Dear
Parishioners and Friends,
I
have been reflecting on the seven sorrows and joys of St. Joseph as a way to
prepare for his feast day on March 19. I think these meditations can also help
us prepare for Holy Week because Joseph’s sorrows and joys are intimately
connected with the life of Christ and can help us better appreciate what He has
done for us.
The
third sorrow of Joseph is the circumcision of Christ. It was the first flow of
blood which would ultimately pour itself out completely for our salvation. In
accord with the Jewish Law and under the Old Covenant, Jesus was circumcised
and thus became a part of the Chosen People. He comes to fulfill the Law and
establish the New Covenant.
Joseph
experiences joy at the moment of circumcision because he gives the name of
Jesus to the child. It was the right of the father to impose the name upon a
child that he claims as his own. The name “Jesus” means “savior” and thus when
Joseph gives the name to the child he is also manifesting the mission of the
child.
Prayer: St. Joseph, by the
SORROW with which thy heart was pierced at the sight of the Blood which flowed
from the Infant Jesus in the Circumcision, and by the JOY that inundated thy
soul at thy privilege of imposing the sacred and mysterious Name of Jesus,
obtain for us that the merits of this Precious Blood may be applied to our
souls, and that the Divine Name of Jesus may be engraved forever in our hearts.
In
Christ,
Msgr.
Baker
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