Welcome to The Seven Joys of St Joseph, a weekly reflection from Lough Derg.

The first joy: Joseph is betrothed to Mary.

The first thing that we hear about Joseph in the gospels is that he was betrothed to Mary.  Michael D. O’Brien represents the betrothal in an imaginative composition that features Joseph and Mary’s father Joackim.

In earlier Christian art there was a convention that tended to depict Joseph as a much older man.  Whatever the social setting of the event may have been, Mary and Joseph were in a real human relationship with each other. 

Many Lough Derg pilgrims pray for a stable and happy marriage.  Indeed, we have heard many stories about couples who first met on Lough Derg, or who experienced Lough Derg as some part of God’s plan for their relationship.

We think of the joy that Joseph found in his committed love for Mary and, through Joseph’s intercession, we ask that God may bless with happiness couples preparing for marriage at this present time.

Let us pray with Pope Francis:

  Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To you God entrusted his only Son;

in you Mary placed her trust;

with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,

show yourself a father

and guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage,

and defend us from every evil. Amen.

• From his letter “With a Father’s Heart”

St Joseph, pray for us.

Thursday 15 April 2021