Saint Joseph

Description

transl. of Teologia de San José

cited in Griffin, Supernatural Fatherhood through Priestly Celibacy: Fulfillment in Masculinity: A Thomistic Study, §5.7. "Saint Joseph: Model of Celibate Fatherhood"

p. 17 (PDF p. 33):

THE THEOLOGY OF ST. JOSEPH rests upon two principles : first, his union with Mary by matrimony ; second, his paternal ministry with respect to Jesus.

pp. 18-22 (PDF pp. 34-38): Hebrew customs in the celebration of marriage. Espousals = true marriage (but where wife hasn't come into husband's home yet):

In a word, the Hebrew espousal [≟ kiddushin] was equivalent to our valid but not consummated marriage.

cf. espousal (≟ kiddushin) vs. nuptials (≟ nissuin), "the solemn entry of the bride into her husband's home amidst great festivities and rejoicing" (p. 19, PDF p. 35).

See

• Filas, S.J., Joseph: The Man Closest to Jesus pp. 328-36 (PDF pp. 327-35)
• Llamera, O.P., Saint Joseph p. 77 (PDF p. 93)

for how the title "Joseph, virginal father of Jesus" is, as Llamera, O.P., ibid. writes, "true and, without doubt, the most sublime and exact of all the titles which have been given the holy Patriarch." Also,

St. Pius X approved and indulgenced the ejaculation: “O Joseph, virginal father of Jesus!”74. ASS 40 (1906), 59.

Pope St. Giuseppe Sarto (Pius X)'s beautiful prayer (Oct. 1906, Raccolta #439, p. 347, PDF p. 369):

O Ioseph, virgo Pater Iesu, purissime Sponse Virginis Mariæ, quotidie deprecare pro nobis ipsum Iesum Filium Dei, ut, armis suæ gratiæ muniti, legitime certantes in vita, ab eodem coronemur in morte.

O Joseph, virgin-father of Jesus, most pure Spouse of the Virgin Mary, pray every day for us to the same Jesus, the Son of God, that we, being defended by the power of His grace and striving dutifully in life, may be crowned by Him at the hour of death.

cf.

• Gabriel Breynat, O.M.I. and François Blanchin, O.M.I. “Saint Joseph, Père Vierge de Jesus.” Revue de l’Université d’Ottawa , 1938 1936, 73–80, 149–58, 81–111.
  87: "Cette virginité que va féconder l'Esprit divin est conjointe. Elle appartient à Joseph autant qu'à Marie. A l'égal de celle-ci, celui-là en est la cause efficiente, quoique négative et par abstention* ". Very interesting, but how can an a privation be an efficient cause?
• Garrigou-Lagrange, Reginaldus. “De Paternitate Sancti Ioseph.” Angelicum 22, no. 3/4 (1945): 105–15.