"A virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David" (Luke ii. 27). The time arrived when, in the ordinary course, the Blessed Virgin had to leave the shelter of the temple and go forth into the world; the time was also at hand appointed for the appearance of the Son of God in human nature. God had prepared in advance not only a mother for the Messias, but also a faithful servant, who should be the representative of the Eternal Father on earth, in watching over, and providing for, and ruling the Child and His Mother. This was Joseph, a just man.
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O God, who in thine ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the spouse of thy most holy Mother; grant, we beseech thee, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven, who on earth we venerate as our protector. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
The Inner Court,
Burns and Oates, 1924
Meditations on Christian Dogma, Volume 1
The Newman Press, Westminster, Maryland, 1961
