Wednesday of the third week of Advent.
Of the Desposorios of Our Lady with the glorious Saint Joseph.
DAILY MEDITATIONS
OF THE MYSTERIES
OF OUR HOLY FAITH,
By the P. Alonso de Andrade
FROM THE COMPANY OF JESUS.
PRAYER TO BEGIN
By the sign of the Holy Cross, from our enemies delier us, Lord, our God. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
My Lord and my God: I firmly believe that you are here, that you see me, that you hear me. I adore you with deep reverence. I ask you for forgiveness of my sins and grace to make this time of prayer fruit. My Mother Immaculate, Saint Joseph, my father and lord, my guardian Angel: intercede for me.
Meditation
Wednesday of the third week of Advent.
Of the Desposorios of Our Lady with the glorious Saint Joseph.
POINT ONE. Consider the first how, according to (1) St. Jerome, when the Blessed Virgin was fourteen years old, the priests tried to give her a husband, according to the custom of that people; and knowing that he had made a vow of virginity (something unheard of until then) they consulted God, and by his ordination they cast lots among the men of his lineage to give her a husband; and fate fell to St. Joseph, blooming the rod in his hands, and descending on it the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove: in all of which there is much to meditate and learn. The first thing in the vow of the Blessed Virgin who did not hesitate to suffer the note of sterility, which was a lineage of infamy in that people, for the love of purity, because you do not hesitate to suffer any affront for the love of virtue. The second, in consulting God the priests, teaching us to resort to him in all our doubts, and in taking out by luck the husband of Mary, because his patronage and devotion is a gift from the hand of the Most High; and in blooming the rod of St. Joseph, because the one who is chosen for his special servant must flourish in virtues. Meditate on all this slowly, and encourage yourself to undertake the heroic virtues that shine in this mystery at the cost of any care, diligence and work.
POINT II. Consider the virtues that the most pure Virgin exercised in this action of her marriages, and especially the faith and trust in God, believing and hoping that by means so contrary to virginity, as marriage was, she would have to preserve it, as she preserved it and increased it, living chastely with the glorious Saint Joseph, because there is nothing impossible for God: encourage yourself with his example to trust the Lord in the enterprises that he puts you no matter how arduous they are, believing that from all his powerful hand will take you out with victory.
POINT III. Consider the obedience of the Blessed Virgin in such a difficult and contrary thing in her intention: the silence, the humility and performance with which she obeyed the priests when they ordered her to give the hand of wife to St. Joseph despite the fact that she had made a vow of virginity, and learn to obey God and the men who govern in his place with all promptness and performance, even if they order you to leave what seems most perfect; as the Blessed Virgin did, trusting in the goodness of God, that she will order everything for his greater glory, and good of Your soul.
POINT IV. Contemplate how, the Divine Providence chose St. Joseph poor of temporal goods, but very rich of the spiritual; humble in the eyes of men, but great in those of God because always in his eyes virtue is preferred to all the riches and honors of the century: look at the modesty and shrinkage with which these two lovers would face each other and how mute their tongues would be spoken with the hearts: look at St. Joseph as he extends his hand to give the ring of husband to the Blessed Virgin, and the virginal empacho with which she receives, the devotion Of both and the admiration of those present: raise your eyes to heaven and contemplate the blessing that God would give to these two married saints, and how the angels and the entire heavenly court would celebrate their most chaste weddings, the reciprocal delivery that the two spouses of their souls and their hearts would make, linking with a bond of chaste love: raise your heart to God, and ask him for a drop of devotion to attend, celebrate and celebrate this holy marriage: congratulate the married and ask them to admit you to their service to be their servant and their slave Perpetually.
(1) Hier. de ort. Sea.
PRAYER TO END EVERY DAY
I thank you, my God, for the good purposes, affections and inspirations that you have communicated to me in this meditation. I ask you for help to put them to work. My Mother Immaculate, Saint Joseph, my father and lord, my guardian Angel: intercede for me.
Daily offer of works
Come Holy Spirit
Inflames our hearts
In the redeeming longings of the Heart of Christ
So that we really offer
Our people and works
In union with Him
For the redemption of the world
My Lord and my God Jesus Christ
For the Immaculate Heart of Mary
I consecrate myself to your Heart
And I offer myself with you to the Father
In your Holy Sacrifice of the altar
With my prayer and my work
Today's sufferings and joys
In reparation for our sins
And that your Kingdom may come to us.
I ask you in particular
For the Pope and his intentions,
For our Bishop and his intentions,
For our parish priest and his intentions.
Church of the Savior of Toledo at 21:00:00
To share