St. Joseph and the New Eden
Although Christ is the new Adam restoring all that was lost through first sin, still St. Joseph shares in the Adamic re-play of the events of Eden. He stands behind the Woman, as she engages the serpent, but his silence is one of acceptance of God’s will rather than of fear as it was for Adam.
That is why St. Joseph is such a powerful model for all men. He is humble and he is courageous simultaneously, defending and respecting Mary and providing an environment for the civilization of love, with Love himself, that is the child Jesus, to grow in wisdom and truth.
A Model of Humble Abandonment
St. Joseph is a kind of catalyst who often reconciles seeming opposites. Pray to him as St. Brother Andre did in Montreal, in total confidence — or pray the St. Joseph Novena — that he will take care of your most complex problems. He is after all a perfect complement to Our Lady Undoer of Knots.
That is the power of humble abandonment.
And, humility allows God to manifest himself!
Read on… St. Joseph in Scripture. There is more than one might think.
The Silence of Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph’s silence is not passivity. The Gospels show him listening to God, acting promptly, protecting Mary and Jesus, and providing for the Holy Family without drawing attention to himself. His example teaches that contemplative silence can prepare a person for courageous action. Those facing family responsibilities or difficult decisions can ask Saint Joseph for humility, prudence, and confidence in divine providence.