This is part of the Consecration to St. Joseph Set

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DAY 23: Those who are detached from the things of this world and trust in Divine Providence are not far from the Kingdom of Heaven. Saint Joseph relied on Divine Providence for all his needs.

DAY 23: Lover of Poverty, Pray for Us

Truly, I doubt not that the angels, wondering and adoring, came thronging in countless multitudes to that poor workshop to admire the humility of him who guarded that dear and divine child, and labored at his carpenter’s trade to support the son and the mother who were committed to his care. — St. Francis de Sales

Saint Joseph was unpretentious in the eyes of the world. He had no worldly ambition or desire for recognition.

Throughout the centuries, people have often wondered what the financial status of the Holy Family was, or what their living con-ditions were. To answer this question, we need look no further than the New Testament. The Holy Family was poor. Very poor.
Saint Joseph was so lowly and poor in the sight of the world that the Wise Men who entered the stable in Bethlehem did not even acknowledge his presence (see Mt 2:11). When the Holy Family journeyed to the Temple in Jerusalem to participate in the Jewish ritual of purification for a new mother, Joseph couldn’t even afford to purchase a lamb for a burnt offering (see Lev 12:6-7). Lambs were expensive. Saint Joseph could only offer a poor man’s gift, that is, two turtledoves or two young pigeons (see Lev 12:8).

The Holy Family lived on Divine Providence. Had Baby Jesus not been given gold, frankincense, and myrrh by the Wise Men in Bethlehem (see Mt 2:11), it is likely that St. Joseph would not have had money to purchase food and other necessities for his family when they traveled to Egypt. When they left from Nazareth for Bethlehem to fulfil the census, they had not brought many things with them because they expected to return to Nazareth. The gifts of the Wise Men were God’s providential way of taking care of the Holy Family. Years later, after returning to Nazareth from Egypt, the Holy Family lived for almost 30 years in a house in Nazareth that was simple and small.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:3). Have you ever wondered what that actually means? Is Jesus saying that poverty is wonderful? No, that’s not what he is saying. What he is saying is that those who are detached from the things of this world are not far from the Kingdom of Heaven. When a person is detached from the things of this world, poverty is understood to be a virtue. The person who is detached from material things is truly blessed in spirit and rich in the sight of God. This explains why St. Joseph is called “Lover of Poverty.” He relied on Divine Providence for all of his needs.

Saint Joseph will help you be poor in spirit. Saint Joseph will teach you how to be detached from material things and abandoned to Divine Providence. You will never find true happiness in material goods. Those who allow their relationship to God to depend on whether they have worldly things are destined for unhappiness. The person who is poor in spirit, on the other hand, is able to proclaim, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).

The silence of St. Joseph proves his greatness and poverty of spirit. Everyone likes to boast of their achievements and have others acknowledge their work. Saint Joseph, however, never saw the results of his hard work and sacrifice. He trusted that God would bring good fruit from his labor and years of service to Jesus and Mary. And God did — more than St. Joseph could have ever imagined. He was poor in the world, but rich in the Kingdom of Heaven.

He [St. Joseph] lived content in his poverty. — St. Bonaventure

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, my most sweet loves, may I live, suffer, and die for you!  — St. Pope John XXIII

Perpetual Adoration

Although he [St. Joseph] never adored our Lord under the Eucharistic species and never had the happiness of communi-cating [receiving Holy Communion], he did possess and adore Jesus in human form. — St. Peter Julian Eymard

If St. Joseph lived with Jesus for 30 years, his vocation was one of perpetual adoration. In many ways, the home of the Holy Family in Nazareth was the first Christian monastery.

Saint Peter Julian Eymard wrote an amazing book called The Month of St. Joseph that offers incredible insights on St. Joseph’s life of prayer and adoration in Nazareth. It’s a masterpiece.

Here’s an excerpt from St. Peter Julian Eymard’s book:

Saint Joseph was the first adorer, the first religious. Although he never adored our Lord under the Eucharistic species and never had the happiness of communicating [receiving Holy Communion], he did possess and adore Jesus in human form.

Saint Joseph knew our Lord more thoroughly than did all the saints together; he lived for him alone. In that lies his special glory, the keynote of his sanctity. In that, above all, he is our model, and in that too does his incomparable greatness consist.

When we see how close Joseph came to Jesus, how thoroughly he was transformed into him, we grasp his true greatness, his real sanctity. We find in him [St. Joseph], the perfect adorer, entirely consecrated to Jesus, working always near Jesus, giving Jesus his virtues, his time, his very life; it is thus that he is our model and our inspiration.

As foster-father of Jesus and husband of Mary, Joseph ranks among the elite of heaven. On earth he deserves the same recognition, for his mission, which will last as long as the Church itself, draws everyone within its scope. As adorers we have a right to a large share of his graces and protection, and careful study will show that all his special gifts aimed at making him a good adorer. 

From his [Jesus’] entry into the world, even while still enclosed in Mary’s womb as in a living ciborium, Jesus singled out Mary and Joseph to be his adorers. Joseph responded royally. He never ceased adoring Jesus in her womb. And after the child’s birth at Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary adored him uninterruptedly as he lay before their eyes. They represented all mankind at the feet of Christ. Certainly Adam and Eve were well replaced!

At Nazareth Joseph’s days were filled with work which [by] necessity took him away at times from his Infant God. During these hours Mary replaced him, but when evening brought him home again, he would pass the entire night in adoration, never tiring, only too happy for the chance to contemplate the hidden riches of Jesus’ divinity. For he pierced the rough garments the child wore, until his faith touched the Sacred Heart. In profound adoration he united himself to the special grace of each one of the events in the life of Jesus. Have confidence, strong confidence in him [St. Joseph]. Take him as the patron and the model of your life of adoration.

Saint Peter Julian Eymard is known as the “Apostle of the Eucharist.” He was zealous in promoting Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Saint Peter Julian founded two religious communities to promote Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament for men, and the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament for women.

When we receive Holy Communion, let us consider that Jesus comes to us as a little baby, and then let us pray that St. Joseph helps us welcome him, as when he held him in his arms. — St. Joseph Marello

Pray the Litany of St. Joseph:

Lord, have mercy.  Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.  Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven,  have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Noble Offspring of David,  pray for us.
Light of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us.
Chaste Guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster-Father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Zealous Defender of Christ, pray for us.
Servant of Christ, pray for us.
Minister of Salvation, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.

Joseph Most Just, pray for us.
Joseph Most Chaste,  pray for us.
Joseph Most Prudent,  pray for us.
Joseph Most Courageous,  pray for us.
Joseph Most Obedient, pray for us.
Joseph Most Faithful, pray for us.

Mirror of Patience, pray for us.
Lover of Poverty, pray for us.
Model of Workmen, pray for us.
Glory of Domestic Life, pray for us.
Guardian of Virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of Families, pray for us.
Support in Difficulties, pray for us.
Comfort of the Afflicted, pray for us.
Hope of the Sick, pray for us.
Patron of Exiles,  pray for us.
Patron of the Afflicted, pray for us.
Patron of the Poor, pray for us.
Patron of the Dying, pray for us.
Terror of Demons,  pray for us.
Protector of the Holy Church, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

V. He has made him lord of his household,
R. And prince over all his possessions.

Let us pray. O God, who, in your loving providence, chose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most Holy Mother, grant us the favor of having him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our protector. You, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

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