An Altar for St. Joseph's Day

There is a tradition in New Orleans, with roots going back to medieval times, of the St. Joseph's Day Altar. So, for this St. Joseph's Day, I have constructed an online altar for the foster-father of Jesus.

An Orthodox hymn

Joseph, when He beheld the greatness of this wonder,
thought that he beheld a mortal wrapped as a babe in swaddling clothes;
but from all that come to pass he understood that He was the true God

Another Orthodox hymn by St. Ephrem the Syrian, from his Hymns on the Nativity

Joseph caressed the Son as a babe;
he ministered to Him as God.
He rejoiced in Him as the Good One,
yet he was greatly bewildered and awestruck at Him as the Just One

"Who hath given me the Son of the Most High to be a Son to me?
I was jealous of Thy Mother, and I thought to put her away,
and I knew not that in her womb was hidden a mighty treasure,
that should suddenly enrich my poor estate.
David the king sprang from my race, and wore the crown;
and I have come to a very low estate,
who instead of a king am a carpenter.
Yet a crown hath come to me,
for in my bosom is the Lord of crowns!"

A more recent Christmas song by 4 Him which captures the spirit of the previous two:

Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade
Why Him, with all the rulers in the world
Why here inside this stable filled with hay
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl
Now I'm not one to second guess what angels have to say
But this is such a strange way to save the world

The Fathers of the Church spent some time talking about the reasons why Mary and Jesus needed Joseph, what role he played in the Gospel story. This first excerpt is from the Venerable Bede:

Blessed Mary had then a husband
who would be the most reliable witness of her integrity
and most faithful custodian of our Lord and Saviour.
For the Child Jesus, Joseph would bring to the temple
the victims of sacrifice prescribed by the law;
in the hour of persecution he would take Him
and His Mother into Egypt and bring them back;
and finally he would provide many other services
called for by the fragility of the nature assumed.

The guarantee afforded by Joseph's genealogy,
the protection of Mary against stoning as an adulteress,
and the concealment of the virginal birth from the evil one.

Echoing this same idea is St. Jerome:

In His boundless wisdom, God employs the simplest of means.
What was the best way to effect the incarnation of the Son of God?
To reveal openly the all-holy Virgin's virginal state
would have meant to bring attention to the Lord Jesus prematurely,
without proper preparation.
A threefold purpose was accomplished by Joseph's betrothal to the Virgin:
quiet obscurity was assured for Christ until the appointed moment,
an impenetrable defense was provided for both her and the divine infant.
All this was accomplished by the sacred betrothal of St. Joseph to the Virgin-Mother.

One of the most interesting, and unknown, aspects of the life of Jesus is his relationship to his foster-father. We have no record of interaction between the two in Scripture, and Joseph was dead when Jesus was crucified. According to the most ancient tradition, dating from the time of the Apostles, Christ Himself heard his confession, an account of his entire life. Here is the end of an apocryphal account of that confession. Jesus says:

Hail, my father Joseph, thou righteous man.

Joseph answers,

Hail, my well-beloved Son.
Indeed the agaony and fear of death has encompassed me.
But as soon as I heard Thy voice, my soul was at rest.
O Jesus of Nazareth! Jesus, my Saviour!
Jesus, O sweetest name in my mouth, and in the mouth of all that love it!
O Eye that seest and Ear that hearest, hear me!
I am Thy servant; this day I most humbly reverence Thee
and before Thy face I pour out my tears.
Thou art altogether my God.

In this song by Michael Card, the devotion of St. Joseph to Jesus is represented as well:

How could it be this baby in my arms
Sleeping now, so peacefully
The Son of God, the angel said
How could it be Lord I know He's not my own
Not of my flesh, not of my bone
Still Father let this baby be
The son of my love

Pope John Paul II summarized the silent witness of St. Joseph this way:

Sacred Scripture says little of him.
It does not record even one word spoken by Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth.
And yet, even without words, he shows the depth of his faith, his greatness.
Saint Joseph is a man of great spirit.
He is great in faith, not because he speaks his own words,
but above all because he listens to the words of the Living God.
He listens in silence.
And his heart ceaselessly perseveres in the readiness to accept the Truth
contained in the word of the Living God.

This sonnet praises the "silent saint," who nevertheless has been named patron of the Universal Church (and about a hundred other things):

Saints know thee best, oh, hidden, silent saint!
And would that I could feel a little part
Of that great love Theresa's kindred heart
Felt for thee, Foster-father! But the taint,
The chill, is on my soul; and few and faint
The prayers that from this earthly bosom dart
Up to that heavenly throne whereon thou art
ln glory, not too high to hear my plaint.
Patron of all who work in humble ways!
Pray that from pure and earnest motive I
May fill with patient toil the moments flying;
Patron of happy death-beds! when my days
Have reached their term, be thou, dear Joseph! nigh,
With Mary and with Jesus, while I'm dying.

The Joys and Sorrows

of St. Joseph

Mighty Joseph, son of David! High and glorious is thy state— Of our Lord the Foster-father, Mary's spouse immaculate. The Almighty's faithful servant, Of the Holy Family Head and father. Oh! I pray thee, Be a father unto me. Sorely was thy bosom troubled Till the mystery was revealed Which the Lord had wrought in Mary Who in patience all concealed. But an angel soon from heaven Bids thy loving doubts to cease; So may every care and trial Turn for me to joy and peace. With the Virgin young and tender, In the winter-time forlorn, Thou to Bethlehem didst journey That our Lord might there be born. As thy God thou didst adore Him, While He in the manger lay; Now is He in heaven exalted— Turn to Him for us and pray! Flying at the angel's -warning, Far from Herod's fury wild, Long in Egypt didst thou tarry With the Virgin and the Child. By thy toil, thy pain, thy sadness, In that exile dark and drear, Help me in the cares and sorrows Which may be my portion here.

Home from Egypt's land returning, Thou wouldst rest in Galilee, But to Nazareth art bidden, That the Child secure may be. Souls retiring, sweet, and humble, Thou dost still for Jesus seek: That my heart may be his garden, Make it humble, pure, and meek. Thou didst search, with loving anguish, For the little Jesus lost; But, in finding Him, what rapture Purchased at that sorrow's cost! Thee, my light, my life, my Jesus, May I never lose by sin! May my heart be pure and simple, So that thou may'st rest therein ! Jesus, Mary, hung above thee On that sad yet happy day When, with their fond arms around thee, Passed thy gentle soul away. Oh ! when death shall come to take me, All its terrors I'll defy, If, with Jesus and with Mary, Thou, dear Joseph, wilt be nigh. Thus, O glorious Saint, my homage I thy grateful client pay. Hear my prayer and smile upon me, Guide and guard me on my way. May I 'neath thy kind protection Safely reach my journey's close, And with thee, in heaven's bright palace, Through eternity repose!

Finally, a Litany to St. Joseph. In these times where we are too loud to hear the Lord, too proud to do the humble (yet infinitely necessary) tasks he asks of us, and too selfish to put others first; may his prayers and his example lead us to be silent, humble and loving.

Litany to St. Joseph:
Renowned offspring of David,
Light of Patriarchs,
Spouse of the Mother of God,
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,
Care father of the Son of God,
Diligent protector of Christ,
Head of the Holy Family,
Joseph most just,
Joseph most chaste,
Joseph most prudent,
Joseph most strong,
Joseph most obedient,
Joseph most faithful,
Mirror of patience,
Lover of poverty,
Model of artisans,
Glory of home life,
Guardian of virgins,
Pillar of families,
Solace of the wretched,
Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying,
Terror of demons,
Protector of Holy Church,
Holy Joseph, pray for us.

15th c. Christmas Prayer

Lo, in the silent night
a child to God is born
And all is brought again
That ere was lost or lorn

Could but thy soul, o man
Become a silent night!
God would be born in thee
And set all things aright.

Fare the Well - Free, O Lord

+ Fare thee well in Christ. Peace be with thee. Amen.

As thy soul goes forth from this world, let it go forth in peace.
In the Name of God the Father Almighty Who created thee.
In the Name of Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God Who suffered for thee.
In the Name of the Holy Spirit Who is poured forth in thee.
In the Name of the Angels and Archangels,
Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles,
Innocents, Martyrs, Confessors, Virgins,
and all of the souls of the Saints who are pleasing to God.

Today mayest thou be placed with them in peace,
may thy place and habitation be in the Holy Heavenly Jerusalem.
May Saint Michael the Archangel, who was meritorious to lead the heavenly armies, take thee up.
May the Holy Angels lead thee and guide thee into the Heavenly Jerusalem.
May Saint Peter the Apostle to whom the Lord handed down the keys to the heavenly kingdom, take thee up.
Go forth in peace, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
Who will illuminate thee in life eternal and raise thee in the first resurrection in the newest Day.

Lord Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd,
receive the soul of Thy servant N. in peace,
and forgive all of his (her) sins.
Receive, O Lord, Thy servant in the good,
and free his (her) soul from all the dangers of hell,
and from the snares of punishments, and from all tribulations.

Free, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant,
as Thou didst free Noah from danger.
Free, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant,
as Thou didst free Elijah and Enoch from tasting death in the world.
Free, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant,
as Thou didst free Abraham through faith and believing.
Free, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant,
as Thou didst free Lot from Sodom and the flaming fire.
Free, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant,
as Thou didst free Isaac from the hand of his father Abraham.
Free, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant,
as Thou didst free Jacob through the benediction of Thy majesty.
Free, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant,
as Thou didst free Moses from the hand of Pharaoh, king of the Egyptians.
Free, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant,
as Thou didst free Job from his sufferings.
Free, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant,
as Thou didst free Jonah from the belly of the whale.
Free, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant,
as Thou didst free David from the hand of Saul the king, and Goliath,
and from all of the chains of his sins.
Free, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant,
as Thou didst free Daniel from the Lion's den.
Free, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant,
as Thou didst free three youths, from the fiery furnace
and the hand of the iniquitous king.
Free, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant,
as Thou didst free Suzanna from false accusation.
Free, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant,
as Thou didst free the human race by Thy Passion.
Free, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant,
as Thou didst free Peter and Paul from prison.
Free, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant,
as Thou didst free Thecla from the three torments.

Thus be pleased to free, O Lord, the soul of this human being,
and allow him to dwell with Thee in the heavenly good things of Thy kingdom,
Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, Save Me

Though I have sinned, O Savior,
yet I know that Thou art full of loving-kindness.
Thou dost chastise with mercy and art fervent in compassion.
Thou dost see me weeping and dost run to meet me,
like the Father calling back the prodigal.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me

Instead of freedom from possessions, O Saviour,
I have pursued a life in love with material things;
and now I wear a heavy yoke.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me

I have cared only for the outward adornment,
and neglected that which is within
the tabernacle fashioned by God.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

- from the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

Prayer for those who persecute you

Prayer Regarding Critics and Enemies

- by Serbian Orthodox Bishop By Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic,
who spoke out against Naziism, was arrested, and taken to Dachau.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Enemies have driven me into your embrace more than friends have.
Friends have bound me to earth;
enemies have loosed me from earth
and have demolished all my aspirations in the world.
Enemies have made me a stranger in worldly realms
and an extraneous inhabitant of the world.
Just as a hunted animal finds safer shelter than an unhunted animal does,
so have I, persecuted by enemies, found the safest sanctuary,
having ensconced myself beneath Your tabernacle,
where neither friends nor enemies can slay my soul.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless and do not curse them.

They, rather than I, have confessed my sins before the world.
They have punished me, whenever I have hesitated to punish myself.
They have tormented me, whenever I have tried to flee torments.
They have scolded me, whenever I have flattered myself.
They have spat upon me, whenever I have filled myself with arrogance.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Whenever I have made myself wise,
they have called me foolish.
Whenever I have made myself mighty,
they have mocked me as though I were a [fly].
Whenever I have wanted to lead people,
they have shoved me into the background.
Whenever I have rushed to enrich myself,
they have prevented me with an iron hand.
Whenever I thought that I would sleep peacefully,
they have wakened me from sleep.
Whenever I have tried to build a home for a long and tranquil life,
they have demolished it and driven me out.
Truly, enemies have cut me loose from the world
and have stretched out my hands to the hem of your garment.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Bless them and multiply them;
multiply them and make them even more bitterly against me:
So that my fleeing will have no return;
So that all my hope in men may be scattered like cobwebs;
So that absolute serenity may begin to reign in my soul;
So that my heart may become the grave
of my two evil twins: arrogance and anger;
So that I might amass all my treasure in heaven;
Ah, so that I may for once be freed from self-deception,
which has entangled me in the dreadful web of illusory life.

Enemies have taught me to know what hardly anyone knows,
that a person has no enemies in the world except himself.
One hates his enemies only when he fails to realize
that they are not enemies, but cruel friends.
It is truly difficult for me to say who has done me more good
and who has done me more evil in the world: friends or enemies.
Therefore bless, O Lord, both my friends and my enemies.
A slave curses enemies, for he does not understand.
But a son blesses them, for he understands.
For a son knows that his enemies cannot touch his life.
Therefore he freely steps among them and prays to God for them.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.