Life at Nazareth

Hitherto we have been considering Joseph as a young man, and living alone; we have now to regard him as he was in maturer years, and in the company of the Blessed Virgin, to which was soon to be added the company of the Son of God Himself, Christ Jesus. Up to this period the virtues of Joseph, although excellent and sublime, were private and hidden virtues, known only to the narrow circle in which he abode, but henceforward those virtues are to emerge into the light of day, and at length to become known to the uttermost parts of the earth below and the heaven above. From constant association with Jesus and Mary, the virtues of Joseph acquired so brilliant and dazzling a luster as to be surpassed only by the sovereign splendors of the virtues of Jesus and Mary. Joseph, become the foster-father and guardian of Jesus, the spouse and protector of Mary, becomes, in consequence, the guardian and patron of the whole Church.

We left the holy spouses at Jerusalem, in their abode near the Probatic Pool. There, however, they did not long remain,¹ but went to establish themselves in Nazareth, where the Blessed Virgin owned a small house, inherited from her parents, along with some slender possessions in Sephora and in Carmel. What were the reasons which induced their removal we cannot know for certain. No doubt they sought counsel of God in prayer before taking this step, to which they may have been prompted by the painful feelings which the degeneracy of the Holy City excited in them, as well as by the rise of the malicious sects of Herodians, Sadducees, and Pharisees, and the spread of their false corrupting doctrines, not to speak of the cruel jealousy of Herod, which every day increased, displaying itself, not against his subjects only, but against his own wife and children, whom he mercilessly put to death. Mary and Joseph, being of the house and family of David, might, therefore, have just cause to dread becoming in some way the objects of his malevolent suspicions. Be this as it may, we have good reason to believe that the holy spouses never contemplated retaining the whole of the patrimony which Mary inherited from her parents, and which, moderate as it was, would probably have sufficed to raise them above the level of actual poverty. These two ardent lovers of virginity were also lovers of poverty, which they thus embraced by their voluntary act. Maria d’Agreda says that immediately after their marriage they divided what they possessed into three portions, one of which they gave to the Temple, one they distributed to the poor, and the third remained in the hands of Joseph for his administration, our Lady reserving to herself the office of waiting on her holy spouse and performing all household work; for the same favored soul tells us that never did Mary interfere in external business, neither would she buy or sell; money, in short, never passed through her pure hands. Joseph was thus installed as head of the family, in the office of steward and administrator of the goods of what might truly be called God’s house. The third portion of Mary’s inheritance, which had been reserved, consisted chiefly, no doubt, of their humble house at Nazareth, whither they were about to retire, and where soon was to be accomplished the great mystery of the Incarnation.

We have seen how St. Joseph during his youth had exercised the trade of a carpenter. He now, we are told by a great contemplative, asked our Lady if she wished him to continue it for her service, in order besides to have something to give to the poor, and also because it was well not to lead an idle and unemployed life. Of this the most prudent Virgin approved, telling him that the Lord did not wish them to be rich, but poor, and lovers of the poor and the refuge of the poor, so far as their means extended. Then—Maria d’Agreda, whom we quote, tells us—there arose a holy contest between the two blessed spouses as to which of them was to regard and treat the other as superior. Joseph in his humility esteemed himself as all unworthy of the treasure which had been committed to his charge; and so great was his veneration for Mary that he would have desired to take the place of her servant, seeking only to know and obey her will in everything. She, however, who amongst the humble superexcelled in humility, was the conqueror in this loving strife; for the most holy Mary would not consent that, the man being the head, the natural order should be inverted, so that it was her will to obey in all things her spouse Joseph, asking him only to allow her to give alms to the poor of the Lord, to which the Saint willingly agreed. It was a great sacrifice to Joseph to have thus to assume the place due to him as husband, and in doing so he, on his part, was practicing the virtue of obedience, even as Mary was on hers. The two spouses were, therefore, perfectly fulfilling the three evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience.

The Santa Casa, now miraculously transported to Loreto, was, like the Nazareth houses in general, very small; and, as was the case with many of them likewise, it was built against the rock, with an opening into a cave or grotto at the back.² On the one side was an apartment in the rock, which to this day bears the name of the kitchen of the Madonna; on the other, at a very short distance, was what is still by tradition called the workshop of St. Joseph. The walls of the Santa Casa, wherein Mary had herself been born, and where she must have dwelt until taken to the Temple by her parents, were bare and unadorned, but we may be sure that her hands had soon placed everything in order, and, though there was nothing superfluous, the little they possessed was arranged with that neatness, modesty, and simplicity which invests a poor abode with a charm often wanting in the luxurious apartments of the rich. Mary had no servant, so that all the domestic work was performed by herself; and, as there was no water in Nazareth save at one fountain, distant about a quarter of a mile from their abode, the Blessed Virgin, with her water-pot on her head, might have been seen, like one of the daughters of the ancient patriarchs, going daily to draw water at the well for the supply of the house—lovely as Rachel, bashful as Rebecca in her whole person and bearing, or, rather, immeasurably surpassing in beauty and modesty all the daughters of Eve. The fountain was afterwards called by her name. Sometimes she would repair thither with a companion to wash the household linen, and Joseph, beholding her thus industriously employed, while thanking God in his inmost soul for having given him for his spouse, not a woman, but an angel of Paradise, grieved to see her, the daughter of kings and worthy of all the thrones of the earth, thus abasing herself to toil fit only for menials. Within the house, likewise, she never remained idle. She plied the needle and the spindle, as she had been wont to do in the Temple, and her exquisite workmanship helped to procure the necessaries of life. Maria d’Agreda, in her Revelations, has drawn out a marvelous parallel between her and the “valiant woman” of the Proverbs,³ whom we may regard as the mystical type of Mary, as well as the example proposed to all women, but so ill followed by the greater number, especially in these soft degenerate days.

But first and foremost was her solicitude to minister assiduously to the wants and wishes of Joseph. She diligently prepared their simple meal and placed it on their little table, which had been made, we are told, by the saint himself. Here were no rich viands or dishes of silver and gold. All spoke of modesty, economy, frugality. There was sufficient to support life, but no dainties to excite greed. There was peace and charity at that board. It was the dinner of herbs described in the Proverbs. “Better,” says the Wise Man, “is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasures without content. It is better to be invited to herbs with love, than to a fatted calf with hatred.”⁴ And if at that table there sat no company of noble guests, there was a band of heavenly spirits in attendance, sent by God to aid, guard, and comfort the holy spouses. The words which Joseph addressed to Mary were simple and brief, and brief and simple were her replies, but full of ravishing gentleness and sweetness. He seemed to be listening to an angel, or to more than an angel. Esteeming the virtues of her of whom God had made him the most fortunate spouse to be superhuman and heavenly, his respect was so great that it could not but manifest itself in his whole behavior. He could scarcely address her without inclining his head as to his lady and Queen; and in all his words and actions there would never have been detected the slightest sign of that innocent freedom which commonly exists between good and virtuous spouses. Let us hear what St. Bridget tells us our Lady said to her about her holy spouse. “Joseph was so reserved in his words,” said Mary, “that none ever came from his mouth which were not good and holy, none that were idle or complaining. He was most patient and diligent in labor, most meek under injuries, most attentive to my every word, strong and constant against my adversaries, a faithful witness of the wonders of God, dead to the flesh and to the world, alive only to God and to heavenly goods, which alone he desired, conformed to the Divine will, and so resigned to it that he was constantly saying: ‘Let the will of God be done in me; may I live as long as it is pleasing to God, that I may see His Divine will fulfilled’. He seldom conversed with men, but continually with God, whose will alone he wished to do; wherefore he now enjoys great glory in Heaven.”

Joseph knew, says the pious and learned Gerson, that he was the head of Mary, because the husband is the head of the wife. Nevertheless, his veneration for her was so profound that he considered himself unworthy to be her companion, or even to kiss the ground on which she had trod; and he was always on the watch to render her some service, albeit unrequested, even as might some most devoted servant rather than spouse. And then he loved her so exceedingly, with a love like what the heavenly spirits feel for each other, and would have readily given his heart’s blood for her: and as yet he knew not her incomparable dignity! Yes, he loved her exceedingly, and we may hold for certain that Joseph, as he was the first, so was he the most devoted servant of Mary—the most loving, the most faithful, the most assiduous, the most constant. He heads, we may say, the procession of her devout votaries, the first to raise his banner in her honor, unrivaled in his loyalty and devotion, nay, distancing all her other pious clients with the rapidity of the eagle, the king of birds.

On the other hand, no less was the love and reverence which the Virgin had for him. She rejoiced to serve him as her lord, respect him as her tutor and guardian, and tenderly love him as her spouse, treating him with all the honor with which Scripture records that Sara treated Abraham, telling us that she called him “lord,”⁵ implying thereby much more than the mere words express. Reflecting on all this, the devout Gerson enthusiastically exclaimed before the Council of Constance, “Marvelous is thy sublime elevation, O Joseph! O incomparable dignity, that the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven, the Sovereign Lady of the world, should not disdain to call thee her lord! Truly, truly,” he continued, “O orthodox Fathers, I know not which most to admire, the great humility of Mary or the sublime grandeur of Joseph.” Mary (says Isolano) gave honor to Joseph, not only as her husband, but as her tutor and guardian; she never departed a hair’s breadth from his wishes; she never determined on anything without his advice, never moved a step without his permission, nor undertook anything without his consent. In every thing she depended on his will, for in the will of Joseph she recognized the most holy will of God. They were one heart and one soul: what concord, then, what tranquility, what peace reigned between them!⁶ St. Bernardine of Siena writes: “Since the Virgin comprehended how great was conjugal unity in spiritual love, and knew that this spouse had been given her directly by the Spirit of God, I believe that she sincerely loved Joseph with the entire affection of her heart”;⁷ and Isidoro Isolano adds that “the love of the saints is the most ardent, the most perfect, and the holiest of loves”. John of Cartagena, indeed, argues the eminent sanctity of Joseph above all the saints from the very fact of Mary’s most ardent love of him; for “knowing,” he says, “the obligation that lay upon her to love her spouse, she loved Joseph more than all the patriarchs and prophets, martyrs, apostles, and angels”.⁸ What felicity for Joseph, and what an honor, to enjoy the whole love of her who with a single glance of her eye could enhance the joy of the angels of Paradise! Now it is that we can realize how the Evangelist, desiring to express the highest encomium of Joseph, comprised it in these few words: “Joseph the husband of Mary”. The being Mary’s spouse was the foundation and basis of all his dignity.

We cannot refrain from quoting here a passage from the writings of that great lover of Joseph, St. Leonard of Port Maurice. “Let the Evangelists be silent,” he says, “concerning all they could tell us of Joseph, placing in array before us those virtues and singular prerogatives which serve as a noble accompaniment to his dignity. To me it suffices that they make him known to us as the husband of Mary, that is, the most like among all living beings to the most perfect of pure creatures who ever came out of the hands of God, even His own Blessed Mother. Spouse of Mary! that is, who came nearest to that highest pinnacle of sanctity which pierced the heavens, which rose above the empyrean, and from the very bosom of the Eternal Father drew down His Only-Begotten Son. Spouse of Mary! that is, head of the first head in the world, for the husband is the head of the wife. Spouse of Mary! that is, lord of that sovereign Lady who well knew the precept of Genesis: ‘Thou shalt be under thy husband’s power, and he shall have dominion over thee’;⁹ and who, most perfect in all else, was so also in the reverence and homage which she paid to her spouse, in which reverence and homage she surpassed all other wives. Spouse of Mary! that is, of the great Queen whom to serve is the highest dignity of the Dominations, the highest function of the Principalities, the deepest study of the Cherubim, and the most ardent desire of the Seraphim. . . . ‘No more,’ exclaims St. Bernard; ‘you say all in saying he was like the Virgin, his spouse.’ He was like her in all things: in countenance, in feature, in heart, in disposition, in manners, in sanctity, in virtue; so that, if Mary was the aurora preceding the Divine Sun, Joseph was the horizon illuminated by Its splendors.”¹⁰

O truly happy spouse! Adam rejoiced when he received from God Eve for a companion, but his joy was soon turned into sorrow, for Eve brought to him irreparable woe; while Joseph’s joy in receiving Mary for his companion was constant and enduring, for Mary was to him the cause of endless felicity. Mary brought him everlasting riches as her dowry, so that he might truly say, “All good things came to me together with her, and innumerable riches through her hands”.¹¹ Now, if the Virgin is wont to obtain such great graces even for sinners, enemies of her Son, how many favors must she not have obtained for her holy spouse, the guardian of her purity and the loving foster-father of her Divine Son! And if we, miserable creatures, often profit greatly from consorting and conversing with holy men, who are as nothing compared to the Virgin, how much may we not suppose Joseph to have profited by his association and conversation with the Queen of all Saints! “Mary,” says Gerson, “for so many years inspired and communicated graces to Joseph by her looks, by her voice, by her example, by her conversation;” and again Cartagena: “What a vast increase of spiritual joy and virtue must we not esteem Joseph to have received from the society of the Blessed Virgin, from having been worthy of hearing so often the sweet voice of the Mother of God, contemplating her heavenly countenance, and enjoying, not only her blessed presence, but even her conjugal affection and intimacy!”¹²

We should overload our pages were we to cite all that Saints and Doctors have said touching the holy companionship of Mary and Joseph. We must be content with giving an extract from that Conference of St. Francis de Sales to which frequent reference has been made.¹³ Speaking of the virginal nuptials of Joseph and Mary, he says, “Oh, how divine was the union between our Lady and the glorious St. Joseph, a union which caused the Supreme Good, the Good of all goods, our Lord Himself, to belong to Joseph—even as He belonged to our Lady—not by nature but by grace; which made him a sharer in all the possessions of his dear spouse, and made him continually increase in perfection by his continual communications with her who possessed all virtues in so exalted a degree that no other creature, however pure and spotless, can attain to them! Nevertheless, St. Joseph was the one who made the nearest approach; and, as a mirror, when set before the rays of the sun, reflects them perfectly, and another set before the first so vividly repeats them that it is scarcely possible to see which of the two immediately receives them, even so our Lady, like a most pure mirror, received the rays of the Sun of Justice, which conveyed into her soul all virtues and perfections, and St. Joseph, like a second mirror, reflected them so perfectly that he appeared to possess them in as sublime a degree as did the glorious Virgin herself.”

Amidst the abundance of goods so many and so priceless, must not Joseph have deemed himself supremely blessed, and must not the holy house of Nazareth have appeared to him an earthly Paradise? The very knowledge that he was so ardently loved by Mary, the virgin spouse of the Eternal, the delight of angels and of saints, a miracle of beauty, the sweetest charm of heaven and earth—was not this enough to transport him with unutterable joy? And to think that of so sublime a lady, visited by angels, blessed by God, he was the happy spouse, the protector, the guardian, the head, having, as Gerson says, authority, principality, dominion, and empire over her—this thought alone rendered him valiant to launch himself on any undertaking, however arduous, strong in sustaining every labor, patient under all adversities; this it was which made him insensible to all fatigues, rendered poverty itself still dearer to him than it had ever been; and, if anything grieved him, it was only that he could not provide for so great a lady all the honor due to her exalted rank and merits.