Joseph and Asenath

We have finally entered the liturgical season of Advent, preparing for the celebration of Christ's birth and for His return. It is also the season of reading the Old Testament as we will for every celebration of Mass during Advent. So, we too shall look to the Old Testament.

Last week, we began looking at the story of the Old Testament Joseph, and in particular, the story of Pharaoh making Joseph the #2 guy in Egypt, which gave us a deeper understanding of Joe's role in the "hierarchy" of saints. Immediately after this scene, we get some really interesting information that furthers our understanding of Joe: Genesis says, "Pharaoh also bestowed the name of Zaphenath-paneah on Joseph, and he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of Heliopolis." (Gen. 41:45).

Now, if you're like me, the first time you read this, you probably asked yourself "What did Pharaoh call him? Zaphe-WHAT? and what in the world is up with his wife?" but don't worry, because these names are really cool and more than coincidental!

The New American Bible (Revised Edition) gives a footnote for this verse, which says:

1. Zaphenath-paneah: “the god speaks and he lives.” 
2. Asenath: “belonging to Neith.” 
3. Potiphera: “he whom Ra gave”. 
• Heliopolis: a city of the chief temple of the sun god.

We can understand these words to be very interesting foreshadowing of the Holy Family:

1. When Joe found Mary pregnant, and not by him, he could have had her put to death for being unfaithful to their marriage. Naturally, if she would have been put to death, so would have her Son as well. So, when God speaks through the angel in Joe's dream and Joe is obedient to the messenger, the child does in fact live.
2. Neith can be considered to relate in two ways:

1. Neith was the Egyptian goddess who gave birth to Ra, the Egyptian sun-god and the greatest of the gods. Mary, although not a goddess, is indeed the true Mother of God.
2. Neith was also the goddess of creation who brought about creation by moving the primordial waters. The Holy Spirit, who moved the primordial waters of creation (Gen. 1:1-2), also had a role to play in the incarnation of Jesus (Luke 1:35, Matt. 1:18,20)
3. Asenath's father was a priest, but not just any priest. He was a priest of great sun-god, Ra. Recall the tradition of Mary being a daughter of Aaron that I shared already? Just like Asenath, Mary too was a member of the High-Priestly House.

Cool huh!?

Joe, King of Heaven?

Like Mary, Joe's dignity comes from his relationship to the Incarnate Word: Mary's dignity comes from being Jesus' mother; Joe's dignity comes from being Mary's spouse. This past Sunday, we celebrated the Feast of Christ the King of the Universe in the Roman Catholic Church. Many use this as the launch point for believing that Mary is Queen of Heaven and Earth. But what about Joe? Is he of royal dignity like Jesus and Mary?

Yes, he is "son of David," the great King of Israel (Matt. 1:20), but is there more? Let's take another look at the Old Testament Joseph. We all know the story: Joseph has dreams and special clothes and is sold as a slave into Egypt (Gen. 37), he goes to jail for being chaste (Gen. 39), he interprets dreams in jail (Gen. 40), and after being in jail for two years, he interprets the dreams of Pharaoh (Gen. 41). In gratitude for Joseph's response, Pharaoh says to him, "You shall be in charge of my household, and all my people will obey your command. Only in respect to the throne will I outrank you." (Gen. 41:40)

Does not the same happen with Joe? The Father says to him, "You shall be in charge of my household, and all my people will obey your command. Only in respect to the throne will I outrank you."

So, is Joe "King of Heaven"? No, but he's only a step below God - although, it is an infinite step between him and God.

"He made him lord over his household, ruler over all his possessions"

-Psalm 105:21

Why is Joe always holding lilies?

Do you know why Joe is almost always holding lilies? It partly has to do with today’s celebration of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple. This is an ancient feast, and we find it mentioned in a couple different early stories, particularly in the Protoevangelium of James and the Gospel of the Nativity of Mary. In both, the account of Mary being presented in the Temple at the age of three is followed by the account of her betrothal to Joe. Here is the account according to the Protoevangelium of James (8-9):



When she was twelve years old, there was held a council of the priests, saying: Behold, Mary has reached the age of twelve years in the temple of the Lord. What then shall we do with her, lest perchance she defile the sanctuary of the Lord? 

And they said to the high priest: You stand by the altar of the Lord; go in, and pray concerning her; and whatever the Lord shall manifest unto you, that also will we do. And the high priest went in, taking the robe with the twelve bells into the holy of holies; and he prayed concerning her. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by him, saying unto him: Zacharias, Zacharias, go out and assemble the widowers of the people, and let them bring each his rod; and to whomsoever the Lord shall show a sign, his wife shall she be. And the heralds went out through all the circuit of Judæa, and the trumpet of the Lord sounded, and all ran.

And Joseph, throwing away his axe, went out to meet them; and when they had assembled, they went away to the high priest, taking with them their rods. And he, taking the rods of all of them, entered into the temple, and prayed; and having ended his prayer, he took the rods and came out, and gave them to them: but there was no sign in them, and Joseph took his rod last; and, behold, a dove came out of the rod, and flew upon Joseph's head. And the priest said to Joseph, You have been chosen by lot to take into your keeping the virgin of the Lord.

But Joseph refused, saying: I have children, and I am an old man, and she is a young girl. I am afraid lest I become a laughing-stock to the sons of Israel. And the priest said to Joseph: Fear the Lord your God, and remember what the Lord did to Dathan, and Abiram, and Korah (Numbers 16:31-33) how the earth opened, and they were swallowed up on account of their contradiction. And now fear, O Joseph, lest the same things happen in your house. And Joseph was afraid, and took her into his keeping. And Joseph said to Mary: Behold, I have received you from the temple of the Lord; and now I leave you in my house, and go away to build my buildings, and I shall come to you. The Lord will protect you.

Jesus' Prayer for Joe

Last week, I shared Joe's prayer of preparation for death according to the History of Joseph the Carpenter. This week, I'm sharing the same story's account of Jesus praying for Joe at the moment of his death. May this be our prayer for those who are dying!

O Father of all mercy, eye which see, and ear which hear, hearken to my prayers and supplications in behalf of the old man Joseph; and send Michael, the prince of Your angels, and Gabriel, the herald of light, and all the light of Your angels, and let their whole array walk with the soul of my father Joseph, until they shall have conducted it to You. This is the hour in which my father has need of compassion. And I say unto you, that all the saints, yea, as many men as are born in the world, whether they be just or whether they be perverse, must of necessity taste of death

Joe's Prayer of Preparation

It is well known that Joe does not have a single recorded line or word spoken in the Holy Scriptures. However, there are a number of significant ancient works that tell Joe's story. One of these is entitled The History of Joseph the Carpenter, which many believe was written sometime between 300 and 500 AD by a Coptic Christian (by the way, the icons are Coptic). The author of the work, puts into Joe's mouth this prayer in anticipation of his death, and it is certainly a great prayer for all of us:

O God! Author of all consolation, God of all compassion, and Lord of the whole human race; God of my soul, body, and spirit; with supplications I reverence you, O Lord and my God. 

If now my days are ended, and the time draws near when I must leave this world, send me, I beseech You, the great Michael, the prince of Your holy angels: let him remain with me, that my wretched soul may depart from this afflicted body without trouble, without terror and impatience. 

For great fear and intense sadness take hold of all bodies on the day of their death, whether it be man or woman, beast wild or tame, or whatever creeps on the ground or flies in the air. At the last all creatures under heaven in whom is the breath of life are struck with horror, and their souls depart from their bodies with strong fear and great depression. 

Now therefore, O Lord and my God, let Your holy angel be present with his help to my soul and body, until they shall be dissevered from each other. And let not the face of the angel, appointed my guardian from the day of my birth, be turned away from me; but may he be the companion of my journey even until he bring me to You: let his countenance be pleasant and gladsome to me, and let him accompany me in peace. 

And let not demons of frightful aspect come near me in the way in which I am to go, until I come to You in bliss. And let not the doorkeepers hinder my soul from entering paradise. 

And do not uncover my sins, and expose me to condemnation before Your terrible tribunal. Let not the lions rush in upon me; nor let the waves of the sea of fire overwhelm my soul— for this must every soul pass through — before I have seen the glory of Your Godhead. 

God, most righteous Judge, who in justice and equity will judge mankind, and will render unto each one according to his works, O Lord and my God, I beseech You, be present to me in Your compassion, and enlighten my path that I may come to You; for You are a fountain overflowing with all good things, and with glory for evermore. Amen.

Icons and Mysteries

Apostles Creed

The 1st Joyful Mystery:

The Annunciation of the Incarnation

The 2nd Joyful Mystery:

The Visitation of Mary with her Cousin Elizabeth

The 3rd Joyful Mystery:

The Nativity of Jesus in the Stable at Bethlehem

The 4th Joyful Mystery:

The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple

The 5th Joyful Mystery:

The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple

The First Sorrowful Mystery:

The Agony in the Garden

The Second Sorrowful Mystery:

The Scourging at the Pillar

The Third Sorrowful Mystery:

The Crowning with Thorns

The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery:

The Carrying of the Cross

The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery:

The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord

The First Glorious Mystery:

The Resurrection of Our Lord from the Dead

The Second Glorious Mystery:

The Ascension of Our Lord

The Third Glorious Mystery:

The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

The Fourth Glorious Mystery:

The Assumption of Mary, Body and Soul, into Heaven

The Fifth Glorious Mystery:

The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth

Closing Prayer

Personal Prayer Meditations

The 1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation of the Incarnation
   O God, my God, through the intercession of St. Joseph and by the merits of this most sacred mystery in which you became man, give me the grace to discern properly Your holy will and the docility to accept it.
The 2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation of Mary with her Cousin Elizabeth
    O God, my God, through the intercession of St. Joseph and by the merits of this holy mystery, give me the grace to be a true servant to others.
The 3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity of Jesus in the Stable at Bethlehem
    O God, my God, through the intercession of St. Joseph and by the merits of this most sacred mystery in which for the first time humanity beheld Your human face, give me a spirit of poverty and gratitude for Your many blessings.
The 4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple
    O God, my God, through the intercession of St. Joseph and by the merits of this holy mystery, give me the grace to be obedient to all whom You have placed in authority over me - especially Your Church.
The 5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
    O God, my God, through the intercession of St. Joseph and by the merits of this holy mystery, give me the perseverance to search for You and to find You in all persons, at all times, in all place, and in all things.

The First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
   O God, my God, through the intercession of St. Joseph and by the merits of this holy mystery, give me the grace to conform my will to Yours.
The Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
   O God, my God, through the intercession of St. Joseph and by the merits of this holy mystery, give me the grace to be detached from all the sinful desires of the flesh.
The Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns
   O God, my God, through the intercession of St. Joseph and by the merits of this holy mystery, give me the grace to be detached from all the sinful desires of the mind.
The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
   O God, my God, through the intercession of St. Joseph and by the merits of this holy mystery, give me the grace to pick-up  my cross and to follow You, the humility to allow others to help me along the way, and the charity to help them.
The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord
   O God, my God, through the intercession of St. Joseph and by the merits of this most sacred mystery in which You gave Your life for me, give me the grace to forgive others, as You forgave us.

The First Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection of Our Lord from the Dead
   O God, my God, through the intercession of St. Joseph and by the merits of this most sacred of all mysteries in which you conquered death by death, give me Your peace.
The Second Glorious Mystery: The Ascension of Our Lord
   O God, my God, through the intercession of St. Joseph and by the merits of this holy mystery, give me the knowledge and understanding of Your mysteries so that I might better live out your command to go and teach all nations.
The Third Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
   O God, my God, through the intercession of St. Joseph and by the merits of this most sacred mystery in which You filled Your Church with Your Holy Spirit, give me the burning zeal to share Your holy Gospel.
The Fourth Glorious Mystery: The Assumption of Mary, Body and Soul, into Heaven
   O God, my God, through the intercession of St. Joseph and by the merits of this holy mystery, give me the blessing of being united with my family in the eternal beatitude of heaven.
The Fifth Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth
   O God, my God, through the intercession of St. Joseph and by the merits of this holy mystery, give me the grace to live out my calling with charity, humility, and perseverance, so that I may receive from You the crown of glory that You made for me from the foundation of the world.

Scriptural Meditations

The 1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation of the Incarnation
   “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)
The 2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation of Mary with her Cousin Elizabeth
   "How does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1:43)
The 3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity of Jesus in the Stable at Bethlehem
   "You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12)
The 4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple
   "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel." (Luke 2:34)
The 5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
   “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” (Luke 2:48)

The First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
   “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matt. 26:39)
The Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
   "I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” (Luke 23:22)
The Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns
   “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Matt. 27:29)
The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
   “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children." (Luke 23:28)
The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord
   “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46)

The First Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection of Our Lord from the Dead
   “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)
The Second Glorious Mystery: The Ascension of Our Lord
   "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19)
The Third Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
   "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins" (Acts 2:38)
The Fourth Glorious Mystery: The Assumption of Mary, Body and Soul, into Heaven
   "Well done, my good and faithful servant... Come, share your master’s joy." (Matt. 25:21)
The Fifth Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth
   "Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matt. 25:34)

Introduction to the Chaplet of St. Joseph

As we continue the Month of the Holy Rosary, I'd like to share with you a devotional prayer that has been a huge part of my life for the last seven or so years: the Chaplet of St. Joseph. In fact, it is because of the Chaplet, I fell in love with Joe's patronage.

The reason I bring it up now is because it is based on the rosary itself - much like the dignity of Joe emanates from the dignity of his holy spouse, whose dignity emanates from the dignity of her Son.


-It begins with the Sign of the Cross and the Apostles Creed.

-Afterwards, for each of the traditional 15 mysteries of the rosary, there is:
1) a meditation on the mystery,
2) two Hail Mary's, and
3) three recitations of "Praised and blessed be Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!"
               It's literally as simple as 1, 2, 3!

-Then, after praying through the 15 mysteries:
"Pray for us O holy St. Joseph.
     That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ."

- Finally, in conclusion:
"O, God, Who had predestined St. Joseph from all eternity for the service of Thine Eternal Son and His Blessed Mother, and made him worthy to be the spouse of the Blessed Virgin and the foster father of Thy Son: we beseech Thee, through all the services he has rendered to Jesus and Mary on earth, that Thou wouldst make us worthy of his intercession and grant us to enjoy the happiness of his company in heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen"

Over the course of the next couple weeks, I will share various meditations for the 15 mysteries that have developed over the years in my praying through the Chaplet. 

As I have experienced miraculous effects through Joe's intercession in this Chaplet, I hope that you too will experience miraculous healing as I have!

Ad Te Beate Ioseph

As we begin the month of October -the month of the Holy Rosary- my posts will revolve around the Rosary.

Today, I share with you an indulgenced prayer written by Pope Leo XIII in 1889, which is recommended to be prayed at the conclusion of praying the Rosary:

To you, O blessed Joseph,
do we come in our tribulation,
and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse,
we confidently invoke your patronage also.

Through that charity which bound you
to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God
and through the paternal love
with which you embraced the Child Jesus,
we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance
which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood,
and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family,
defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; 
O most loving father, ward off from us
every contagion of error and corrupting influence; 
O our most mighty protector, be kind to us
and from heaven assist us in our struggle
with the power of darkness.

As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril,
so now protect God's Holy Church
from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity;
shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection,
so that, supported by your example and your aid,
we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness,
and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven.

Amen.

You can also listen to a beautiful musical rendition of the Latin text of the prayer: