JOSEPHITE SPIRITUALITY  SEEDS.

Monthly publication of the International Josephite-Marellian Center. September 2022

1.   Welcoming

2. Opening Prayer

3. Theme of the Month:

The welcoming silence of Joseph of Nazareth

“Oh, silence of Nazareth, teach us to remain firm in good thoughts, absorbed in the interior life, ready to feel well the secret inspirations of God and the exhortations of the true teachers.”

(Pope Paul VI. Address in Nazareth, January 5, 1964)

         In the previous edition of “Josephite Spirituality Seeds”, we started some reflections on prayer, based on the catechesis of Pope Benedict XVI of 12/28/2011, and we received two very important teachings from the Pope:

 “The house of Nazareth is a school of prayer, in which one learns to listen, to meditate, to understand the profound meaning of the manifestation of the Son of God, having as an example Mary, Joseph and Jesus”.

(Pope Benedict XVI. General Audience. Paul VI Hall.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011)

 The Holy Family is an icon of the domestic Church, called to pray together. The family is a domestic Church and must be the first school of prayer. (Id, ibidem).

         We also saw in that “Josephine Seed of Spirituality” several teachings of Saint Teresa of Avila that she transmitted to us in the form of testimonies.

         In the same catechesis of 12/28/2011, Pope Benedict XVI, citing the teachings of the Servant of God Paul VI delivered in Nazareth, on 01/05/1964, highlighted the Family of Nazareth: “in the first place it teaches us the silence.” Let us listen to Pope Benedict XVI:

         “The Discourse of the Servant of God Paul VI during his Visit to Nazareth is memorable. The Pope said that at the school of the Holy Family we «understand why we must maintain a spiritual discipline, if we wish to follow the teaching of the Gospel and become disciples of Christ». He added: «In the first place it teaches us silence. Oh! If only esteem for silence, a wonderful and indispensable spiritual atmosphere, could be reborn within us! Whereas we are deafened by the din, the noise and discordant voices in the frenetic, turbulent life of our time. O silence of Nazareth! Teach us to be steadfast in good thoughts, attentive to our inner life, ready to hear God’s hidden inspiration clearly and the exhortations of true teachers»”.

(Pope Benedict XVI. General Audience. Paul VI Hall.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011)

         Pope Saint John Paul II had already taught us that Saint Joseph’s actions at the House of Nazareth were shrouded in silence, in an atmosphere of deep contemplation. Let’s see:

         “The same aura of silence that envelops everything else about Joseph also shrouds his work as a carpenter in the house of Nazareth. It is, however, a silence that reveals in a special way the inner portrait of the man. The Gospels speak exclusively of what Joseph “did.” Still, they allow us to discover in his “actions” – shrouded in silence as they are – an aura of deep contemplation. Joseph was in daily contact with the mystery “hidden from ages past,” and which “dwelt” under his roof.”

(Saint John Paul II. Apostolic Exhortation “Redemptoris Custos”, 25.

The primacy of the inner life)

         We can therefore learn from the Servant of God Pope Paul VI and from Saint John Paul II:

 That the silence of Nazareth teaches us to remain firm in good thoughts, absorbed in the interior life, ready to feel the secret inspirations of God and the exhortations of the true teachers.

 That the carpenter’s work in the house of Nazareth took place in an atmosphere of silence, which accompanies everything that refers to the figure of Joseph.

 That silence reveals in a special way the interior profile of Saint Joseph.

         The teachings about how much Saint Joseph valued and practiced silence should not lead us to conclude that there were no joyful and animated moments of sharing through conversations, songs and so many other forms of conversation at the House of Nazareth. As we have seen on other occasions, Saint Joseph had the noble mission of educating Jesus with his example, and certainly through conversations, explanations of the Word, and so many other forms of dialogue. On this, let us listen to Pope Saint John Paul II:

         “The growth of Jesus “in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man” (Lk 2:52) took place within the Holy Family under the eyes of Joseph, who had the important task of “raising” Jesus, that is, feeding, clothing and educating him in the Law and in a trade, in keeping with the duties of a father.”

(Saint John Paul II. Apostolic Exhortation Redemptoris Custos, 16)

         Father José Antônio Bertolin, OSJ, teaches us that the silence of Saint Joseph was welcoming and allowed him to reflect on the mysteries inherent in the presence of God among us. Let’s see:

         “Joseph’s silence is not poverty of spirit. It is a silence that has welcomed the mystery of the presence of the Word made flesh and that has appreciated its richness. He was aware that the mystery into which he was introduced with Mary was inexpressible. He is the example of the man whose inner wealth is develops silently… […] Silence was for him the best way to live the deepest love… […] To all those who look to Joseph, he never ceases to point out the greatness of silence: silence to welcome Jesus and his revelation, to live in communion with the meditative soul of Mary, to allow oneself to be seduced by the love of God.”

(Father José Antônio Bertolin, OSJ)

4. Reflection and Sharing

         Share on the teachings of Popes John Paul II and Paul VI contained in this “Josephite Spirituality Seeds.”

5. Commitment of the Month

         Exercise yourself in the practice of carrying out everyday activities in a spirit of prayer and silence.

6. Final Prayer.