March 19th - St. Joseph

[Stone]

Sermon of St. Bernard
(Roman Breviary)

Who and what manner of man this blessed Joseph was, you may gather from the title, with which, although only as a deputy, he deserved to be honored so that he was both called and thought to be the father of God. You may gather it from his very name, which, being interpreted, means Increase. At the same time remember that great man, the former patriarch, who was sold into Egypt; and know that Joseph not only inherited the latter's name, but attained to his chastity, and equalled his grace and innocence.

If, then, that Joseph, sold by fraternal envy and carried into Egypt, foreshadowed the selling of Christ; this Joseph, fleeing from the envy of Herod, carried Christ into Egypt. The former, loyal to his master, would have nothing to do with his master's lady; the latter, recognizing his Lady, the mother of his Lord, to be a virgin, and being himself chaste, guarded her faithfully. To the former was given discernment in the mysteries of dreams; to the latter it was given to know and to share in the heavenly mysteries.

The former laid up wheat, not for himself but for all the people; the latter received the living Bread from heaven to guard it, for himself and for the whole world. There is not doubt that the Joseph, to whom the mother of the Savior was espoused, was a good, and faithful man. A faithful and prudent servant, I say, whom the Lord gave as a consolation to his Mother, as the guardian of His own body, and finally as the only and trusty helper upon earth in the great plan of His Incarnation.