny himself out of the motive of love in regard to taste, for this was what the angel had advised him to do, since there was so little else he could do for the love of God at that early age.

He often renewed his donation of himself to God, a repetition of that initial act which he had made at the time of his presentation in the temple. Because Joseph's mother perceived these indications of great spiritual capacities in her child, she began instructing him in the practice of making sundry outpourings of the heart to God, in the manner of the Hebrews. Joseph rejoiced over this, and applied himself so well to this that he really astonished her, together with all the others who happened to hear him.

Once he was able to walk unhampered, Joseph often went and hid himself in order to pray. With uplifted hands he would offer thanks to God for having heaped so many benefits upon him. He would remain on his knees for hours at a time. It was touching to see the child in this posture, but it was even more conducive to wonderment to observe how his spirit found its delight in the contemplation of the divine perfections. This was quite evident even exteriorly; for example, from his flushed face and his shining eyes. Often, as the mother adroitly withdrew out of the sight of her son, she would hear him exclaim: "Oh God of infinite goodness! How generously have You bestowed Your blessings upon me! How much do I owe You in return!"

His words were still somewhat stammering, but came from a heart inflamed with love for God. The mother, hearing him, would feel her own heart being enkindled in union with his by similar sentiments of love and thanksgiving, and she would burst forth into tears- tears of joy at seeing her son in such good favor with God and so richly endowed with His gifts.

Presently Joseph's parents informed him that God had promised to send a Messiah. They told him how He was being awaited with great longing, and how the old patriarchs had yearned for His coming. Joseph's angel also spoke of this to him in one of his dreams. As a result, he too was filled with a lively and glowing desire for the realization of this promise. He sent forth fervent appeals to God, asking Him to deign to shorten the time of waiting. Thenceforward, he applied all his prayers to this intention.

God listened with pleasure and satisfaction to these pleas of the innocent Joseph, and He gave him evident testimony of it, for whenever Joseph made these petitions, He, the Most High God, filled Joseph's heart with joy and consolation. Of course, Joseph was thereby encouraged all the more to continue with his supplications.

Whenever anything occurred in their home whereby God could be offended-and this did happen among the domestics through weakness-oh, then was Joseph to be found most sorrowful and depressed! Since he could not remonstrate with them at this age, he would show his displeasure towards their sin by giving way to tears.

His mother, observing him thus one day, asked him why he was so disconsolate. With considerable anxiety he answered: "You have so often taught me what to do in order to please God, and how we must avoid all sin so as not to displease Him. If then, I see God being offended in our own house do you not wish me to cry?" He said this to his mother because she had so often instructed him concerning this matter of the avoidance of sin, and because she had not yet fully grasped the fact that there had been bestowed upon him those special gifts: the premature development of reason, and a clear apprehension of the offenses committed against God.

It was because he understood so well how much God deserved to be loved and honored, and not offended, that he could become so saddened. He understood how very displeasing sin was to his most beloved Lord. Joseph's mother, henceforth, bore this in mind, and took pains to be vigilant, so that God's anger might not be aroused by any person in her house. She sternly reprimanded those who erred. Thus it came about that this home of Joseph's parents, due to the influence of Joseph's attitude and conduct, eventually merited to be called a school of virtue, with all those residing within being most diligent in their observance of the divine law.

Joseph's mother was very prudent and circumspect in regard to the secrets her son confided to her. She kept to herself what she knew concerning her son's supernatural gifts and graces. She never forgot what the angel had told her: that her son would see the Messiah and live in His company. In view of all this she did not wonder overly much at seeing Joseph so favored by God. She endeavored to give thanks and praise to God for His great generosity to him. She would often gaze at Joseph with great devotion and weep for joy at the thought that her son would be given that happy privilege which was denied to so many patriarchs and prophets: to witness the coming of title Messiah into the world.

Filled with a holy envy over his good fortune she would often remark, "Oh, my blessed child!" Hearing it, Joseph once asked her why she said this. "Because I know that God loves you so very much," she replied. (She never told Joseph, however, the secret revealed to her by the angel). When Joseph heard this he lifted his hands towards heaven and exclaimed: "Ah yes! I do believe that God loves me exceedingly!" His face now became flushed, and he was exultant in his joy; he gave way to tears at the sweet delight he experienced.

But then he continued: "And how much do I love my God? Oh, how little do I really love Him! But I wish to love Him more in the future than I have loved Him until now. As I increase in age and strength, so also do I desire to increase in my love for Him." And so it turned out to be; Joseph's growth in love for God kept pace with his physical growth and development.

When Joseph's parents saw how intelligent he already was (Joseph was barely three years old at the time), they decided to begin instructing him in reading. This the father took upon himself,¹ inasmuch as he was well versed in the Law. Besides, he did not wish to commit his son to others for instruction for fear that, in the company of strangers, he might lose that lofty spirit which God had bestowed upon him. It was thus, that Joseph began to learn to read, and he managed so remarkably well that his father never found any cause for reproof. To be sure, all this redounded to a great extent to the profit and consolation of his parents.

He soon advanced to the reading of the Sacred Scriptures, and especially the Davidic Psalms, all of which his father explained to him. This provided Joseph with much joy. He applied much time and effort to try to understand them, yet he never omitted his regular practice of prayer. All his available time was taken up either by prayer, by reading, or by reflection upon the things he had read, and he set for himself a definite time for each.

In spite of his extreme youthfulness, Joseph was never seen to be angry or impatient. He always maintained a cheerful and peaceful demeanor, although God often permitted him to be mistreated by other people of the house during the absences of his parents. The youngster accepted all with patience and cheerfulness.

The devil often endeavored to stir up the domestics to mistreat him, for the purpose of seeing him fail in the virtue of patience during affliction. But in this the demon never succeeded. Joseph was so submerged in the thought of God's love, and so Joyful over the realization of God's presence in his soul, that nothing could disturb the peace within his heart. The sight of this virtuous child put the devil into a frightful rage. He eventually even became violent, and undertook one day, to cast Joseph down headlong over a flight of stairs. God permitted this so that Joseph would have the opportunity to practice virtue and to make Satan suffer greater confusion. As he was falling, Joseph called to God for help and the Most High prevented him from being harmed. Whereas the devil was now forced to withdraw disconcertedly, Joseph had another opportunity to render praise and thanksgiving to God for all his blessings.