Chaste Guardian of the Virgin
St. Joseph was the Spouse of God's Mother, but by a wonderful anomaly also the Guardian of her Virginity. Just as in Mary are combined miraculously two seemingly incompatible things, motherhood and virginity; so too in Joseph, to be Mary's husband and yet shield of his wife's virginity. Saint Joseph and Mary lived in what is often called a "Josephite marriage." They were truly husband and wife, but they never engaged in sexual relations. They were both consecrated to God and sacrificed a natural good for a greater good: the salvation of souls.
Chastity is an important virtue. To be chaste is to have self-mastery and to be in control of your passions and sexuality. Chastity preserves the human heart and body for authentic self-giving. All people, no matter their vocation in life, are called to chastity.
Next to Jesus, St. Joseph is the greatest example of masculine chastity. In a message given by St. Joseph himself to St. Mary Ephrem in March of 1958, he says, "Let fathers also imitate my great purity of life and the deep respect I held for my Immaculate Spouse. Let them be an example to their children and fellow men, never willfully doing anything that would cause scandal among God's people."ii St. Joseph was married to a beautiful woman, and he treated her with respect, dignity, and reverence. If men today were more like St. Joseph — protectors and defenders of beauty, instead of users and abusers of the feminine mystery — what a different world this would be!
While some men are called to consecrated celibacy, most men are called to marriage. Both vocations are necessary. Without marriage, there are no children. Without priests, there are no Sacraments. Married men need to be chaste in marriage; priests and bishops need to be chaste in their priesthood. God wants all men to model the chastity and self-giving of St. Joseph.iii
St. Joseph, in a world that is blinded by impurity, help me to resist temptations and to have self-mastery over my passions. Pray for me to live my vocation in a chaste and holy way. Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.
Daily Challenge
Resolve today to decisively confront patterns of impure thoughts, words and deeds and replace them with the virtue of chastity with the help of St. Joseph.