The nuns of Mary, Queen of Apostles, sing the hymn Te Joseph Celebrent.

Te, Ioseph, celebrent agmina cælitum

Te cuncti resonent christiadum chori

Qui clarus meritis junctus et inclytæ

Casto fœdere Virgini.

Almo cum tumidam germine conjugem

admirans dubio tangeris anxius,

afflatu superi flaminis angelus

conceptum puerum docet.

Tu natum Dominum stringis ad dexteras,

Aegipti profugum tu sequeris plagas:

amissum Solymis qæris et invenis,

miscens gaudia fletibus.

Post mortem reliquos sors pia consecrat,

Palmanque emeritos gloria suscipit:

Tu vivens, superis par, frueris Deo

Mira sorte beatior.

Nobis Summa Trias parce precantibus:

da Ioseph meritis sidera scandere,

ut tandem liceat nos tibi perpetim,

gratum promere canticum.

Let the hosts of heaven celebrate you, Joseph,

Let all the choirs of Christendom resound you

who, famous for your merits,

was joined to the glorious Virgin in chaste wedlock.

When your betrothed became great with precious seed,

amazement and doubt made you anxious.

It is by the breath of the divine Spirit,

an Angel tells you, that the son has been conceived.

You did embrace the new-born Lord,

and to the furthest Egypt coasts you followed Him in exile,

Lost in Jerusalem, you sought and found Him,

mixing joy with tears.

After death most are blest by a loving destiny

and, when they have won the palm, they are welcomed into glory.

But you, while you lived, like the saints above, were with God,

blest more than others by this wondrous lot.

Spare us, highest Trinity, as we pray,

Grant that through Joseph's merits we may rise to heaven,

So that at last we may offer perpetually

our grateful songs.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 1:16-18

And Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

Today we celebrate the feast of St Joseph, who helped bring up Jesus. Matthew presents us with a family tree for Jesus that presents him as the offspring of 3 x 14 generations, from Abraham, to whom God’s promises were originally made, through David, who seemed to have fulfilled them, to the Deportation to Babylon, to the arrival of Jesus as Messiah. What do you think this gospel reading is trying to tell us?

“Before they lived together, Mary was found to be pregnant”. Imagine for a moment that you’re with Joseph as he discovers this...Is this a bit shocking? How might he be feeling? See if you can speak with Joseph about this...

“From the Holy Spirit”. Does this make a difference to the shocking news? Continue imagining Joseph’s response as this unfolds...

As you listen to the passage again, try and get a sense of God’s careful plan to bring Jesus to us, and Joseph’s place within it...

Matthew 1:16-18

And Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

Finally, just reflect on all the movements that have taken place inside you during this time, and see if you can turn them into a prayer to God.

You have given all to me

To you, Lord, I return it

Everything is Yours

Do with it what You will

Give me only Your love and Your grace

That is enough for me

Amen