THE DEATH OF ST. JOSEPH When St. Joseph came out of this ecstasy, his face was shining with heavenly light, and he asked Mary to give him her blessing. But instead she indicated that Jesus should bless him, which He did. Then Mary fell on her knees and begged her dying husband to bless her, and after he had done so she kissed his hand tenderly and affectionately. St. Joseph also implored her pardon for all his deficiencies in serving her and requested her prayers in this hour of his death. Then he spoke these last words to her: "Blessed art thou among all women, Mary! May angels and men praise thee! And may the Name of the Lord be known, adored, and exalted in thee through all the coming ages. I hope to see thee in our heavenly home..."

And turning toward Jesus with profound reverence. St. Joseph tried in vain to kneel, but the Saviour gently took him in His arms, while Joseph said: "My Lord and my God, give Thy blessing to Thy servant, and pardon the faults I have committed in Thy service. I give Thee my heartfelt thanks for having chosen me to be the husband of Thy Mother! May Thy Glory be my thanksgiving for all eternity..." Jesus then lovingly blessed St. Joseph and said: "My father, rest in peace and in the grace of My eternal Father, and bring to the saints in Limbo the joyful news of the approach of their redemption." At these words, in the arms of Jesus, with Mary kneeling and weeping at his feet, in a room brightly lighted by hosts of angels, St. Joseph died a happy and peaceful death. After Jesus had closed His foster father's eyes, Mary prepared his body for burial with the help of her angels, and as she did so, God enveloped it in a wonderful light, so that she could see only Joseph's lifelike face. The body was wrapped in a white shroud and placed in a narrow bier, which was then carried to a fine tomb given to St. Joseph by a rich man. Only Jesus and a few friends formed the funeral procession, together with a great number of resplendent angels.

THE BLESSED VIRGIN SAID TO VEN. MOTHER MARY OF AGREDA: "The whole human race has much undervalued the privilege and prerogatives conceded to my blessed husband, St. Joseph. I assure you that he is one of the greatly favored personages in the Divine Presence, and he has immense power to stay the arms of divine vengeance. That which my husband asks of the Lord in heaven is granted upon earth, and on his intercession depend many extraordinary favors for men."