Joseph in Jerusalem and as a Carpenter

Joseph Becomes Independent Carpenter - Special Graces

Once he had ascertained the will of God through the angel, Joseph proceeded immediately to its accomplishment. He purchased the necessary tools to carry on his trade and rented for himself a little workshop in the vicinity of the temple. In this little room he worked, slept, and had his meager meals. He hardly ever left it, except for his visits to the temple, or when he had other necessary errands. Occasionally, Joseph made some soup for himself, but his nourishment consisted mainly of bread and fruit. He drank very little wine, and then only when it was diluted with water. His favorite dishes were boiled herbs or legumes, but he seldom allowed himself to partake of them.

Verily, Joseph lived a life of poverty and penance. He did it all with great joy, while God filled him with heavenly consolations. He lived a life of silence and retirement. The people in his workshop were never to be found engaged in frivolous talk, even though they might be seeking such entertainment, because the Saint was an enemy of all useless chatter. Since he was generally considered to be a simple-minded and rather foolish person, he was left alone and allowed to live undisturbed in his solitude, unnoticed and deserted. People came to have work done, as they found it to be to their advantage, for Joseph only took what was offered to him for his labor. He left the determination of the amount of compensation he earned up to them, and he received it from them with thanks, as if it were a gift rather than a compensation for his labor. Then, faithful to the order of the angel, he retained for himself only what was absolutely needed-the rest of the money went to the poor.

Sometimes the Saint found himself in dire straits. On these occasions he would go to the temple and implore God for His providential aid, and God always granted him consolation. He would sometimes inspire one or another of the neighbors to bring him some bread, soup, fruit, or vegetables, according to his particular needs. The Saint was most thankful for this, first to God, and then to his benefactors. In His providence, God often sent people to Joseph who placed orders for work, making it unnecessary for him to look for customers. Joseph's modesty was such that he would not venture to make any commendatory statements concerning himself. He trusted in God to supply all his needs, and always recommended himself to Him, but particularly so when he was without work.

In his little workshop Joseph often would fling himself down on the ground and make a complete oblation of himself to God, saying: "See, oh my God, I am all yours! There is nothing that can separate me from You. I have nothing but You. You are my entire inheritance, my only support. You are my consolation, my entire good. From You alone do I expect help and strength. I desire nothing besides You. I reject all that the world has to offer me. Gladly do I choose poverty, humiliation, suffering, for by them I will please You, Who are my Lord and my God, and therefore, possess complete dominion over me."

Fortunately, Joseph was never observed by anyone when he carried on his loving intercourse with God. He was able to continue indulging in the enjoyment of these consolations for which he would quite often remain for lengthy periods of time in the temple.

Engaged in the service of the temple at this time was the holy virgin Mary, Mother-to-be of the Word Incarnate. Her exceptional virtues were a cause for wonderment on the part of the other temple virgins, especially for those to whom Her training was entrusted. Comment concerning Her had even spread to the city at large.¹ Joseph, living his retired life, was unaware of the local gossip.

One night his angel appeared and told him that there was in the temple a maiden who was most dear to God, and for whom God had a special love and preference. Indeed, that it was beyond mortal comprehension what a tremendous love God entertained for His human creature, and that in Her, God found His greatest delight because of Her rare virtues and admirable purity and holiness. This temple virgin was Mary, the daughter of Joachim and Anna whom he knew well.²

It was explained to Joseph that he was being told of this so that he might give praise and thanksgiving to God for the graces and benefits He had meted out to Mary, and also that he might find joy in the realization that there existed on earth a creature so worthy and so pleasing to God. Hence, upon awakening and arising, Joseph gave thanks and praised God with great jubilation of heart. He was extremely happy over the information he received and at the same time there was enkindled in his heart a holy love for this maiden. He often went to the temple, drawn by the awareness and the attraction of Her virtue, even though he never was able to see Her. In the temple he prayed and thanked God for having deigned to give the world so holy a maiden, and he implored the Most High to enrich Her even more with His graces, so that, as She increased in age She might also increase in virtue. God was pleased with these prayers of our Joseph, and gave Mary a definite illumination concerning him. He informed Her of the piety of His servant, Joseph, and of Joseph's prayers in Her behalf.

Mary also began to pray for Joseph, imploring God to fill him with His grace and love. In what a wonderful manner did God answer these prayers of Mary! So it came about that, although they never saw each other or spoke to each other, Mary and Joseph mutually recommended each other continually to God. All their information concerning each other came through such revelations. They enjoyed the mutual benefit of one another's prayers for a span of almost ten years, loving each other holily in God. ³

The angel assured Joseph several times of Mary's extensive prayers in his behalf, which made him very happy. On one occasion he was told that Mary had dedicated Herself entirety to God, and had vowed to Him Her virginity, with which God was eminently pleased. This information stirred up in the Saint a desire to do the same, and he dedicated his virginity to God by means of a vow. Since this was a most unusual thing at that time, the Saint was undecided if he could do so, and if it would really be pleasing to God. He went to the temple and besought God for enlightenment as to His will in this matter. After many pleadings, God deigned to make known to him interiorly that it would please Him if he made such a vow of virginity. He assured him of His assistance and special grace which would enable Him to fulfill it. This divine communication was a great comfort to Joseph.

As he made his promise of perpetual virginity⁴ to God, Joseph's heart was filled with an inexpressible joy. God permitted him to feel this so that he might be assured of how pleasing this vow was to Him. He was then raised to a most lofty contemplation, and a delightful ecstasy in which God manifested to him the value and merit attached to the noble virtue of chastity.

Consequently, Joseph's love and desire for a life of chastity increased continuously, and he felt consoled over having made the vow. He thanked God Who had inspired him to make it and Who had so graciously accepted it. As a result, he actually seemed to be beside himself with joy.

That same night, the angel appeared again to Joseph to substantiate the fact of God's approval regarding his imitation of Mary in Her tremendous longing for the coming of the Messiah, and in Her fervent and continual supplications for it. He confirmed his belief that the arrival of the Messiah would be hastened through Mary's prayers. Joseph was advised to do the same as Mary, and, thereby, become still more pleasing to God. Upon awakening, the Saint immediately knelt down to pray for this intention, and with greater fervor than he had ever possessed before. In the temple, as he renewed these earnest petitions, his spirit was raised to a high degree of contemplation. He saw and experienced the same visions concerning the Messiah which had been granted to him earlier.

By means of the graces which God granted to him, and through the prayers of Mary on his behalf, Joseph attained such a spiritual status he no longer seemed to be a creature of this earth, but rather an angel of paradise. His spirit was always immersed in God, his love more intense, and his desires centered on pleasing God through his activities. He would be enraptured a greater part of the time and would spend whole days and even parts of the night in contemplation.

He often forgot his meals, being fully satisfied with the joy he experienced in his intercourse with God. Repeatedly he would say: "Oh my God, how is it that You bestow upon me, a wretched creature, such great graces and benefactions? Oh, how extremely good You are to me, how generous, and how faithful to Your promises! What shall I do for You, oh my God? How can I show my gratitude for these great benefits? For the present I can do nothing more than to offer to You myself and everything I do. Do with me what You please! I am prepared to sacrifice myself and all my activities for Your interests."

The holy youth had a tremendous longing to accomplish great things for the glory of God, and his heart was rent with pain when it seemed that his desires would not be realized. One night the angel informed him that the time would come when his noble yearning would indeed be satisfied; moreover, he would literally wear himself out in the service of God. Joseph was almost overcome with joy upon receiving this consoling message from the angel.

He waited longingly for the prescribed time to arrive, and felt sure it would be the happiest time of his life. Indeed, this is how it eventually turned out to be, for very strenuous efforts were later required of Joseph, when, by the labor of his hands, he had to provide for the Word Incarnate. Although he did not know what particular demands God was to make upon him, his desire to spend himself in God's service was such that he already felt happy in the mere anticipation.

Joseph did not probe more deeply into that which had been indicated by the angel; nor was any further information given. The Saint's attitude now was one of patient waiting and utter simplicity and abandonment. He made supplication to God for the things which the angel had spoken, because he knew God desires to be petitioned. His actions were always of such a nature that God was most pleased with them. He never deviated from the divine will. He always showed how grateful he was for all the gifts he had received, and would renew the offering of himself to God without any reservations.