Joseph Begins to Walk and to Speak

Joseph's Progress in Virtue; Special Favors from God

As has been intimated, by the time Joseph had reached his present age of seven, he already possessed unusual intellectual capacities. He spoke in a serious vein, and all his actions had a certain mature perfection about them, and so, his father could not find a better adviser on important questions than his own son, and his overall success was attributable to this advice which he received from Joseph, who was enlightened by God. Joseph was never mistaken in his opinion, for he first consulted God in prayer concerning all things, and his parents never undertook anything without having previously obtained his approval; they knew from experience that whatever Joseph said would be realized in every detail.

Even so, Joseph's deportment was so humble and obedient that his parents could not help but wonder at it. He would simply give them his opinion and then add: "I only tell you what I consider to be the right thing, and consequently, also the proper thing to do. But think it all over well yourselves, and then do that which seems to you to be better and more pleasing to God." Then he would beg God to enlighten his parents so that they might do only that which would conduce to His greater good pleasure. He never relied upon himself. He considered himself to be an unimportant and miserable creature, and humbled himself exceedingly before God. It was embarrassing for him when his parents asked his advice, and he spoke only in view of obedience, and in order that God might be glorified in all things.

Nor did God fail to anticipate his need of grace and providential enlightenment. Joseph received this enlightenment either during prayer or through the medium of his angel. It is to be noted that as Joseph grew older, the angel spoke less often, because in addition to the light, which God already was providing in abundance, he was also being taught by means of the reading of the Sacred Scriptures.

One night as Joseph was sleeping, the angel appeared and told him that God was most pleased over the resolution he made to lead a life of perpetual celibacy and that He promised him His special help and blessing. Then the angel showed him a cincture of incomparable value and beauty and said to him: "God wishes to present to you this cincture as a token of His approval of your decision. As an indication of the grace which He is granting you for the purpose of preserving untarnished the luster of your purity, He has commissioned me to clothe you with it." Thereupon, the angel approached Joseph and girded his loins with the cincture, admonishing him to thank God for the favor and grace granted to him.¹

As Joseph awoke, he arose immediately, knelt down, and thanked God fervently for this blessing. It developed that Joseph was never to be harassed by temptations against chastity. Although the devil attacked him with various other temptations, he never was able to lay snares for him in this domain, because God did not permit it. Almighty God maintained him in this remarkable state of purity, so that he would be worthy of becoming the guardian of the Queen of Virgins.

On another occasion the angel spoke again to Joseph, telling him that God had decreed that he was to be the recipient of a very great and sublime favor. The angel confessed his own ignorance as to what this favor might be. He declared that for the present, he was informing him of the fact primarily for the purpose of moving him to make entreaty to God for it, and to make himself worthy of it by the practice of virtue. Inasmuch as God is much pleased when He is petitioned, and wants prayers and entreaties to precede the rendering of great graces and favors. Joseph was attentive to the message of the angel but made no attempt to discover the nature of the signal grace in question.

On the other hand, he supplicated God with all the powers of his soul and with a special earnestness, first, for the favor that He would hasten the coming of the Messiah, and secondly, that He would deign to grant him the favor foretold by his angel. He also besought God for many other graces, but especially for these two, which lay so close to his heart.

This special gift to which the angel had reference, actually consisted of the proposed presentation to Joseph, as his bride, the maiden who was destined to be the Mother of the Incarnate Word. But Joseph was not to be granted any knowledge concerning this until it was actually due to take place. And even after he did obtain Mary as his bride, Her future Motherhood of the Messiah still was kept hidden from him until somewhat later.

While he was making these continual petitions for special graces, Joseph experienced great consolation. Once, being carried away in sublime rapture, he received a revelation concerning the virtuous life that the Messiah would lead when He came into the world to live among men. Joseph saw that the virtues of humility, and gentleness, would be particularly resplendent, though the other virtues also would cause real amazement. He became filled with enthusiasm and desire to practice and possess these same virtues himself. After this, he never desisted from applying all his energy and care to the acquisition of these virtues, and it was indeed remarkable what progress he made. He also exhorted the other members of the household to endeavor to practice them since this was so very pleasing to God.

On the occasion of the Paschal feast, Joseph went with his parents to the temple in Jerusalem. He was always happier than usual whenever this season approached, and prepared himself for the solemnity with fasting and prayer because that was what the angel had taught him to do. Upon his arrival at the temple, Joseph cast himself upon his knees to pray, and remained thus for hours, to the astonishment of all who observed it, as he was still so very young.{footnote}This account is so very natural and so conformable to the truth, due to the fact that God, Himself, was thus preparing Joseph from his early youth for his great task. A profound contemporary writer has practically reechoed what is expressed in these pages, just as if he, himself, had read them, for he wrote: "How could Joseph, some may ask, already in his infancy and youth live a life of such intimacy with the Messiah? Joseph undoubtedly devoted himself in a very mysterious, but, nevertheless, real and most profound manner to the mystery of the Messiah.

"Hidden in God, he dwelt upon this mystery with fervent hope and with most lively and pure desire, supplemented by prayer, which touched the heart of God the Father. More effectively, even than Isaiah, did he supplicate heaven to send down its dew so that the just might replenish the earth! It seems to me that, being a fervent observer of the Law, Joseph considered it to be a delight to go as often as possible to the temple...and that there, he would be enraptured and exclaim: 'How I wish that I might be the servant of the Messiah-and yet how unworthy am I to be so!'