Saints after Jesus and Mary had such a Love and Devotion payd him as was du to the greatness of his Merits THO' I dare not presume to penetrate into God's hidden Councels nor pretend to a knowledge of his Divine Secrets by permitting my curiosity to make inquiry why God has not permitted the wonderful Splendor of Saint Joseph's Glory to break out and shine forth till these latter Years permitting so many Years since the Incarnation to pass without any extraordinary knowledge or acknowledgement of the wonderful Merits of the Holy Spouse of the Mother of God yet I hope it will not appear a rashness in me to assign some motives that appear very reasonable since all that I pretend to herein is only to declare my own Thoughts grounded upon such observations as are taken from the ordinary Conduct which the Divine Providence has us'd in such like accidental occasions And hereby also to promote a Devotion to Saint Joseph which was the chiefest design I had in Writing this Treatise that by enlightning the Understandings of his Clients I may prepare a way for Saint Joseph to gain a higher place in their Affections We know that his Feast has not long been kept with that solemnity as now it is And that in the Primitive Ages no mention is made of any particular Devotion to this Saint nor no such notice taken of his Canonization as is now adays in practise concerning other Saints I cannot therefore but own that this Devotion towards Saint Joseph is only of late standing since the most Ancient marks of Honour shew'd him in several places are but of a very fresh date as we may guess by the Confraternities Chappels and Altars erected in his Honour both in Italy Germany and several other places of which I find the City of Avignion to be the first that was so happy as to express any Devotion to him in this kind for in the chief Church in that City there is a fair Chappel Dedicated to Saint Joseph in which there is a Confraternity of Batchelors and a Sodality of Virgins who assemble themselves upon his Feast to hear Mass and Vespers which are sung in this Chappel with great solemnity to gain thereby the Indulgences granted by the Pope where each of these Virgins has not only a Loaf of Holy Bread presented 'em as in other Confraternities but a Posy of Flowers also which they carry along with 'em in the Procession This Devotion seems to have had it's rise or beginning from Gregory the XI in the fourteenth Age for in a certain Chappel in the Church Dedicated to Saint Agricula there is an Altar-piece of Saint Joseph accompanying and conducting the Blessed Virgin and her Infant Jesus in their flight into Aegypt which Church both shews the Liberality of this Pope as well as his Devotion to Saint Joseph whose Coat of Armes is plac'd round about the Chappel Dedicated to this Saint in great Scutchions of Stone so that 't is more than probable 't was he that began the Honours given to this Saint in this Ancient Church of Avignion where he held his Chaire or Holy Sea at that time Who moreover at the same time increas'd the revenues of the Canons of the Church of Agricola This is the first place in which I find any publick Honors and Devotions done to Saint Joseph So that 't is not much above three hundred Years since we find any Foostteps of any extraordinary Devotion to this Saint and if before this time there were any they were but very small and far remote from the Primitive Ages God by his Divine Providence thus ordering the Conduct of Devotion to great Saint Joseph But why did God so long conceale the wonderful Merits of this Saint without encouraging Christians by a knowledge of them to exhibit that Love and Devotion to him which is now every where practis'd The chief reason that occurs to me is because this Devotion wou'd have given too great an advantage and encouragement to the Ebionites who began betimes to rob CHRIST of his Divinity and maintain'd that Joseph was his Natural Father This Heresie not only Sacrilegiously denying the Divinity of JESUS CHRIST but the Virginity also of his Blessed Mother Now Men as we know being easily carried to Extreams and to an excess in honoring those they esteem and love reflecting upon the incomparable excellency of the Spouse of the Virgin Mary they might easily have believ'd and taken him for the Father of Jesus Son to the Blessed Virgin especially meeting with some who were of that opinion but now we are out of the danger of any such erroneous credulity and all that Sect of Hereticks who were Enemies of CHIST's Divinity and the Virginity of our Blessed Lady are silenc'd and shut up in an everlasting Prison there is no danger of extolling his Merits which caus'd him to possess such eminent Glory in Heaven and to deserve such a Love and Devotion upon earth as was next to that of Jesus and Mary Moreover tho' there had not been this danger of giving countenance to so great an Heresie yet this extraordinary Devotion suits better with these latter Ages in which the world draws towards an End which still decaying in Piety and Fervour stands in need of some Spiritual Cordial as I may say to warm it's Chilliness and Tepedity and to inkindle Fervour in the Hearts of the Faithful for which end nothing cou'd be more efficacious than a Love and Devotion to this great Patriarch and Favorit of God There are now one thousand six hundred ninty and eight Years past since the Law of Grace took it's beginning by the happy conduct of Saint Joseph who had the charge of the Word Incarnate committed to him And can it end more happily and with greater Glory than under his conduct also procur'd by the affectionat acknowledgements applause and devotions of all Nations to this their thrice obliging Benefactour and Parent of Christianity And by their cordial and grateful acknowledgement to the Father of our King and to the Spouse of the Queen of Heaven and Earth Hereby also God wou'd manifest to the World that in the Beginning and in the End of the Law of Love which are the two Gates of God's Church and of the Law of Grace he wou'd have Joseph the most Chast and Holy-Spouse of Mary appear glorious and noble in this his enterprise and faithful in his conduct that thereby he might deserve the Triumph of a Possession of our Hearts by our Love and Devotion to him wherefore to him may be well apply'd these words of the Proverbs †Nobilis in portis Vir Ejus Prov. 31.23 Her Husband is Noble in the Gates Or as the Caldaick Translation has it Her Husband is known in the Gates at the Entrance and going out of the Law of Grace that is he is honor'd with the publick mark of a Senator which was to be plac'd at the Gates where such Men only were wont to
him in his last Agony leaning on his Pillow taking him by the Hand and receiving his last Breath from his Lips and at his last Groan clos'd his Eyes shut his Mouth and form'd his Visage with his own most Divine Hand to give him a graceful Aspect at his last farewell Are not all these extraordinary marks of Jesus his particular Love to Saint Joseph The second we find inroul'd amongst the fervorous Lovers of Saint Joseph is Mary the Mother of Jesus she Lov'd him in quality of her Spouse never any Virgin Lady was so Faithfully Loving so Chastly Observant so Religiously engaging in her Conversation with her espous'd Husband as Mary was to her Joseph He was Most passionately lov'd and esteem'd by her as the Protector of her Consecrated Virginity and also the conserver of her Honour Whose Conversation was a security to her unblemish'd Reputation against any reproach that cou'd be made concerning her Virgin Child-Birth For had he forsaken her during the nine Months after her Conception her Purity wou'd unavoidably have been suspected Moreover she bore an affectionate service to him as to her Husband and Head and as to one of the greatest Merit amongst all Man kind next to her Son Jesus This Love of the Virgin Mary to her Spouse caus'd her to descend to the meanest and lowest Services whereby she cou'd any ways express her Love and Esteem of him it caus'd her to attend and wait upon him to prepare his Meat and to perform all other humble Offices he stood in need of she knew very well the place she possest upon Earth and that also which was design'd for her in Heaven As being the Queen Mother of God as being Queen both of Men and Angels and that in this regard Saint Joseph was her Inferior yet the Love she had for him made her lay aside these considerations and render him all sorts of honour and respect imaginable for as Saint Briget says in her Revelations * Lib. 7. Revela S. Brigit cap. 25. lib. 6. cap. 59. she call'd him her Lord never spoke to him but with a wonderful and most submissive respect and there was no tenderness of affection that a loveing Soul can express to one she highly esteems and passionately loves which she did not thousands and thousands of times testifie to Saint Joseph wherefore to convince you how she lov'd him hearken to the affectionate Character she her self gives of him to Saint Briget as 't is set down in her Revelations after the following manner My Spouse was reserv'd in Speech never uttering the least unprofitable murmuring or complaining Word never was he mov'd to Anger or shew'd the least Impatience he was contented in Poverty diligent and vigilant in Labour most obedient and condescending to all my Inclinations Very Meek and Affable even to those that most rudely treated him he couragiously defended the absent that suffer'd Detraction and was a faithful Witness and Divulger of God's wonderful Works he was resign'd to live upon Earth tho his longing and earnest desire was after Heaven expecting and confiding in God's Promises and frequently repeating God grant I may see them Accomplish'd he avoided Publick Assemblies took no content at all in Creatures but all his thoughts and desires were that he might perfectly accomplish God's Divine Will Saint Teresa of Jesus deserves the third place amongst those who after a particular manner have express'd their Love and Esteem to Saint Joseph Who merits the title of Saint Joseph's chiefest Devote and may well therefore be plac'd amongst his lovers She made choice of him for her particular Advocate frequently recommending her self to him as to one she honour'd above all other Saints she stil'd him her Father and Master and had such a confidence in him as was admirable and thereby deserv'd such a reward for it as she her self attests in the sixth chapter of her Life which was that she never ask'd any thing of him either for Body or for Soul that he denied her which caus'd her to say that God by his other Saints help'd and succour'd us in some particular cases of necessity but help'd us in all necessities by Saint Joseph as by his Plenipotentiary To let us understand that as he was subject to him in all things upon Earth as to a father who Commanded him So he was the same in Heaven granting him whatsoever he ask'd This was Saint Teresa's opinion concerning her great Patron to whom she was so particularly Devoted that she endevour'd to invite all to take him for their particular Patron and Protectour But especially those who desire to give themselves to Prayer and to become knowing in that most holy and profitable Exercise and therefore was wont to say let him who cannot find a Master to teach him the Art of Praying take this great Saint for his Master and he shall not fail to prove a great Proficient and a most skilful Scholar Infine she did what she cou'd to instill into all sorts of Persons a particular Devotion to Saint Joseph who as he was Master of her Heart so she had a desire he shou'd be so of the Hearts of all others and therefore endeavour'd to engage their Hearts with her own in an ardent Love of him and Devotion to him which desire of hers together with the experiments she had had of the good obtain'd by the Merits and Prayers of this Saint caus'd her engageingly to promise the same success to all that shou'd recommend themselves to him Attesting that she never knew any Person that had a true Devotion for him or render'd him any particular Service that obtain'd not a great progress and advancement in Vertue You see here the cause of my ranking her in the first place of those of this last Age that set up the Standard of Devotion to Saint Joseph by divulging his Merits and by a due acknowledgement of his Favours whereby in these our times in which we have more need than ever of Heavenly assistance she brought in that profitable Devotion to this great Saint The fourth Person noted for his particular Devotion to Saint Joseph is that holy Minim blessed Gaspar Bond who after Jesus and Mary had none so near his Heart as Saint Joseph All his Life long he had a most singular Devotion to him and at his Death his chief recours was to none so much as to this Holy and Amiable Patriarch and express'd his Devotion by a particular honour shew'd to his Name after the Name Jesus and Maria which made such an impression in him that he cou'd think or speak of nothing else he took a particular gust in the pronouncing of them and thought the doing so gave a good success and prosper'd all his undertakings and this was the short but pithy Incomium that he gave them * Haec tria nomina Bona sunt omnia Et mundi lumina Et coeli limina This Trinity of Names This lower World Inflames Contains the goods of Love
Faithfull and prudent servant constituted by our Lord for the Comforter of his Mother for the forster-Forster-Father of his Humanity and for his only and most faithfull assistant in his great design upon earth S. Bern. Hom. 2. Super Missus est PIOUS REMARKES UPON THE LIFE OF S. JOSEPH SPOUSE Of the B. Virgin Mary Mother of our Lord JESUS CHRIST Written Originally in French by Rd. Father Paul Barrie The Second Edition of the English Translation Printed by T. F. in the Year M.DCC. THE TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS Pious Remarks upon the Life of Saint Joseph Spouse to the Bles-Virgin Mary exciting Devotion to this Glorious Saint CHAPTER I. OF the admirable Love that God bore Saint Joseph Pag. 1. CHAP. II. Of those wonderful Qualities whereby God render'd Saint Joseph aimiable above all other Saints except JESUS and MARY Pag. 20. CHAP. III. Of the great Love and special Devotion we ow Saint Joseph and that it ought to be next to that we have for JESUS and MARY Pag. 28. CHAP. IV. What was the Reason why it was so long before Saint Joseph the best belov'd of God and most aimiable of all the Saints after JESUS and MARY had such a Love and Devotion payd him as was due to the greatness of his Merits Pag. 34. CHAP. V. Of the ten particular Clients of Saint Joseph who by their Pious Examples have invited and mov'd us to a particular Devotion to him next to Jesus and Mary Pag. 50. CHAP. VI. Of the Ordinary Devotions that may be daily Exercis'd towards Saint Joseph Pag. 78. The Alphabetical Litany of Saint Joseph Pag. 85. CHAP. VII What Devotions are to be us'd to Saint Joseph upon his Feast Pag. 96. CHAP. VIII Of Devotions to S. Joseph during the Octave of his Feast or at other times according to the opportunity or affection of his Clients Pag. 108. CHAP. IX Containing nine different occasions of particular Devotions proper to Saint Joseph and practis'd by his particular Devots P 113. CHAP. X. Of the help and Assistance that Saint Joseph gives to his Devout Clients towards their attaining Interiour Perfection and in what this Perfection do's consist Pag. 130. CHAP. XI Of the assistance Saint Joseph gives to Spiritual Maladies especially to those who are in a bad State of Soul Pag. 146. CHAP. XII The Miraculous Assistance which Saint Joseph giv's in Curing Corporal Diseases especially the Plague Pag. 155. CHAP. XIII The assistance which God giv's upon all occasions by Saint Joseph Intercession Pag. 171. CHAP. XIV To exhort all to have recours to Saint Joseph and Confide in his Powerful Protection P. 177. PIOUS REMARKS UPON The Life of Saint Joseph Spouse to the Blessed Virgin Mary exciting Devotion to this Glorious Saint CHAP. I. Of the admirable Love that God bore Saint Ioseph IT was doubtless a Divine Inspiration with which that Painter was mov'd who first put a Lilly into Saint Joseph's Hand Flowers we know have something very lovely and charming in them and 't is look'd upon as an honor and good Fortune no less to bear their Name than to bear them in our Scutcheon or Coat of Armes Wherefore the City of Florence esteems it as a very great one to bear the Name of that rich Flower that adorns her delicious Gardens The glorious Name of Rose is also justly intail'd upon the Iland of Rhod's as being so beautiful and pleasant a place that it even resembles a Rose in the Spring All the World know's that Susa the chief City in great Assuerus's Kingdom pretended to better Fortune than all the other Cities of Asia because the Name Susa signifies a Lilly whereby she gave her self a right above all other Cities of stiling her self the City of Lillies And there are none even of the Interpreters of Holy Scripture who do not take notice that the City of Nazareth fortunately bore the Name of Flowers Because it was the residence of Jesus Nazarenus that is Jesus of the City of Flowers and the Native Town of Mary and Joseph the three fairest Flowers in the Garden of the Holy Catholic Church We Read also in Ancient Annals that the very name and sight of Flowers have been look'd upon as a most happy and prosperous Omen for as Plutarch recounts in the Life of Sylla the Roman Army being drawn up in Battle array ready to charge the Enemy an agreeable gale arising brought a great quantity of Lillies Roses Violets Flower-de-Luces Daffadils and several other sorts of flowers from the Neighboring Fields and Gardens which falling upon the Shields and Head-pieces of the Roman Souldiers they believ'd it a certain presage of their good Fortune and even a kind of crowning them Conquerors before-hand At the Battle of Lepanto Roses were there sold in the publick Piazza in the Month of October as red and fresh as they are in June From whence all assur'd themselves of a signal Victory that the Christians shou'd obtain against the Turk's This Lilly therefore Saint Joseph bears betokens those extraordinary qualities and priviledges wherewith he is inrich'd and therefore the Painter who first put it into his Hand was as I sayd without doubt inspir'd from Heaven to do so since this Branch of Lillies silently hint's at whatsoever can be said of him and even manifests all those wonders that lie hid in this Great Saint As I shall hereafter endeavour to explicate Wherefore do but learn the price and excellency of the Lilly and thereby you 'll know the eminent and admirable Perfections of Saint Joseph and perceive also that wonderful and almost incredible Love which God had for him For as a Lilly is the grace and ornament of a Garden of pleasure as 't is the beautiful Master-piece that draws the Eyes and charms the Hearts of the beholders at their first entrance into it so according to Saint Austin there are no less charming Lillies in the Garden of Heaven †Floribus caeli neque rosa neque liliae desunt Aug. serm 11 de Sanctis Amongst Heavenly Flowers neither Roses nor Lillies says he are wanting That are no less charming to their beholders Now let us see how beautiful and sweet a Lilly Saint Joseph is for since the heavenly Spouse is highly pleas'd with a feast of Lillies therefore Saint Joseph had the honor to be invited to it next after the Bridegroom himself * Dilectus meus mihi ego illi qui pascitur inter lilia Cant. 2.26 My beloved is mine says the Spouse and I am his who feeds amongst Lillies Behold then Jesus Mary and Joseph three glorious Lillies indeed that assist at this Banquet of Lillies The honor and beauty both of Heaven and Earth and the most amiable of all Created Objects But before we Contemplate Saint Joseph let us take a view of the Lillies Perfections which is an Emblem of him The Lilly surpasses all other odoriferous Flowers in growth as well as beauty she raises her beautiful head upon a streight stalk many feet
higher than any other Flowers do as Saint Joseph also in the height of Justice and Perfection surmounts all other Saints Wherefore when we behold Saint Joseph leading his reputed Son Jesus in one Hand and the Blessed Virgin Mary in the other we cannot but admire to what a height of Dignity God has rais'd him and must own that none ever was rais'd to the like and that such a Dignity as this is not given in the House of God but according to the Sanctity and Graces the Person rais'd to it is partaker of and which the Ministry he is imploy'd in do's require The first and highest degree of all Honors and Dignities upon Earth was due to Jesus the Son of God Incarnate the second to the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God and the third to Saint Joseph Spouse to the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster-Foster-Father to the Son of God Wherefore according to the most devout and learned Doctor of the Church Saint Thomas our Lilly Saint Joseph is rais'd also after Jesus and Mary to the highest Dignity upon Earth * Eo fuit excellentior quo ad altiorem ordinem pertinuit S. Th. 3. par â— By so much says he he excel'd others by how much he was rais'd to a higher Dignity than others were The Lilly also is an Emblem of pure Love and springs from a Heart the source of Love which it's Root resembles and in this it resembles also our Saint Joseph Who next to Jesus and Mary exceeds all Creatures both in active and passive Love his Heart was most inflam'd by being replenish'd with the Love of God towards him which mov'd his Divine Majesty to raise him to the highest Dignity on Earth next to Jesus and Mary And Saint Joseph reverberates and casts back these Flames towards God by a faithful correspondence and fidelity in those high functions to which he had chosen him which render'd him most amiable both to Heaven and Earth as I shall hereafter prove more at large So that we see how the Lilly is a lively Emblem of our Saint and that this Lilly he holds in his Hand intimates something that is great and what is beyond our power to express The very number also of the Lillies leaves betokens those six wonderful priviledges which the extraordinary Love of God mov'd him to bestow upon our Lilly Saint Joseph Margaret Queen of Navar took for her Device a crown'd Lilly at which two rich Pendants of Jewels were hung with this Motto * Mirandum naturae opus The wonderful work of Nature Which Device may also be very well apply'd to Saint Joseph The Lilly is his Ensign and is not only the wonder of Nature but of Grace also upon which hung those two rich Jewels Jesus and Mary whom he led in each Hand bearing the Title of Father to the one and of Husband to the other he therefore justly deserves to be Crown'd since in the Love of God he bears away the Prise from all both in the Church Militant and Triumphant So that none must dare to dispute the right of Coronation with him he having those high Prerogatives bestow'd upon him from which all others except Jesus and Mary his beloved Son and Spouse are excluded The part and portion also he has of Divine Love in this Triumph is very remarkable and gives him a place in that title which his great Progenitor David gave to the 44. Psalm * Triumphus per lilia Psal 44. The Triumph by Lillies Making him partner in this Triumph with the two other Lillies Jesus and Mary these being all and always of a Company Wherefore since this Triumph partly belongs to him I may conclude him a Conqueror with the other two and that this his Triumph is as much above that of all other Saints as he exceeds them in those wonderful Graces and Prerogatives which the Love of God bestow'd upon him This will easily be perceiv'd by displaying the six Leaves of our Lilly and discovering thereby the six extraordinary Prerogatives the Love of God has bestow'd upon him above all other Saints excepting upon Jesus and Mary The Head or Blossom of this Flower contains as I sayd six white resplendent Leaves which represent the six particular and extraordinary Prerogatives that shine in Saint Joseph beyond all other Saints Wherefore 't will be sufficient only to open and display these six Leaves to let you see the wonderful novelties they contain and thereby both raise your Imagination of Saint Joseph's Perfections and charm your Affection to such a height with Love and Devotion to him as he truly deserves Novelties as we find by experience contain a certain lustre within themselves that causes admiration and therefore they need not borrow words or discourses to set themselves out A Beauty inrich'd by Nature as you know needs neither Paint nor Patch a Diamond of great price wants no foile to set it off A Cabinet also fill'd with rich and sparkling jewels declares it's own value and therefore needs no other commendation than to set it open containing within it self it 's own light lustre and beauty The Leaves I am about to display of this glorious Lilly are of the same stamp or nature so that by giving you only a sight of them as of so many unheard of Prerogatives they cannot but raise your admiration of his Perfections and even charm and move you to a Devotion to him The first Leaf or Prerogative I lay open cannot but cause a strange admiration for is it not wonderful that a Son should choose his own Father 'T is a wonder never before heard of in the World since it 's first beginning Read the Roman Annals turn over all the Histories of the Universe you 'll find nothing like to this and were this a practice that cou'd be brought into the World what a change wou'd it make in it Poor Deform'd Imperfect and Vicious Men wou'd never be chosen for Fathers None but such as were Rich Prudent Vertuous and every way Accomplish'd wou'd be made choice of from whence we may conclude that a Person who is chosen by one that is very Prudent must needs be very Good Beautiful and most Accomplish'd in all kind of Perfections Now to apply this to our Lilly to our Glorious Saint Joseph You know that the Son of God by right of his Divine Existence had a Being before his Human Birth and therefore had the advantage of Time in which he might choose his Father and supposing his design to choose one amongst Men 't is certain his infinite Wisdom wou'd make choice of one most Perfect and Eminent in Sanctity and of one that were most fit and most capable for so high a Dignity For if a Worm like my self wou'd make choice of the bravest of Men for it's Father had it an occasion offer'd to do so can we imagine that the Son of God the Eternal Wisdom who judges of things as they are knows the value and depth of Hearts
and sees the worth of all Creatures wou'd not choose the most Perfect of all Men for his Father To think otherwise wou'd be to rank his Wisdom beneath our own Wherefore since he has chosen Saint Joseph before all others since his Knowledge and Love mov'd him to this Election must not this choice he made of him be an evident proof that he was eminent in all Perfections Especially since the Divine Wisdom it self chose him for his Father Let us now pass on and take a view of the second Leaf or second Prerogative of our glorious Lilly He was not only chosen by the Divine Wisdom to be his Father but even to be Father to him who was the Son of God So that by this Election which the Eternal Wisdom made Joseph had God for his Son Who cou'd have thought it possible that a Man cou'd be Father to the Son of God Or cou'd ever have imagin'd that Man might with truth say to the Son of God you are my Son Or that Man shou'd arrive to so high a pitch of Dignity as to bear the relation of Paternity to the Word Incarnate Which in some measure resembl'd the Paternity of the Eternal Father to his Eternal and Uncreated Son O wonderful Dignity Joseph Father of Jesus Father of the Son of God Incarnate Having the honor to be Father to him upon Earth to whom God is Father in Heaven But to evidence and make this Truth more clear We must know that Jesus was not his Son by Nature but by the Lawful Right that accru'd to Saint Joseph by Jesus his being Son to his Spouse the Blessed Virgin Mary For by his being her Son he was Produc'd in and Born of that Flesh which by right of Marriage was Saint Joseph's and was under his power and jurisdiction So that according to the common axiom of the Civil Law that says †Quid in alieno solo nascitur vel aedificatur sub illius dominium cadit cujus est solum Institut de rer divis Whatsoever grow's in or is built upon anothers Soil belongs to the owner thereof This title was strong enough to give him the right and title of a Father and caus'd our Blessed Lady to stile him his Father even to her Son himself when she sayd †Pater tuus Ego dolentes quaerebamus te Luc. 2.48 Behold with how much Grief your Father and I have sought after you he also by his Answer seem'd to own him for his Father upon Earth when he sayd * Nesciebatis quia in his quae patris mei sunt oportet me esse Ibid v. 49. Knew yee not that 't was chiefly my duty to take care of my Fathers business Meaning his Heavenly Father as if he wou'd have sayd you have reason for what you say but you know that my first and chief obligation is to comply with the Will of my Heavenly Father But this is not all Saint Joseph was not only the Father of Jesus because he was call'd so or because he had that relation to the Blessed Virgin I before spoke of but because he wanted nothing that is found in a true Paternity or Fatherly Right He had all that care affection and authority that any Father ever had or ever will have in relation to a Son For as Saint John Damascen says †Omne jus quo constituitur Paternitas sortitus est Joseph solo jurâ— generation is excepto S. â—o Damas Orat. de na B. V. Saint Joseph had all that cou'd intitle him to the right of Paternity except that of Generation * Et hoc supple vit Deus Pater infundendo viro Mariae paternum pro filio Jesu amorem Rupertus in 1. Matth. Which according to Rupertus the Abbot God the Father supply'd by infusing into the Husband of Mary a Paternal Love of her Son Jesus By which infusion Saint Joseph participated of all Graces that can either be nam'd or imagin'd for if God had a design to Love a Man after the best manner imaginable or to give him the highest place of Glory in Heaven what more cou'd he do for him than to constitute him to bear the Office of a Father over his own and only Son than which nothing can be more excellent nothing more rare or more admirable for by giving him this Office he gives him all the qualities necessary for it and gives him power to call even the Son of God his Son causing the effect to correspond to the Name The third Miraculous Leaf or Prerogative of this Lilly is that being Man he shou'd become Husband to the Mother of God O wonder of wonders When we wou'd comprehend in few words all the wonderful Perfections and Prerogatives of the Blessed Virgin Mary we make use of Saint Mathews words †Maria de qua natus est Jesus Matth. 1.16 Mary of whom Jesus was born For as by styling her Mother of Jesus we comprehend all that can be sayd of her so Saint Joseph by being styl'd Husband to the Mother of God comprehends under this title all other Dignities and Perfections whatsoever So that a greater than this cannot be given him as Saint John Damascen well observes when he says * Dicis illum virum Mariae hoc est prorsus ineffabile nihil praeterea dici potest Cant. 3. in Nat. B. V. You call him the Husband of Mary this is such a title as cannot be explicated and more than this cannot be sayd of him Mary Spouse to Joseph do's in plenitude of Grace surpass both Men and Angels and has not her Husband think you the like endowments Since God judg'd him a fit match for her and for this end gave him so great an abundance of Grace Vertue and Sanctity that neither Men nor Angels ever had the like hereby to fit him to be Spouse and Guide to the Virgin-Mother God judging it fit that in her right he shou'd partake of all her Honors Favors and Dignities If therefore she be a Princess he is a Prince and he also is King where-ever she is Queen For God who design'd to raise Mary to the quality and honor of the Mother of God At the same time design'd her a Husband like to her self whom he lov'd above all Men upon Earth and therefore endow'd him with all Graces suitable to such a Dignity O thrice happy Joseph Thus chosen by God and thus fitted and advanc'd to be the Husband of the Mother of God as his best beloved next to Jesus and Mary The fourth Miraculous Leaf or Prerogative of this Lilly is that he is at once both a Father and a Virgin Which is so singular a Prerogative that 't is allow'd to none but him There have been many Virgin-husbands but of Virgin fathers there has never been any one but S. Joseph who is Spouse also of a Virgin-mother Which singular Prerogative was reserv'd by God only for his best beloved JOSEPH and MARY God lodging his special
Favors where-ever he places his particular Affection The fifth Miraculous Leaf or Prerogative of this Lilly is that S. Joseph being a Creature shou'd take care of his Creator For he was †Pater familias Father of the Family foster-Foster-father Tutor and Guardian of the Word Incarnate So that the Angels who beheld the Son of God in the Bosom of his Eternal Father in Heaven seeing him also in the Arms of Saint Joseph upon Earth might very well cry out with admiration and astonishmentâ— behold the Governor of the Universe govern'd by a Man Behold him who carefully nourishes all Creatures nourish'd by his Creature Behold him whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain shelter'd under the Roof and Protection of a poor Inhabitant of Nazareth And these Angels might also very well have address'd to Saint Joseph the same admirations that Methodius did to the Mother of God in these following words †O Nutriti cuncta nutrientis Ave Joseph cujus gratia Deus factus est indigens Euge qui debitorem illum habes qui omnia omnibus mutuat omnis enim ereatura omnia Deo debet Deuâ— autâ—m tibi debitor existiâ— O Nursing-Father to him who feeds all Creatures O Rich Joseph to whom God himself becomes a Beggar Thrice happy art thou who hast him for thy Debtor who lends to every one whatsoever he possesses for all Creatures are indebted to God for their Being and for every thing they Enjoy But to oblige thee God will become oblig'd to thee and make himself thy Debtor Wherefore let us joyn our Admirations and Congratulations with those of the Angels saying O thrice happy Joseph favorit of the Court of Heaven O best Beloved of God! since he has plac'd so great a confidence in thee as to commit his only Son to thy Care and Conduct The sixth and last Miraculous Leaf or Prerogative of this Lilly is that he is one of the Persons of the Created Trinity which is next in dignity to the uncreated and wonderfully also resembles all the three Persons of the uncreated Trinity as the Lilly also do's which he bears in his Hand For in a white resplendent Cup or Throne it includes three Golden Septers all three equal in Odour Beauty and Shape issuing from the middle or heart of the Flower which resemblance gives no little honor to the Lilly since it mak's it a similitude whereby to declare the Majesty of this Divine Mystery Nor is it any less honor to our Lilly Saint Joseph to resemble the three Divine Persons Father Son and Holy Ghost which he do's after such a manner as might raise a jealosie even in the Angels to see that God has bestow'd upon Man such a resemblance of that Mystery which in it self is the most wonderful of all Mysteries did they not Adore with all possible Submission and Resignation his Divine Will and Pleasure in all things For as the Eternal Father is the Father of the Uncreated word so Saint Joseph is the reputed Father of the word Created And as God the Son is the Redeemer of Mankind so Saint Joseph is his Coadjutor in this great work since he imploy's all his cares all the labours of his Hands and all the sweat of his Brows to gain wherewithal to nourish and maintain our most Merciful Redeemer Lastly as the Holy Ghost is the Spouse of Mary the Mother of God so Saint Joseph is also her Spouse What therefore can be a greater Subject of jealosie to the Angels than this But they know him to be a favorit of God and therefore rejoyce as much in the honor God bestow's upon him as in their own and honor him as a Prince of their Grand-masters Court and as one he will have thus honor'd After having thus display'd these Miraculous Leaves and declar'd the wonderful Prerogatives of our Lilly I cannot refrain from blessing and praising the Divine Providence for inspiring the Painter to put a Lilly into Saint Josephs Hand by the help of which the same Providence has been pleas'd to inspire me to explicate his Merits and wonderful Prerogatives And if heretofore an ingenious Artist did so cut and dispose the Leaves of several Flowers that they made a very Beautiful Picture of Flora why may not I quicken'd by Saint Bernard's Fancy when he says †Quot virtutes tot Lilia Ser. 70. in Cant. So many Lillies so many Vertues endeavour to make a lively Picture of Saint Josephs Vertues out of the different sorts of Lillies and different signification of their Colours By the white Lilly is represented his Chastity by the yellow his Charity by the carnation his Mortification and by the green one his Hope So many Lillies so many Vertues Let therefore this declaration of his Vertues joyn'd with the rest of those wonderful Prerogatives I have before declar'd convince us of his extraordinary Perfection and give us an assurance that there is neither in Heaven nor Earth any Creature above Saint Ioseph or that is more favor'd by God except Iesus and Mary CHAP. II. Of those wonderful Qualities whereby God render'd Saint Joseph amiable above all other Saints except Jesus and Mary ARIVS Montanus a famous Antiquary and no less admir'd for his knowledge in the Hebrew Tongue kept in his Cabinet amongst his other Rarities a Medal that he extreamly valu'd both for it's Antiquity and Prophetical signification Which was a piece of Mony call'd by the Jews a Shekle on the one side of which was represented such a Vessel as the Crisme or Consecrated Oyl was kept in in the Temple with this inscription under it †Genealogia The Genealogy and on the reverse of the Medal was a double rank of Pearls one and forty in number in the center of which were these words †Tempus Unctionis The time of Anointing By the number of the Pearls were signifi'd the Pâ—ogenitors of Christ who were fitly represented by such precious jewels who were in all one and forty himself the * Christus Anointed being included I willingly make use of this erudition to begin my description of the amiable qualities of Saint Ioseph who was one of these Pearls to which he is fitly compar'd since you know how much this Jewel is esteemd for it's resplendent Beauty and Heavenly colour and therefore one of his Devot's cou'd not find out a title that more fitly express'd his Beauty than to call him †Margarita amabilis S. Teresa Lovely Pearl as the Church stiles his Spouse * Mater amabilis Let. Laur. Lovely Mother both being Parents of the Amiable and Lovely Iesus whom his Royal Progenitor stiles in his Psalm of Triumph †Speciosus forma prae Filijs Hominum Psal 44.31 The most Beautiful of the Sons of Men. We know amongst other Perfections Beauty of Body is very highly esteem'd which when it meets with good Natural Parts and a Vertuous disposition of Mind nothing can be more desir'd I shall therefore
shew how great this Love and Devotion ought to be That is to say it ought to be next to our Love and Devotion to Jesus and Mary CHAP. III. Of the great Love and special Devotion we ow Saint Joseph and that it ought to be next to that we have for Jesus and Mary CERTAINLY none can refuse to pay this debt of Love to our Amiable Saint Joseph to this object of the Love of Jesus and Mary and to one so highly belov'd by God himself For can the Eternal Wisdom Error be Deceiv'd Can Mary engage her Affections without Reason Or can we charge God with partiality because he Loves Saint Joseph next to Jesus and Mary Certainly such thoughts as these can never enter into a Pious Heart Wherefore we must conclude that since he was so amiable they cou'd not elsewhere lodge their Affections better or give a present of their Love to any one more deserving than Saint Joseph Let us therefore see how they Lov'd him and endeavour to Love him as they did Believing that God has renderd him lovely above others to move us to Love him above others and move us to follow the track's of his own Divine Affection towards Saint Joseph 'T is hereby we shall know that we are proficients in this Divine School of Love when we come to Love Saint Joseph above all other Saints next to Jesus and Mary in which consists that special Devotion we ought to have to him I say not this to lessen your Love and Devotion to any other Saint but to augment your Love and Devotion to this Saint who in regard of his Merits hold's the first rank in Heaven and Earth not only upon account of that Love that Jesus and Mary bore him but of the Love that God has manifested towards him by those high perogatives he has bestow'd upon him Not but that God has also very highly favour'd many other Saints of his Heavenly Court such as Saint John Baptist whom the Divine Word declar'd the †Inter natos Mulierum non surrexit major Joanne Baptista Matth. 11.11 Greatest amongst the Sons of women and such as the Apostles also were who are Pillars of his Church and like Stars of the first magnitude in the glorious Firmament of Heaven as well as several other Saints like unto these but we must remember what the Learn'd and Devout Gerson says that if the first Ranck and Hierarchy in Heaven is that of the Father Son and Holy Ghost so the second is this of Jesus Mary and Joseph and that all other Saints are of a lower Rank and of a different Hierarchy These other great Saints hold indeed the first place in their Rank and Hierarchy according to the ordinary Law of Love but not in that of the Order of the Hypostatical Union and in the Mistery of the Incarnation wherein those are only compris'd who most nearly relate to Jesus and Mary namely Saint Joseph who compleats this Created Trinity as I before signifi'd and therefore makes a Hierarchy apart of far greater Excellency and Dignity than the rest But still to set forth more at large Saint Joseph's Dignity I will here declare the Source and Order of this Hierarchy which comprehends none but Jesus Mary and Joseph We must therefore take notice that God who is admirable in his Works was not content only to make Man after his own Image and Likeness but wou'd also make a Created Image and Likeness of the Increated Trinity in these three wonderful personages Jesus Mary and Joseph whom he chose for the Mistery of the Incarnation So that as the three Persons of the Increated Trinity have all Cooperated to the Sacred Mystery of the Incarnation so they wou'd also make an Illustrious and Created Emblem of themselves to Cooperate likewise towards the same Mistery For Example first in the subsistance of the two Natures of JESUS CHRIST his Soul Body and Divinity are United in the Person of the Son of God So by the Union of the admirable Love and singular Report that these three Persons Jesus Mary and Joseph have to one another they Contributed to it upon Earth Mary bears the Image of God the Father Jesus is the Son according to his Humanity in a just likeness to what he is in Heaven as he is the Word or Son of God And Saint Joseph Represents the Holy Ghost in the quality of Spouse to the Blessed Virgin or in the Love he had for Jesus and Mary which he manifested by the care he took both of the one and of the other What Affections therefore are due to this Admirable and Venerable Created Trinity as the Learn'd Gerson stiles it either in general or in particular And if the greatest Honour be confer'd upon them by this Title why ought not the greatest Love to accompany it If Love attends Merit what can be next the Uncreated Trinity but the Created And next to the Father Son and Holy Ghost but Jesus Mary and Joseph who ought to take the next place in our Affections And as it wou'd be amiss for any one first to Love God the Father secondly to Love God the Son and then breaking the Order of the Trinity to Love one of the Angels placeing the Holy Ghost in the same Rank with these Holy Spirits so infinitely inferiour to him in all things if therefore this wou'd be very Preposterous since by denying his first Affection to the Holy Ghost he wou'd refuse him the first of all possible Devotions which he deservedly challenges as his Right it being an undoubted Truth that we cannot render a greater Honour than by Love and by offering our Heart in Homage Wherefore as none can divide their Love and Devotion to the three Persons in the Uncreated Trinity to give it elsewhere no more can they do so in order to the Created Trinity But must Love Jesus Mary and Joseph after the Uncreated Trinity before any other object tho' never so Perfect and therefore to Love Jesus and Mary and in the next place to Love any Saint or Angel wou'd be to break the order of Love and become injurious to this Created Trinity robbing it of that Honour God has given it and 't wou'd be to displace Saint Joseph who ought to have the third Rank in the sanctuary of our Affections which wou'd clearly appear no less a Defect of Judgment than of Devotion Wherefore our greatest Devotion after that to Jesus and Mary ought to be to Saint Joseph without any fear or apprehension that any Saint or Angel will thereby be disoblig'd they all giving him the precedency knowing very well what Honour and Devotion is due to the Spouse of Mary the Mother of God and to the reputed Father of Jesus the Son of God and to the third Person of the admirable Created Trinity of Jesus Mary and Joseph CHAP. IV. What was the reason why it was so long before Saint Joseph the best belov'd of God and most amiable of all the
him as his Father and never Son lov'd a Father as Jesus did Joseph nay joyn all the tender Affections that all the Children that have ever yet been have ever had for their Fathers yet the Affection of Jesus to Joseph transcended 'em all he had in proportion the same tenderness of Affection for Saint Joseph which he had for his Virgin Mother and prefer'd none upon Earth before Saint Joseph excepting her self perfectly fulfilling the Commandment of honoring his Father and Mother with greater exactness and tenderness of Affection than ever any Child in the World did and lov'd him also as it became such a Child to love such a Father so Amiable so Tender so Careful of him so Singularly Obliging to him as he was upon so many accounts Jesus lov'd him also as a Saviour for saving him from the Cruel Hands of Herod by flying with him into Aegypt Whereby he became even the Saviour of his Saviour Moreover he lov'd him as his Nursing Father as Foster'd by his Sweat and Labours he lov'd him moreover under the title of his Angel Guardian Other Persons have invisible Angel Guardians given 'em by God Jesus alone had no Angel Guardian given him his Divinity being so strictly united to his Humanity was to him a sufficient guard wherefore God gave him Saint Joseph as a visible Guardian which honour he confer'd upon Saint Joseph for the space of thirty Years he bearing all that while the title and office of Conductour Tutor and Governour of the word Incarnate Moreover the very Name and Right of a God-father appointed by God himself was another motive of Jesus's extraordinary affection towards Saint Joseph Infine such was his Love that as the Eastern Church recounts out of some Revelations he lov'd him as the Apple of his Eye The Saviour of the World as Isidorus recounts out of very Grave Authors entertaining his Disciples upon the Life of Saint Joseph spoke thus of him †Morals in Mat. Isid Dominic I Confer'd and Convers'd with Saint Joseph as if I had been his Son he be call'd me Son and I call'd him Father he Commanded me and I Obey'd him and lov'd him as my Father and even as the Apple of my Eye If you still desire to see the effects of this his extraordinary Love know that generally he favour'd him with all the particular Marks of his Love whereby he has ever favour'd any Saint 'T was esteem'd a signal favour to Saint * Ex P. Johan de S.M. in His O.S. Dō Mary Magdalen of the Vrsins to have a sight of the Infant Jesus as he lay upon Straw in the Manger at Bethlem Blessed Teresa de Cerda as a reward of her Zeal in watching the Corporals upon which his Body was wont to lye upon the Altar whilst they were drying least any Flies might light upon or stain 'em saw our Saviour himself lying upon them and wrapping them about his Sacred Body The honour Saint Mary Magdalen receiv'd in Kissing our Saviours Feet in the Huose of Simon was also very great but all these were nothing in comparison of what Saint Joseph receiv'd He not only once but all the time of Jesus his Infancy saw him in the Crib how often did he behold him in his Swadling-clouts and how many thousand times did he kiss hi◠Sacred Feet 'T was a signal Favour Saint John receiv'd by laying his Head upon his Masters Sacred Breast and what knowledge of Secrets and Misteries did he draw from thence But how many times has Jesus rested his Sacred Head upon Saint Joseph's Breast Whilst he carried him in his Sacred Armes tenderly Embracing and Cherishing him both at home and abroad in his journeys to Aegypt and elsewhere and how many Secrets did he then Communicate to him 'T was esteem'd a particular Favour to Blessed Vrsula of Valence when our Saviour appear'd to her cloath'd in Episcopal Robes and giving her his Blessing And at another time when be Enter'd by Night into her Chamber whilst she was at her prayers more Bright and Glorious than the Sun transporting and filling her Heart with Divine Comforts Great was the happiness our Saviour afforded his Apostles by three Years continual Conversation with them seeing his admirable Example and hearing his Divine Wisdom But Saint Joseph surpass'd all these Conversing with him not only three but thirty Years together seeing and hearing this Divine Word Beholding him not in an Episcopal but Mitaculous Habit that grew as his Body did and this not as he was passing from one place to another but constantly in his own House not receiving one but innumerable Benedictions from his Divine Hand We Read also of an extraordinary favour that our Saviour did Blessed Jane of France when he sat down at table with her at no other Banquet than that of three Hearts serv'd up upon a Plate of Gold Which were his own his Mothers and Hers. The Apostles also enjoy'd the honour of Eating with him at Lazarus's Simion's Zachaeus's Saint Mathew's and several other Tables But was it not a far greater favour that Saint Joseph enjoy'd of being his and his Mothers constant Guest sitting at Table with them having his Soul fed and set on fire with the Inflam'd Words that proceeded from the Heart and Mouth of the Son of God and from that large Heart of his Blessed Mother where she had laid and hoarded up all those Mysteries she had both heard and seen We admire the Visions he bestow'd upon his Apostles and other Saints at his Transfiguration upon Mount Thabor and by several Apparitions after his Resurrection or Assension into Heaven as to Saint Paul Saint Catharine of Sienna Saint Teresa Saint Francis and Saint Dominick Blessed Stanis-laus Kosta Saint Ignatius and to many other Saints replenish'd with such a resplendent Beauty accompanied with such a Melodious attendance of Angels as all the Annals of Saints do recount And was not Saint Joseph also surrounded by all the Quires of Angels singing Gloria in Eccelsis Deo Saint Briget in her Revelations relates that Saint Joseph saw our Saviour inviron'd by a Divine Light which according to his Mothers Testimony far exceeded the Lustre and Brightness of the Sun saying to Saint Briget * Lib. 9. Revel 58. Saint Joseph often beheld an admirable Glory in the midest of which my Son appear'd in great Splendour and at the same time Heavenly Musick delighted our Hearts the Angels declaring and singing the Glories of my Son Lastly we with reason look upon it as the highest Point of the Love of JESUS CHRIST when he visibly appears to his Favorits at the hower of their Death Visiting Comforting and Assisting them in that last passage out of the Miseries of this World into everlasting Happiness in the next For in this Saint Joseph had a most particular mark of his favour above all others whose Heart was fill'd with most delicious Dying Thoughts for as the Eastern Church I before cited assures us our Saviour assisted
us that such as in these occasions recommend themselves to this great Patriarch presently either recover what is lost or by his efficacious Assistance even gain by their loss bearing the same with perfect Patience and Resignation For a proof of what he asserts he brings for an Example the Comfort which one of his acquaintance receiv'd who lost something of great Value and recover'd it by this means 'T is perhaps upon this account that Scrupulous and Anxious Persons have recourse to him since they have lost so great a Jewel as is the Repose of Conscience and Peace of Mind this being the dearest most precious and considerable Treasure we have in this World for we may assure our selves and certainly believe that he who felt the loss of JESUS and the grief it cost him will not fail to comfort those who implore his assistance in the like exigency The Second is to take occasion for Saint Joseph's sake to make it your endeavour to Love all his Clients and Devotes whether they be already gon before us to Heaven or are still with us upon Earth and especially those who have born the happy Name of Joseph but above all to shew a particular Love and Devotion to Saint Teresa his particular and as I may say his chief Devote and not only to those that are in Heaven but also to those as you know particularly to be Devoted to him upon Earth For your Love to them upon this account will become no less pleasing to Saint Joseph than if they bore his Name and the bearing a tenderness and love to those that do so is very pleasing also to Saint Joseph Wherefore to help you to practise this Devotion I will here give you a ' List of some Eminent Persons that have born his Name and upon this account receiv'd from God some of those particular Favours he bestow'd upon him And shall begin with the Patriarch Joseph who tho' he liv'd so many Ages before our great Saint Joseph yet was a Type of him and probably upon that account might receive his Name and those other extraordinary Favours God bestow'd upon him The first therefore in this List of those that bore the Name of Joseph Is the Patriarch Joseph of the Old Law to whom the Holy Ghost gives a evry great Elogium or Commendation in the 49. Chapter of Ecclesiasticus Calling him Ruler and Prince of his Brethren the Stay and Support of his Nation and People Who deserves also the first place he being not only the first to whom this Name was given but who was also a Type of our Saint Joseph upon account of his Chastity The Character also that the Holy Ghost gives the Patriarch agrees with our Joseph in a far more eminent degree than it did to the Patriarch he being a Prince and Ruler not only over his Brethren but Governour to the Mother and Son of God being their support in all their Necessities and Saving him who was to Save not only one but all Nations throu'out the whole World The second is Joseph of Arimathea that Noble Centurion prais'd by the Holy Ghost for his Love to CHRIST in a time of extream danger For when those who were Friends of CHRIST fled from him as being look'd upon as Enemies to the State he couragiously ask'd his Body and took care of Embalming it and laying it in a new Monument he had prepar'd for himself by the Love and care he took of it after his Death hereby Imitating our Saint Joseph's Love to the Living Body of JESUS He also resembles him in recovering things lost As may appear by the following Example †Ex P. Joan. a S. Maria in Hist S S. Ordinis Saint Mary Vasquez of Mela of the Order of Saint Dominick and of the Monastery of Zamata in Spain had a singular Devotion to this Saint Joseph of Arimathea upon account of the tender Devotion he shew'd to the Precious Body of JESUS begging it taking it from the Cross Embalming it and laying it in his own Monument and when her Monastery had lost a Paper of great importance she had recourse to him for it Soon after there came a Person well mounted to the Monastery Gate where lighting from his Horse he ask'd for Sister Mary Vasquez and as soon as she came Deliver'd her the Paper and return'd without any Conversation at all with her The third is Saint Joseph Son to the Samaritan Woman who gave Water to our Saviour at the Well whilst he rested himself in the Journy he made with his Disciples Who accompany'd with his Brother Victor obtain'd the Glorious Crown of Martyrdom their Mother also shar'd in the Victory as a Reward for her Charity to JESUS Whose Feast is kept upon the twentith of March according to Baronius's Martyrologe who now drink of that Water their Mother beg'd that takes away all Thirst for an Eternity The fourth is Joseph the Just one of the seventy two Disciples of our Saviour to whom the Holy Ghost gave the same title of Just as to our great Saint Joseph so esteem'd by the Apostles for his Sanctity that they Nam'd him with Saint Mathias to be substituted in Judas Escariot's place The fifth is Joseph the Poet by Excellency call'd the Sacred Poet Whose delight was to Compose Verses in Honour of the Saints whom they recompenc'd by Appearing to him and assisting him at his Death and accompanying him to Everlasting Life his Feast is kept upon the third of April according to the †Euseb Hist. lib. 3. cap. 32. Greek Martyrologe but according to Baronius the fifteenth of February The sixth is Joseph of Steâ—ald call'd Herman in the World of the Order of Saint Norbert so singularly devoted to the Mother of God that she took him for her Spouse and gave him the Name of Joseph to the end that in all things he shou'd resemble her first Spouse The manner how it fell out is as follows * Surius Apr. 11. The Religious amongst whom he Liv'd began first to call him Joseph upon account of Virginal Bashfulness which caus'd him to Blush upon the least occasion even when the Religious call'd him Joseph which made him complain to the Abbot tho' without redress for their calling him so and the Night after in time of his Prayer in the Quire he saw a most Beautiful Lady coming towards him full of Majesty and Glory with two Angels attending her the one ask'd the other to whom this Beautiful Lady shou'd be espous'd To whom reply's the other but to him you see here before you Poor Herman was surpris'd at this discourse and so confounded that he wish'd himself hid in some by Corner where none might see him But one of the Angels takes him by the Hand and leads him to the Altar and there takes his Virginal Hand and joyns it with the Hand of the Sacred Virgin saying By the order of God my Master I give you the Virgin of Virgins for your Spouse
call'd The Mission of Saint Joseph and in the Year 1626. two hundred Families were Baptis'd and their Example mov'd six Neighbouring Townships to unite themselves to the True Faith that they might also become partakers of those Spiritual and Temporal Blessings which Saint Joseph Visibly obtain'd for these happy Converts Saint Joseph also favours Marryage and unites the Hearts of Married Persons procuring them a True and Constant Conjugal Assection â—s appears in the Example of a very Rich Marchant of Lyons who had great Inclinations to Marry with a Young Woman of quality but she rejected all Propositions in that kind whereupon he addresses himself to Saint Joseph Vow 's the giveing an Alms of a hundred Crowns in his Honour if he wou'd move her to hearken to his proposal of Marriage The Vow was no sooner made but he gains her Consent and the Marriage is made up and they liv'd a most happy Couple in a Constant Peace and Union of Affections which is one of the greatest Blessings in this Sacrament He assists Chast Persons also and preserves them from all attempts that the Enemy makes to Destroy in them the admirable Vertue of Chastity as appears in an Example of a Pious Virgin who being attack'd in this Point her Confessour advises her to have recourse to Saint Joseph and causes her to wear about her a Paper that had touch'd the Miraculous Oyntment at Loudun whereby she presently found Help and Comfort As another also did who recommended her self to the same Saint promising to wear his Image for nine Days together I had this Relation from the Person her self who receiv'd this benifit by Saint Joseph's Intercession Saint Joseph also hears and helps Persons with Child as appears by a Votive Picture in the Church of Saint Joseph at Lyons on the side of his Altar her Child being Dead for some Days within her she cou'd not be deliver'd thereof Yet she no sooner beg'd his Assistance but she was Deliver'd of it half putrifi'd with safety also of her Life which all dispair'd of The like favour happen'd to a Woman at Trevoux who by a very hard Labour for three Days together was brought to the last extreamity and danger of Death in these streights she thought of Recommending her self to Saint Joseph and Purpos'd to Confess and Communicate in his Honour and to swallow a Paper that had touch'd the Miraculous Oyntment of Loudun which she had no sooner done but she was happily Deliver'd He favours also Married Prisons giving them Children one of the cheif Blessings of Marriage as a Votive Picture in Saint Joseph's Church testifies of one who wanted this Blessing who had no sooner beg'd his Intercession but within a Year she obtain'd it But to save the setting down many other Examples of Saint Joseph's powerful Assistance the Testimony of Saint Teresa and of many others of his Clyents whom I have heard avouch the same Truth is that he refuses nothing that is ask'd him but provides a remedy in all necessities which is a sufficient motive to make us all have Recourse to him with all confident assurance of our obtaining our Petitions CHAP. XIV To exhort all to have Recours to Saint Joseph and Confide in his Powerful Protection WE ought Piously to beleive that the Mother of God has a knowledge from her Son of what is good for our Salvation wherefore if we do but Consult her and desire her to advise us what is best for us to do to secure our Saltation we cannot doubt but she will tell us Be Devout to Saint Joseph love my Dear Spouse Saint Joseph To prove this Assertion I will relate what Father Balthasar Alvares a great Clyent of hers and Confessour to the great Devote Saint Teresa affirm's Who being one Day Sick at Valedolid of a Violent burning Fevaer one of the Religious that help'd him shew'd him an Image of our Blessed Lady and Saint Joseph and put him in mind of Recommending himself to the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin You have Reason says he for the Mother of God has expressly Commanded me to do so And as afterwards he own'd 't was in the Holy Chappel of Laurette where she gave him this Command She gave the same advice also to Saint Teresa who was Father Balthazar 's Penitent which caus'd her to have so great a Devotion to Saint Joseph and such a Confidence in him that she stil'd him her Father and those that follow our Blessed Ladies advice in this particular may expect such a particular mark of her kindness and encouragement upon this account as she shew'd S. Teresa It happend that at Avila upon the Feast of the Assumption whilst Saint Teresa was carrying on the Foundation of that Monastery under the Name of Saint Joseph that one Day whilst she was at her Prayer she saw our Blessed Lady upon one side and Saint Joseph on the other shewing her extraordinary expressions of kindness and amongst others that which gave her an incredible Consolation was a familiar treatment our Blessed Lady us'd towards her takeing her by the Hand and giving her thank 's for her Affection to her doar Spouse and for her particular Devotion towards him After these thanks she ptomis'd her all sorts of Assistance in her Pious design and in confirmation of her Affection she made her a Present of a Collar or Chain of Gold with a Cross hung at it set with Precious Stons so resplendent as she never beheld the like This made Saint Teresa use her utmost endeavours to induce and perswade all to a Devotion to her Glotious Patron And without doubt were we so happy as to Converse with the Saints now in Heaven they wou'd joyn with her in perswading us to so Pious and Profitable a Work by their own Example For we Read in Saint Gertrud's Life that upon the Vigil of the Annunciation of our Blessed Lady she perceiv'd all the Saints in Heaven bow their Heads in honour of Saint Joseph whilst his Name was Recited in the Quire they looking upon one another with signs of Joy and Congratulation to see Saint Joseph Honour'd upon Earth as they Honour him in Heaven Since therefore the Queen of Saints and Angels and all the Saints and Angels themselves take such a Satisfaction in seeing Saint Joseph Honour'd can we think it proceeds from any other reason than because they see this Honour done Saint Joseph highly pleasing to God and most profitable to Man Wherefore let us upon this account renew our Pious Resolutions of rendring him all Honour and of Honouring him abore all next to Jesus and Mary Let us resolve to honour him all the Days of our Lives especially upon his Feast Days since ther 's none more Belov'd nor none more Worthy of our Love than he next to Jesus and Mary Who obliges his Lovers by all sorts of Favours Wins their Devotions by Miracles especially in matters of Life and Death both in Body and Soul as well for this Life as the
Contaning the seventh Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph O Merciful Joseph who is able to conceive the sensible Sorrow and extream grief you felt when you had lost the Child Jesus Methinks I hear you say O unfortunate Man that I am what is become of my Beloved Where is the Soul of my Heart And where shall I seek him I will never Sleep or give my self any Repose till I find him but presently without any loss of time run over all parts of the Earth to find him whom Heaven has pleas'd to commit to my Charge and Custody and without whom I cannot live but in extream Grief and Affliction And on the other fide who is able to express the Joy and extream Satisfaction wherewith your Heart was replenish'd when you found him in the midst of Doctours We humbly beseech you by this unconceivable Sadness and Joy that we may never loose our most amiable Jesus or if ever we be so unhappy as to loose him make us feel such a true and lively sorrow as you did that we may so carefully seek him as that we may soon find him with so great and sensible a Comfort that our sole care afterwards may be always to conserve him without ever loosing him any more Amen Our Father Hail Mary EIGHT MEDITATIONS FOR The Octave of Saint JOSEPH I. Meditation Of the Sanctification Birth and Name of Saint Joseph Preparatory Prayer TO beg Light of God to understand his particular Providence towards Saint Joseph and those special Prerogatives he bestow'd upon him before and at his Birth as also at his Circumcision I. Prelude Imagin your self at Nazareth where Saint Joseph was born and there behold the difference wherewith Men and Angels regarded this Royal Infant Harken to the sweet Name of Joseph given him at his Circumcision consider the esteem the Angels had both of this Holy Infant and of the sweet Name of Joseph that was given him at his Circumcision II. Prelude BEG Grace to be Inflam'd with Love and Devotion to this sweet Infant and the Holy Name of Joseph I. Point Consider that Saint Joseph as Gerson solidly proves was Sanctifi'd before his Birth for if the Prophet Jeremy Saint John Baptist and other Saints receiv'd this favour upon account of those Functions they were afterwards to Exercise The Office design'd for Saint Joseph of being Spouse to the Mother and Foster-Father and Governour to the Son of God far exceeded theirs and therefore no less requir'd the same priviledges they had Admire the Purity of this holy Infant give thanks to God for this favour of his early Sanctification congratulate with him for it and for those high Dignities for which God design'd him that mov'd him to give it And beg by the Intercession of Saint Joseph such a true Sanctification as may render you pleasing to his Divine Majesty and his Celestial Court whose love is as much to be valued as the esteem of the World is to be contemn'd II. Point Consider this holy Infant thus dear to God linally Descended from David heir to so many Kings and Royal Prophets is Born in a Poor house of Poor but Noble Parents without any of those marks of honor and greaâ—ness which are common to the Birth of Princes See the difference between God's and the World's esteem of Riches and Honor consider how be treats his true Favorits behold how the Angels admire what the World takes no notice of Praise their Wisdom and conâ—emn it's Folly The Glory of this Royal Infant is from within hid from the Eyes of the World but seen by God and his Angels O the Beauty and Riches of Poverty Which Worldlings perceive not O Royal and Holy Infant obtain for me such an inflam'd Love of Poverty such a generous Humility as you had that I may esteem no honour greater than to be contemn'd by the World for God's Sake or than the being lov'd and esteem'd by him and his Celestial Court III. Point Consider the signification of the Name that was given him at his Circumcision either by Divine Inspiration or which is more probable by the Revelation of aâ— Angel as Saint John Baptist's was Joseph signifies Encrease anâ— what an Encrease in all kinds did he receive with it All sonâ— of such Heavenly Graces aâ—sorts of Priviledges and Prerogatives as the Dignity of hiâ— Person and Employments justly requir'd The Name of the great Patriarch Joseph who was a Figure of this was given him upon account of his Angelical Chastity and the care he was to take in Feeding Protecting and Preserving the Elect Children of God in Aegypt But our Joseph of whom the other was a Type was to be the Virgin-Spouse of the Virgin-Mother of God Protectour and Preserver both of her and her Son nay even of the Son of God himself in Aegypt O Name above all Names â—ext to JESUS and MARY â—â—t it be a constant Comfort to â—ny Heart and from the abundance of Heart let my Mouth frequently repeat the sweet â—ame of Joseph joyning it to â—â—ose Delicious Names of JESUS â—nd MARY The Colloquie O most Holy and Royal Infant O most Blessed Joseph be to me a Joseph that is â—otain for me such Encrease of sanctity such a Love of Poverty â—nd Angelical Purity with such 〈◊〉 true Humility as rendred you â—â—uly great and such a Devotion to your dear self that the â—ery pronouncing your Blessed Name may creat such a Joy and Comfort in my Heart as may move you to interceed for and consequently to obtain anâ— Increase of all Vertues in it II. MEDITATION Of the humble Vocation and Sanctity of Saint Joseph Preparatory Prayer TO beg of God to let us set why Saint Joseph follow'd so humble a Profession as that of a Carpenter and after what manner he practic'd it Increasing at the same time in all sorts of Perfection I. Prelude IMagin your self at Nazareth beholding Saint Joseph a most comely Youth of eighteen Years of age learning and exercising the laborious and humble trade of a Carpenter II. Prelude BEG of God to teach you by S. Joseph's Example how Profitably to joyn an Humble Active aÌ„d Passive Life that thereby the less you are esteem'd upon Earth by Creatures the more you may be Esteem'd and Lov'd by your Creator in Heaven I. Point Consider first that Providence ordain'd that Saint Joseph tho' of a Royal extract shou'd learn and exercise so mean a Trade as that of a Carpenter first to avoid Idleness so vety dangerous to the Virginal Purity he had Vow'd to him Secondly that the Humble exercises of this Trade might ballance the Dignities he design'd to bestow upon him of being Spouse to the Mother and Foster Father to the Son of God That no Ostentation or Vanity might take any place in his Humble Heart Thirdly that by the Labour of his Hands and Sweat of his Brows he might gain wherewithall to Exercise the greatest of Charities by nourishing and maintaining the Mother and Son of God
O wonderful Providence O mark of an extraordinary Love I bless and return a Million of thanks to thy Divine Majesty for this thy Love to Saint Joseph And I Congratulate with thee my belov'd Saint Joseph for being so great a Favorit of Heaven Vouchsafe to obtain for me by thy Intercession such a Detestation of Idleness such a Love of Labour and Chastity it's Companion such a Love of JESUS and MARY as may move me to shew it to every one even the least that wants my assistance as you did and I wou'd wish to have done to theÌ„selves since they take the same as kindly as if done to them He having assur'd us †Quiquid uni ex minimis meis fesistis mihi feustis What we do to the least of his he takes it as done to himself O admirable Exercise of Charity O wonderful occasion of expressing such a Love to JESUS and MARY as Saint Joseph practis'd II. Point Consider what mov'd Saint Joseph to Exercise this calling nothing else but his Humility and desire of expressing his Love by these Occasions of labours and Sufferings that accompany so painful a Trade O most Humble and Mortifi'd Joseph obtain for me such a Love of Humility and Mortification as may procure that Vertue of Chastity you so excell'd in that I may truly Love and faithfully practice this Vertue of Chastity as you did III. Point Consider his laborious and painful Life was accompany'd with so great Piety and Purity of Intention doing all purely to please God as render'd him so great a Saint that he deserv'd to be Canoniz'd by the Holy Ghost himself who stiles him Just that is Replenish'd with all Vertues and free from all Imperfections verifiing hereby his Name of Joseph or Increase by such a daily Increase in all kind of Perfection as mov'd God to bestow upon him even the highest of Dignities of being Spouse to the Mother and Foster-Father to the Son of God O wonderful intention that raises such ordinary Actions to so high a Perfection O admirable Perfection that render'd Saint Joseph worthy in God's opinion of such great Imploments Blessed be thy Divine Majesty for bestowing 'em and thus Rewarding so great a Sanctity whereby thou did'st render hiâ— in Dignity next to JESUS and MARY I Congratulate with you O great Saint Joseph for youâ— faithful compliance with the Divine assistance obtain for mâ— a Love of all Humble Actions and teach me your Art of Joyning their exteriour practice with such an interiour and purt Intention as may render me pleasing to God and a worthy Client of your dear self The Colloquie O Infinite goodness always preventing us with your special Graces and Favours grant me such a perfect Conformity to whatsoever your Providence shall ordain and such a constant compliance with your Grace with such a Purity of Inâ—ention in all my Actions by the powerful Intercession of Saint Joseph as may obtain for me your Sanctifying Grace and Love in this Life and the Eternal Injoyment of your Divine self in the most Happy Company of JESUS MARY and JOSEPH in the next III. MEDITATION Of the Mariage of Saint Joseph Preparatory Prayer TO beg Grace of God to understand those many admirable Lessons of Perfection that are taught us in this Mistery I. Prelude IMagin a great assembly of the chief Batchelours of the Tribe of Juda whom the High-Priest had summon'd together to choose out of 'em a Husband for the Blessed Virgin Mary and behold amongst 'em Saint Joseph a most Beautiful and Comely Man of forty years of Age with a Wan in his Hand from which green Bud's sprouted forth and a Dove over his Head which were the marks that God had given the High-Priest when he Consulted the Propitiatory to know which of 'em was to be the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Behold the Ptiest also giving this most Beautiful and Modest Virgin to Saint Joseph and he Espousing her by putting a Ring on her Finger and Veiling her Head with his Cloak in token of making her pertaker of all his Goods and of his taking her into his Care and Protection II. Prelude BEG Grace to understand anâ— draw Fruit from those extraordinary Misteries that appear in this wonderful Marriage I. Point Consider the Budding of the Wan in his Hand and the Dove over his Head iâ— a token of Fruitful Purity and a mark of that Love oâ— Chastity that they both haâ— Vow'd to God Consider also how wonderfully God rewatded this Vow by choosing the one to be Mother the other to be her Spouse and Foster-Father of his only Begotten Son See the difference between God's and the World's choice he chooses a Poor Humble Trades-Man to be Husband to his Mother and for his Foster-Father â—nd Governour not any Rich or Great Person as Worldlings â—on'd have done Oh how different are God's and the Worlds â—entiments as God himself deâ—ares * Non enim cogitationes meae coâ—itationes Vestrae Nec Viae Vesâ—rae viae meae dicit Dominus Quia â—cut exaltantur Caeli a Terra sic exaltatae sunt viae meae a vijs vesâ—ris cogitationes meae a cogitationibus vestris Isaiae 55.8.9 My Thoughts are not â—ke yours nor my Ways the same â—ith your Ways For as far as â—e Heavens are exalted above â—e Earth so far are my Thoughts â—nd Ways Exalted above yours The World beheld Saint Joseph as a poor Contemptible Tradesman Heaven besides his Royal Extraction beheld him Rich in Vertue saw his admirable Chastity and Humility which render'd him worthy to be choosen a happy and fit Consort for the Queen of Angels and Mother of God O Thrice happy Marriage O Chast Espousals O most Happy pair I Congratulate with you both and Bless the Divine Goodness for this Angelical Union and that joent happiness you both obtain'd thereby Obtain for me such a Love and Practice of Purity with such an Humility as may win God's Heart and move him as your Purity and Humility did to a Love and Tenderness for me II. Point Consider what mov'd the Divine Providence to effect this extraordimary Marriage First he ordain'd it for the Comfort and Assistance of the Blessed Virgin that Saint Joseph might take care of her and protect both her and her Son Secondly for the defence of both hers and her Sons Honour that she might not be accus'd for an Adultress nor he for being Illegittimate or Unlawfully Born Thirdly that he might be a Faithful and Credible Witness of the Divine Incarnatton of the Son of God which none cou'd Testify like himself Fourthly that this Marriage might augment the esteem of Chastity which before was Contemn'd by the World and that their Example might make others Vow it as a thing more perfect than Marriage and give Example to Married Persons to Practice it and hereby produce as many Children as there shou'd be Lovers and Professours of Chastity in Marriage Wherefore Alexins Eleazar Julian Henry the Emperour and Edward
Foster Father Saint Joseph for no less than eighteen Years Imagine your self there to hear and see Saint Joseph's Pious Conversation and manner of Living II. Prelude BEG Grace to Conceive those admirable Virtues practis'd by Saint Joseph in his Conversation with JESUS and MARY and beg also his Powerful Intercession that you may seriously endeavour to Imitate his excellent Example I. Point Consider with how great an Affection Patience Constancy and Humility Saint Joseph Exercis'd all those Humble and Laborious Actions that belong'd to so painful a Trade and to his Domestick Affairs Consider with what Concern Tenderness and Compassion he beheld our Saviour Labouring with him consider what courage his Presence and Assistance gave him in all his Labours and with what Content he perform'd 'em for the Maintenance of JESUS and his Blessed Mother how joyfully also he Assisted 'em both on all occasions and with how pure an Intention he perform'd each Action both to please and to express his Love towards God Who do's not envy Saint Joseph's Happiness in this particular And who wou'd not wish himself in Saint Joseph's place to do the same Do but help those for God's sake you live withall or that want your Assistance and you will have the same Merit and Reward Consider also what Joy you shou'd have had to serve JESUS and MARY as Saint Joseph did Exercise the same Acts of Charity to God's Image your Neighbour as he did to JESUS and he his promis'd the same reward as if you did it to himself * Quamdiu fecistis uni ex his fratribus meis minimis mihi fecistis Matth. 25. v. 40. What you have done to the least of these my Brethren you have done it to me Reflect also upon God's Presence who beholds helps and encourages you whilst you Labour and you 'll have the same Comfort in your Labours which he had Labour purely to please God for the Love of God and to do the Will of God and you will have the same Reward as if you had Wrought and Labour'd as Saint Joseph did to maintain JESUS Who says his †Cibus meus est facere Voluntatem ejus qui misit me Joan. 14. v. 34. Meat is the fulfilling the Will of his Father O how did Saint Joseph do all this And how pleasing did this make him in God's Sight His chief delight being to do God's Will II. Point Consider that his Conversation with JESUS and MARY was so pleasing to him that he avoided all other Conversations to which the Will of God did not particularly lead him consider whither the Conversation you have with these in Prayer be as pleasing to youâ— as to make you quit all other unnecessary Conversations see whither you prefer Retirement Silence and Conversing with JESUS and MARY before all other Conversations in this world Consider also Saint Joseph's Modest behaviour his Silence Recollection Temperance and Mortification both in Eating and Drinking and Imitate him in these Reflect upon his Pious Discourses with JESUS and his Spouse and frequently Practise the same by such like Pious Aspirations and Colloquies as he made to them Consider how he ponder'd and laid up in his Heart after his Spouses Example all the Divine sayings of JESUS and do you also hearken unto keep-in memory and reflect upon those Divine Inspirations whereby JESUS also speaks to you in Prayer or at other times Consider how his Heart was Inflam'd by the words of JESUS and how without doubt he often express'd it to his Spouse as the Disciples did by this their Interrogation * Nonne Cor nostrum ardens erat in nobis dum loqueretur Luke 24.32 Was not our Heart Inflam'd whilst he spoke within us And reflect how those Flames also broke forth in his pious Discourses and set others on fire Who wou'd not have wish'd to have his Heart thus Inflam'd by enjoying this delightful Conversation Endeavour only in your Conversation to bring in Pious Discourse and you will invite him to come and Converse with you †Ubi sunt duo vel tres Congregati in Nomine meo ibi sum in medio eorum Matth. 18. v. 20. Meet but those you Converse withall in his Name and you will meet him you will always find him in the midst of 'em darting Flames into your Heart Lastly in your Conversation follow Saint Joseph's Example in taking the part and excusing the absent when you hear 'em Blam'd and you will be secure from faling into that ordinary Defect which renders most Conversations Dangerous and Displeasing to God the Censuring or Backbiting your Neighbour III. Point Consider Saint Joseph's Silence Recollection and Interiour Peace of Mind wherewith he perform'd all his Exteriour Actions whilst his Hands Labour'd upon Earth his Thoughts and Affections were imploy'd in Heaven Consider with what Humility of Spirit with what Perfect Obedience and with what Joy of Heart he perform'd all his Actions haveing always before his Eyes the wonderful Obedience of JESUS both to himself and his Spouse beholding him verifie what the Royal Prophet foretold that he shou'd be * In Laboribus a Juventute Psal 87. v. 16. In Labours from his Youth and what the Holy Ghost also declar's †Et erat Subditus illis Luc. 2. v. 82. That he was Subject to them Who therefore can think even the hardest Labour too much to do for JESUS who thus Labour'd for us Who can think even the Humblest and Meanest Employment below him when with Saint Joseph he beholds the Son of God stooping to the like and Obeying Saint Joseph in the Meanest and Vilest Offices Beg of Saint Joseph to Inspire and put you in mind of these or such like Thoughts in all your Actions Labours and Mortifications which he had in his that they may become pleasing to God and both easie and profitable to your self whereby you shall not only Labour but Pray continually Imitate him therefore in all you do and beg of him to teach you this most profitable Art so pleasing to God of joyning Prayer and Action together The Colloquie BEG of God by Saint Joseph's Intercession that Spirit wherewith he Convers'd with JESUS and MARY and perform'd all his Actions during those eighteen Years he liv'd at Nazareth whereby you shall not only make your self pleasing to God in this World but bâ— acting after this manner shaâ—â— obtain such a foretast of thâ—â— next as will make you thinâ— nothing too hard or too mucâ— for the purchase of so great anâ— everlasting a Happiness VIII MEDITATION Of Saint Joseph's last Sickness Death and Glory in Heaven Preparatory Prayer BEG of God to understand the Sentiments Saint Joseph had in his Sickness and Death and the Reward he now Possesses of all his Virtues I. Prelude IMAGINE Saint Joseph lying Sick upon his Death-bed with our Blessed Saviour and our Lady on each side of him imagine him sweetly giving up the Ghost His Soul carried by Angels to Limbo and his