In this first part of our four part series on St Joseph in honor of the Year of St Joseph, we discuss the biblical foundation of devotion to St Joseph.
We look at the Old Testament prefiguring of St Joseph, his place in the New Testament, and also the Apocryphal Texts of the Early Church.
Listen online [here]!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
St Joseph in Scripture
and in the Church
Devotion to St Joseph,
Patron of the Universal Church
Session 1 – St Joseph in
Scripture
Outline
of Session 1: Introduction, St Joseph
Prefigured in the Old Testament, St Joseph in the New Testament, St Joseph in
the Apocrypha.
Overview
of the Course, 4 sessions
1) St
Joseph in Scripture
2) St
Joseph in the Writings of the Saints
3) The
Miracles of St Joseph in the Life of the Church
4) Practical
Devotion to St Joseph
I. St
Joseph Prefigured in the Old Testament
A. St
Joseph is principally prefigured in Joseph the Patriarch: His Name, His Life,
His Glory, His Virtues, and in Devotion to Him.
1.
Joseph the Patriarch prefigures Christ, but also St Joseph
2. In
his name: Not only named Joseph, but also the son of Jacob.
3. In
his life: The significance of dreams (in particular that even the sun and the
moon would reverence him), caring for the bread of Egypt, authority given to
Joseph of old
4. In
his glory and in devotion to him: Chosen son and St Joseph’s privileged role in
salvation history, Exalted by Pharoah, only recognized in the last days.
5. In
his virtues: Joseph preserves purity against Potiphar’s wife, care and
provision for his brethren, wisdom and foresight.
6. Ite
ad Joseph: Go to Joseph and do all that he shall say to you – Genesis
41:55. During the famine, all came to
Joseph and he opened the storehouses and provided not only for the people of
Egypt but also for those of the surrounding regions.
B.
Other Figures and Types for St Joseph in the Old Testament: Eliezer who cared
for Rebecca in their journey, Mordechai who was a guardian for Queen Esther.
Abraham, Sara, Isaac can represent the Holy Family. Various images and elements
of the Tabernacle and Temple (the veil of the Holy of Holies, the Cherubim
figures). St Francis de Sales compares those who protect the Virgin Spouse of
Song of Songs with St Joseph.
II. St
Joseph in the New Testament, briefly
A. In
Matthew: The Nativity account which traces the lineage of our Lord through St
Joseph, his fears about Mary’s situation, visited by an angel in a dream, visit
of the Magi, warned by an angel of Herod’s wrath, flight to Egypt, slaughter of
the Innocents, warned in a dream to return to Nazareth.
B. In
Luke: Annunciation to Mary, Visitation, travel to Bethlehem for census (no room
at the inn), birth with visit of shepherds, presentation in the Temple, return
to Nazareth, finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple. Genealogy through Mary
found after our Lord’s Baptism.
C. In
the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary: Brief overview of the place of St Joseph in
these mysteries. No information about St Joseph once Our Lord is grown.
D.
Biblical reflections regarding Mary’s virginity, the brethren of the Lord,
reverence to St Joseph.
III. St
Joseph in the Apocrypha
A. Meaning
of Apocrypha: These are early pietistic
reflections which embellish many aspects of Scripture and often without any
restraint or decency. Still, we gain certain bits of information.
B. Protoevangelium/Protogospel
of James (c. AD 130): We gain the names of Joachim and Anne, Mary’s parents.
The tradition of Mary’s presentation in the Temple, and her early years there.
Joseph is miraculously indicated to be the spouse of Mary, by the sign of a
dove from the rod of Joseph.
But
also many elements which are inappropriate: Joseph is nearly forced to be the
husband of Mary, he is angry with Mary upon discovering she is with Child, the
withering of a midwife’s hand when she tries to discover the mystery of a
Virgin Birth, etc. St Joseph is
presented as an older man, previous marriage.
B.
Gospel of Thomas (c. AD 200): Filled with all sorts of absurdities. Jesus
turning clay figures to live birds, striking other children dead and raising
them to life, “showing off” his miraculous powers.
C. Others:
Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew (c. AD 400), Gospel of the Nativity of Mary (c. after
AD 600), Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Savior (c. AD 600), Coptic History
of Joseph the Carpenter (c. AD 350-500). These continue embellishments and
expansions – including also many stories about the flight to Egypt. St Joseph
becomes ancient, with grandchildren older than his new Spouse.
G.
Overview and Evaluation of the Apocrypha.
1. Four
basic points: Extra miracles, St Joseph miraculously chosen as spouse, St
Joseph’s extreme old age, his previous marriage and children (even
grandchildren older than Mary).
2. While we do gain some helpful information from the Apocrypha, we
must be discerning. We will discuss the question of St Joseph’s age and
(grand)children, which may be an excellent example of the exaggeration typical
of the Apocrypha.
