Page 185 - Reflections on St. Joseph

The words “I do not know man” are the common biblical expression for stating that she has not
had relations with her betrothed. Mary has no opportunity for consultation with Joseph, before
accepting God’s Son into her womb. She knows her betrothed as a man of faith, and trusts him
enough to presume that he will accept her and the child and raise Jesus together with her. Mary’s
extraordinary encounter with God’s unfathomable plan deepens her faith, which will in turn
deepen Joseph’s faith. This challenge to their plans for their marriage also deepens her love and
trust in her betrothed. Joseph and Mary will be the most fruitful couple ever, but through
virginity, rather than through conjugal relations.

The liturgical Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord occurs only six days after the Solemnity
of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On March 25, 1890 in the introduction to a letter
to our Congregation, our wise and holy Founder clearly stated that the feast of the Annunciation
to Holy Mary was “by participation also of St. Joseph” (Letter 212 [185]). In fact, St. Joseph
“unknowingly received so many graces along with his Holy Spouse though unaware of the great
Mystery.” He ends the letter by desiring that we Oblate servants give God a glory that is reflected
especially in Mary and her Spouse Joseph (“singulariter in Maria eiusque Sponso Iosepho”).

What a beautiful truth expressed by St. Joseph Marello: even before Joseph was aware of the
Mystery, God was already giving him the graces to fulfill his role in that Mystery. As Mary
is full of grace and able to say fiat to being the Mother of God, so also Joseph is already being
given sufficient grace to be husband to the Mother of God and earthly father to the Son of
God. God’s plan for Joseph is simple and yet transcendent. At the time of the Annunciation
to Mary, Joseph is already humble, trusting, righteous, prayerful, obedient, and chaste, the
qualities that he will need for the role as yet unknown to him.

Our spirituality is to imitate these same virtues of St. Joseph, our patron and model. God still has
a plan for us, now and in the future. While we already know the vocation to which he has called
us, we do not know how he is planning even now for it to unfold in our future. His plan is certainly
beyond our imagining and he is already giving us graces of which we are unaware. Each of us is
important for serving the interests of Jesus in the manner that God points out to us day by day.
Whether you realize it or not, whether you feel ordinary or even insignificant in the community,
or whether you envision yourself called to great things, you are a very important instrument for
God to be incarnate in our world. For whatever role obedience may call you in the future, be open
to it and trust that he is already giving you the anticipated graces necessary.

Share in community (as indicated by Resolution 4 of General Chapter XVI).

Each member may share on any one of the following questions. Some possible “rules for
sharing” are reproduced as an Appendix to these sheets.
1) What does Joseph’s unwitting role in the Annunciation to Mary say to me about my
own vocation?
2) How has God made my life of chastity fruitful for his kingdom?
3) In the past what graces have I received before I was aware of how I would need
them?
4) How open am I to whatever role God may call me for the sake of his saving work?
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Reflections on st. joseph