The Humility of Saint Joseph
In the writings of Don Dolindo and Church Fathers
The Gospel of St Matthew tells us that when St. Joseph discovered that the Blessed Virgin Mary had miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit, he sought to quietly divorce her. A common interpretation is that St. Joseph suspected Mary of infidelity. However, there are good reasons to believe this was not the case. As Don Dolindo explains in his luminous commentary, St. Joseph acted out of profound humility in the face of the ineffable divine plan.
Don Dolindo makes clear that St. Joseph knew Mary to be a pure and holy virgin. Her pregnancy was a sacred mystery beyond human comprehension. Though betrothed, they were not yet living together as husband and wife. St. Joseph recognized that something miraculous was at work, though he did not fully grasp it.
St. Joseph is rightly described as a "just man." He sought to act with justice, not out of suspicion, but out of awe and reverence for the evident holiness of Mary and the divine origins of her conception. Ancient Jewish piety called for utmost reverence in the presence of that which is sacred. Like Moses before the burning bush, St. Joseph felt unworthy to take Mary as his wife, knowing that she had conceived by the power of the Almighty.
As Origen wrote, St. Joseph sought to put her away, because he saw in her a great sacrament, to approach which he thought himself unworthy. Saint Thomas Aquinas concurred, explaining that St “Joseph was minded to put away the Blessed Virgin not because he suspected her of fornication, but because in reverence for her sanctity, he feared to cohabit with her” (Summa Th., Supplement, q. 62, article 3, reply 2).
In a similar vein, Saint Bernard exclaimed: “Joseph’s reason was the same as Peter’s when he said, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord,’ and that of the centurion when he exclaimed, ‘I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof.’ Joseph looked on himself as a sinner and as unworthy to entertain one in whom he beheld a superhuman dignity. He beheld with awe in the Virgin-Mother a certain sign of the Divine Presence” (Homily, Super missus est, II, 14).
In his commentary, Don Dolindo poetically describes St. Joseph as a "pure lily" called to nurture the "immaculate lily" Mary Most Holy. St. Joseph acted as a humble servant who knew the limitations of his human strength in the face of divine action. Like the Centurion in the Gospels, he felt unworthy. His reverence was akin to that of Moses before the burning bush, recognizing he stood on holy ground.
In his biblical commentary, Catena Aurea, St. Thomas Aquinas refers to the following Church Fathers:
Jerome: "But how is Joseph thus called just, when he is ready to hide his wife's sin? For the Law enacts, that not only the doers of evil, but they who are privy to any evil done, shall be held to be guilty." Jerome: "Or this may be considered a testimony to Mary, that Joseph, confident in her purity, and wondering at what had happened, covered in silence that mystery which he could not explain." Rabanus: "He beheld her to be with child, whom he knew to be chaste; and Is. 11,1. because he had read, There shall come a Rod out of the stem of Jesse, of which he knew that Mary was come", and had Is. 7,14. also read, Behold, a virgin shall conceive, he did not doubt that this prophecy should be fulfilled in her." Origen: "But if he had no suspicion of her, how could he be a just man, and yet seek to put her away, being immaculate? He sought to put her away, because he saw in her a great sacrament, to approach which he thought himself unworthy." Gloss: St Joseph was just because of his faith, in that he believed that Christ should be born of a virgin; wherefore he wished to humble himself before so great a favor.
When the angel later appeared to St. Joseph, the message was not simply to convince him of Mary's innocence, but to reveal God's plan and reassure St. Joseph that he should not be afraid to take Mary as his wife. The angel's words "do not be afraid" suggest that St. Joseph acted out of awe and pious caution, not suspicion. The angelic message illuminated St. Joseph's mind and called him to faithful service.
In his insightful book "St. Joseph: The Saint of Contemplative Sorrow", Don Dolindo Ruotolo reveals the deep spirituality and immense holiness hidden within the humble and silent figure of St. Joseph. Though the Gospels recount little about him, Don Dolindo shows how St. Joseph's greatness lies precisely in his profound sorrow and suffering, offered to God in loving obedience. Don Dolindo explains that "sorrow is the true thermometer of the greatness of a soul." St. Joseph's greatness lies in precisely this "martyrdom of humility and conformity to God's designs." When Mary's pregnancy was revealed, though a mystery to him, Joseph obeyed without question. He subjected himself to God's plans without examining them, accepting his own unworthiness in contrast to the holiness of Mary and Jesus. Don Dolindo imagines Saint Joseph saying these words, in a style similar to the Imitation of Christ: "My pain was perceiving my littleness, my insufficiency before Mary and Jesus." This was St. Joseph's interior martyrdom, sacrifice, and crucifixion - the total immolation of his love to God's will. St. Joseph loved through silence, contemplation and sorrow. Don Dolindo writes, "He is the model of souls who live by God alone and for God alone." St. Joseph represents humanity submitting to God's plans without pretense of examining them. The Lord now glorifies St. Joseph, giving him an apostolic spirit to make Jesus known, as head of the Holy Family and patron saint of the universal Church.
The humility of St. Joseph is a powerful model for all. Though called to an exalted mission as foster-father to the Savior, St. Joseph humbly submitted to God's will. May we emulate his reverence as we contemplate the mysteries of Christ's birth and Mary's divine maternity. St. Joseph's example calls us to humble obedience in the face of that which is sacred. Like St. Joseph, we must seek God's will with a prayerful heart, ready to surrender to the divine plan.
As we reflect on the silent witness of St. Joseph, may we be guided by his model of humility and obedience. "For [God's] thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are [His] ways our ways" (Isaiah 55:8). Though God's ways surpass human understanding, we know "the foolishness of God is wiser than men" (1 Corinthians 1:25). Heavenly Father, grant us the gift of obedience of St. Joseph, who trusted wholly in You, constantly seeking Your will. May we "acknowledge [You] in all [our] ways," relying not on our own insight but surrendering to Your guidance, confident You "will make straight [our] paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6). Like St. Joseph, teach us "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with [our] God" (Micah 6:8). Make us meek, Lord Jesus, that we may inherit the blessing You promise to the humble (Matthew 5:5). Subdue in us all pride, that Your grace may flourish, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). Amen.