Joseph's Presentation in the Temple and His Childhood

Joseph's Childhood - His Attitude toward God And Parents

Joseph's mother faithfully fulfilled the duty of nursing her child, and it proved to be a comfort to her. She observed her child carefully. Very often she found Joseph rather sad, and weeping silently. She was surprised to see such unusual behavior in him, but being prudent, she remained silent and revealed nothing to anyone. It seemed to her it all could be explained only as a prevenient grace. This consideration moved her deeply. She seemed to sense her innocent son already in the role of a penitent. Nor was she mistaken for, after all Joseph already possessed the gift of the use of reason, together with the gift of sanctifying grace, and as a result had a greater comprehension of God and of the offenses committed by mankind against Him.

He shed copious tears in this regard, and offered them to God with the plea that He might have mercy upon poor sinners, that He would enlighten them, and enable them to see their grievous error. An angel encouraged him in this, telling him that it was pleasing to the Most High, and that he would be manifesting his love for his erring neighbor. So Joseph continued to do so in his fervent desire to please God and help his neighbor.

It can, therefore, be truly said that Joseph, hardly born, was already fulfilling the two commands of the law, namely: to love God above all things and with all his power and strength, and to love his neighbor. Having nothing on his own conscience to reproach himself with, his works of penance were performed as reparation for the sins of others. In return God lavished upon him many favors and graces. As a very special favor, the time for the birth of the Mother of the Divine Word was advanced, so that Joseph might become her guardian and most faithful spouse.

It was most evidently noticeable how this saintly child would be absorbed in God for days on end. On these occasions he had no need for material nourishment; it sufficed for him then to receive that most delightful fare which enriched his spirit, namely: divine consolation. How superabundant this was could be determined from his expression. Joseph's face at such times had a most angelic appearance, and his cheeks would be flushed; a smiling expression would play over his features, and his eyes would glisten like two stars.

Whenever his mother saw him like this she would leave him alone and not disturb him in any way. To see him in such a heavenly transport served to fill her, as well, with special consolation. Her heart would then burst forth in songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. Quite often, Joseph's father observed these extraordinary conditions in his son, and together with the mother, would be moved to tears.

Oh, what happiness did Joseph's parents experience in rearing their child! How tender was their love! Yet how different their situation was from that of the parents of Joseph, the viceroy of Egypt. The latter, you see, was the prototype of our Joseph.¹ As he had been loved more than all the other children by his father, so our Joseph was loved by God the Father more than any other (male)² creature, since He had predestined him to be the father of His Divine Incarnate Word and the spouse of the Mother of the Son of God. Joseph of Egypt was invested by his father in a costly garment; our Joseph was adorned by the heavenly Father with sanctifying grace.

The former Joseph was hated by his brothers and sold as a slave; our Joseph was unjustly deprived of his inheritance after the death of his parents, which forced him to assume the status of a stranger in Jerusalem in order to learn a trade with which he could earn his livelihood. Joseph of Egypt explained the meaning of dreams; our Joseph possessed an angel companion who instructed him in his dreams and advised him what he should do to please God and accomplish His will.

The one was the representative of the king of Egypt; our Joseph was the representative of God in the Egypt of this world. The one remained faithful to his Lord, in that he left another's spouse untouched; our Joseph remained loyal to the Holy Spirit, in that he never violated the physical integrity of the Latter's spouse and his own-nay more, he even became the guardian of her purity.

The one preserved the harvest of grain for the benefit of the Egyptian people; our Joseph was the protector of that Life which was destined to be the Wheat of the elect, the nourishment and strength of the faithful. The one was a source of consolation for his parents and for the whole of Egypt; our Joseph was a source of consolation to the Divine Word, Whom he nourished by means of his labors and sweat, and to the Mother of Jesus in all Her journeyings. He was, and still is, a consolation for all faithful souls in their necessities, especially at the hour of death.

The one was loved exceedingly by his master; how much more was our Joseph loved and favored by God, being as he was His representative on earth! No man has lived on earth who could compare with our Joseph, no man has been so favored and exalted by God.³ Only our Joseph's most holy and most pure spouse, as virgin Mother of the Divine Word, was more uniquely privileged.⁴ She was established in a status incomparably far above him.

The period of Joseph's growth was a time of great blessing for his parents. Since at this early age he prayed much for sinners, how much more did he implore God's blessing on his parents, and the Lord surely heard him, for they increased greatly in virtue and in love for God and neighbor.

Whenever Joseph was carried about by his mother, and found himself to be in a place where he could see the open sky, he would gaze steadfastly up at the heavens. His joy and exultation showed that all his happiness and treasure lay up above. As the mother observed this, she would often bring him to a spot from which he could have a clear vision of the sky. She also did it whenever she saw that he was sad, for this would lift up his spirits. At the same time, she herself would contemplate God's grandeur in His wondrous works, and rejoice in spirit.

The hellish fiend was aware of the light that abided in Joseph, and also of the tremendous advances that his parents were making in the path of virtue. Consequently, he feared that this child would arouse others to take up the struggle against him, and by his example lead many souls toward a life of piety. He attempted a number of times to take Joseph's life, but his plans always went awry, for Joseph was protected by the almighty arm of God.

He was guarded by the two angels who had been assigned to him. The enemy fumed with rage because he could not achieve his designs. He devised another ruse, whereby, he endeavored to instigate strife and confusion between Joseph's parents. This too failed, because they, animated by their virtue and the fear of God, clearly recognized the snares of their common enemy. By means of their prayers, the devil was brought into confusion and was forced to seek refuge in flight.

Satan then attempted an attack upon the domestics of the household, but even this miscarried, for Joseph prayed for them all and God heard his petitions. He would often unite fasting to his prayers, and as a result the enemy found himself deprived of his powers. The devil desisted for a time from his attacks only in order to devise a new plan of action against wait for an opportune occasion to initiate it. But always he found himself vanquished and beaten, for Joseph's prayers were very powerful.

The angel who had been assigned to speak to Joseph in his dreams⁵ continually advised him as to what was incumbent upon him to do in order to overcome the infernal demon. He would inform Joseph as soon as he saw that the devil was preparing to launch another attack that was destined to create a disturbance in the household, and Joseph never failed to carry out the admonitions of the angel.

When the proper time arrived, Joseph's mother discarded the use of the diapers and dressed her child. Joseph was very happy about this. He raised his hands yearningly to heaven; it seemed as if he wished to take flight, to go up to the place that contained the object of all his desires. He was often seen in this posture. At other times the mother would see him with his little hands crossed, and pressed tightly against his breast, as if to indicate that he was embracing his Lord, Who through grace abided within him.

On another occasion Joseph's parents found him praying with folded hands, completely oblivious to the outer world about him, and so absorbed in contemplation that he seemed to have lost consciousness. In all such instances Joseph's mother was minded to leave him strictly alone. Joseph was inclined to spend whole days in contemplating God and in meditating upon the divine perfections.⁶ He was instructed in prayer by his angel, but even more fully by God Himself, Who communicated Himself most generously to his soul,⁷ and permeated it with His spirit. Thus, Joseph advanced daily more and more in the love of God and in the comprehension of the divine perfections. He longed to achieve perfection and holiness in himself, so that he might in some measure resemble his God and make some recompense for His infinite love. For this reason he wished that he would soon be able to walk, for then he would be better able to render to God, by means of his body as well, the homage that was due Him; he could then give external demonstration on his knees of his sentiments of love and submission. God was pleased with these desires of Joseph, and granted his petition, enabling him to walk in a very short time.