Page 140 - Reflections on St. Joseph

G. Whether the goal may or may not be visible to human sight

This expression of puts our custom of “always having clear ideas”, of making well detailed
plans, and always knowing which way to go, into crisis. In the Gospel, Joseph dreams four
times, but each time the angel brings only a partial announcement, each time a brief, all too
brief prophecy. In leaving and then leaving again, Joseph does not pretend to have
everything clear, to see the horizon completely, but only “enough light for the first step” (H.
Newman), enough courage needed for the first night, enough strength to begin.
H. Whether slowly or quickly

Here we are trying to measure our time with God’s clock! The “pilgrimages” of Joseph, first
with a pregnant Mary, and later with the Child Jesus, do not ever seem to have had a clear
time frame. They are “flights” but with the “slowness” of God’s times. Even the Founder
begins to “dream” of the birth of the “Company of St. Joseph” back in 1872 (date of the first
letter to Canon Cerruti), but he must wait another 6 years before God decides to “bring it to
light”.

I. With you we are always sure to go well

This is the apex of our profession of trust in St. Joseph: he never fails to meet expectations.
He succeeds in “caring”, protecting and guiding Jesus and Mary, and he will know how to do
so with us. The Founder breathed in the enthusiasm which circulated in the Church with
respect to St. Joseph, especially thanks to the two Popes of his times: Pius IX and Leo XIII.

Pius IX, already on December 8, 1870, with the decree Quemadmodum Deus, embracing the
instinct of faith which the Christian people had for some time received and lived, solemnly

St. John Paull II

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Reflections on st. joseph