The Feast of St Joseph, Spouse of Our Lady | Tuesday 19 March 2024

Today is Tuesday the 19th of March, the feast of St Joseph, Spouse of Our Lady, in the 5th week of Lent.

Juliano Ravanello sings 'Te Joseph Celebrent', a hymn about St Joseph on this feast day:

To him, the Father’s only Son
You served as father here;
He was subjected to your will
He, whom the heavens revere.

How does St Joseph inspire you?

Te Joseph celebrent agmina caelitum,
te cuncti resonent Christiadum chori,

qui, clarus meritis, iunctus es inclitae,

casto foedere Virgini.



Almo cum tumidam germine coniugem
admirans dubio tangeris anxius,

afflatu superi Flaminis, Angelus
conceptum puerum docet.


Tu natum Dominum stringis, ad exteras
Aegypti profugum tu sequeris plagas;

amissum Solymis quaeris et invenis,

miscens gaudia fletibus.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 1:16,18-21,24

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.

Today we come alongside Joseph… we are reminded of the pivotal role he plays in the arrival of Jesus the Messiah.

He seems to get a lot of things right:

He doesn’t take offence when he could have done. He’s unshockable when he could easily have been. He does the opposite to an understandable course of action. He chooses to love and help Mary, even before the angel came with instruction. He demonstrates the very love of God.
What is your reaction to this role model? Give thanks for him now.

As you hear the passage again, imagine Joseph’s dramatic change of mind after a night’s sleep and an encounter with an angel from God. The ‘before’ and the ‘after’. When he suddenly realises that his very God is on his side.

As this time of reflection comes to a close, you might want to consider an honourable course of action that you sense is required of you. Ask God to throw light on it.

You have given all to me
To you Lord I return it
Everything is yours
Do with it what you will
Give me only your love and your grace
That is enough for me.
Amen.