bb{oi}, t. 2, p. 50.

{620}

MARCH XIX.

ST. JOSEPH.

THE glorious St. Joseph was lineally descended from the greatest kings
of the tribe of Juda, and from the most illustrious of the ancient
patriarchs; but his true glory consisted in his humility and virtue. The
history of his life hath not been written by men; but his principal
actions are recorded by the Holy Ghost himself. God intrusted him with
the education of his divine Son, manifested in the flesh. In this view
he was espoused to the Virgin Mary. It is an evident mistake of some
writers, that by a former wife he was the father of St. James the Less,
and of the rest who are styled in the gospels the brothers of our Lord;
for these were only cousin-germans to Christ, the sons of Mary, sister
to the Blessed Virgin, wife of Alphaeus, who was living at the time of
our Redeemer's crucifixion. St. Jerom assures us,[1] that St. Joseph
always preserved his virgin chastity; and it is of faith that nothing
contrary thereto ever took place with regard to his chaste spouse, the
blessed Virgin Mary. He was given her by heaven to be the protector of
her chastity, to secure her from calumnies in the birth of the Son of
God, and to assist her in his education, and in her journeys, fatigues,
and persecutions. How great was the purity and sanctity of him who was
chosen the guardian of the most spotless Virgin! This holy man seems,
for a considerable time, to have been unacquainted that the great
mystery of the Incarnation had been wrought in her by the Holy Ghost.
Conscious therefore of his own chaste behavior towards her, it could not
but raise a great concern in his breast, to find that, notwithstanding
the sanctity of her deportment, yet he might be well assured that she
was with child. But being _a just man_, as the scripture calls him, and
consequently possessed of all virtues, especially of charity and
mildness towards his neighbor, he was determined to leave her privately,
without either condemning or accusing her, committing the whole cause to
God. These his perfect dispositions were so acceptable to God, the lover
of justice, charity, and peace, that before he put his design in
execution, he sent an angel from heaven not to reprehend any thing in
his holy conduct, but to dissipate all his doubts and fears, by
revealing to him this adorable mystery. How happy should we be if we
were as tender in all that regards the reputation of our neighbor; as
free from entertai