When God had created Adam, and made him strong and intelligent, He found that one great thing was wanting. Adam needed a companion; he could not content himself in all the superabundance that was around him. Then God took a rib out of the first man, and built a woman upon it. The same thing seems true in the case of the [pg 107] Blessed Virgin. She was all alone in the spiritual order among men. She was endowed with many graces, yet in all her abundance she would be desolate, only God said, let us make her a companion like unto herself, one who would also be the favorite creature of God, and would be the recipient of many extraordinary graces. He therefore chose a great saint, and gave him special gifts. A prince of this world does the same thing when he desires to make a lowly subject his companion; he first makes him a noble, then enriches him with much wealth in order that the favorite may make a good appearance before the world. God united in St. Joseph all the virtues and graces of the other saints, that he might be greater than they. From all eternity it had been ordained that St. Joseph was to be the foster-father of Jesus.
Prayer.
Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.
Ninth Day.
Great must have been the terror of Mary when the angel of God appeared to her, and announced that she was to be the Mother of God. She was troubled, but the angel encouraged her, saying, “Fear not, Mary.” The angel announced the incarnation to St. Joseph, and he was greatly troubled; the angel assured him, “Fear not, Joseph, Son of David.” Mary gave life to the Lord and brought Him up. Joseph, on his part, labored day and night to scrape together what was necessary for their existence. Both Mary and Joseph were equally, according [pg 108] to their position, contributing to the rearing of Jesus. Like Mary, the Mother of Jesus, St. Joseph is powerful with her divine Son. St. Joseph is called, by the Holy Ghost, a just man. He was the first to be exposed to the persecutions of the Jews for the Lord. In all things then, is Joseph like unto Mary; similar also are his virtues, and like also his eternal reward.
Prayer.
Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, etc., etc.