“Merciful Father, as you have sent the Holy Spirit on Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, to write all that You wished and wanted, we pray You, send the same Holy Spirit on us, so that we may understand, appreciate Your Word, and make it our plan of life. This we ask for the merits of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
49 … Now we know that Mary was always a Virgin, but what about Joseph? How can we accept the idea that Joseph wanted to remain chaste, virgin, yet he wanted to get married at the same time. So did he have in mind to remain chaste whilst living with his wife?
The Gospel does not hint at any reply, answer. But, Matthew did inform us that:
“Mary was betrothed to Joseph,” (Mt.1, 18) and that
“Joseph was the husband of Mary.” (Mt. 1,15)
Now, when a marriage is successful, undoubtedly, there must be perfect ‘harmony’ and ‘perfect union in the heart of the couple, and in their will. It is no wonder that there must have been perfect spiritual harmony in the will and in the heart of Mary and Joseph. Their marriage, was, in fact, the ‘most successful marriage’ in the whole of History. Because that marriage was planned by God’s Wisdom, in preparation for the Incarnation of His Son.
It follows that virginity was the unique quality, prerequisite of their marriage, both Joseph and Mary must have had the same will, intention in their heart and mind. Having said that, it was the Holy Spirit who had inspired Mary to take the vow of Virginity in view of the Incarnation of the Son of God. Besides, as it was God’s wish and plan that His Son had to be born and grow in a family, the Holy Spirit, inspired Joseph to choose a life of chastity, of virginity.
We read that an Angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him:
“But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying,’ Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.’ ” (Mt.1, 20)
These words of the Angel confirmed Joseph that he was called by God for a special mission, to live his married life in a special manner. Through his virginal union with his wife, who was chosen to be the Mother of Jesus, God had chosen him to cooperate in the fulfillment of the Plan of Salvation.
After all we know that virginity means a complete surrender to God (1 Cor. 7, 32), if God wished, willed a virginal marriage, a virginal union between Mary and Joseph, God wanted, willed that they could, and would both, help each other in their vow, in their surrender, to Him, without reserve.
After having explained, in detail, the Virginity of Mary, and the duties of the couple in marriage, we have to point out, and conclude that one of the partner cannot promise to live the married life in chastity, the life of a virgin, without the consent of the other partner. (I am not using the word ‘partner’ in the modern sense, that of living with someone with no marriage ties.)
“That is why”, says St.Thomas, the learned Doctor, “Mary must have consecrated herself to God, together with Joseph.”
Just as Mary, by her complete surrender of herself to God, proved that she was the ‘handmaid of the Lord’, likewise Joseph, her husband, a just man, is in fact the faithful ‘servant’ of God, because he accepted the mission, entrusted upon him by God.
Yes, Mary and Joseph were the perfect couple who lived a happy married life which was fulfilled with love. It was not the carnal love, as other couples are, they had between them a strong bond of love, they had Jesus, LOVE itself in their midst, a love that made them both whole. They could not dream for more or hope for more or ask for more. Both Mary and her husband Joseph had their complete fulfillment with the presence of Jesus living in their midst. /50
Certain Information taken, with kind permission, from the book “Who is Mary” by H.G.Mons. Sylvester Magro ofm, Bishop of Benghazi. A very dear friend.
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