Truly it is worthy and just... eternal God: Who didst exalt Thy most blessed Confessor Joseph with such great merits of his virtues, that by the wondrous gift of Thy grace, he merited to be made the Spouse of the most holy Virgin Mary, and be thought the father of Thy only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Wherefore, venerating the day of his birth unto heaven with due devotion, we ask for Thy ineffable grace, that with the help of so excellent a Patron, we may please Thee with the pure service of mind and body, and be joined everlastingly to the same Thy Son, the Spouse of our souls. Whom together with Thee, almighty Father, and the Holy Spirit, the Angels praise... (The Ambrosian Preface for the feast of St Joseph.)
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| The Holy Family, with Ss John the Baptist, Zachary and Elizabeth, ca. 1740, by Pompeo Batoni (1708-87); originally commissioned for the church of Ss Cosmas and Damian ‘alla Scala’ in Milan, now in the Brera Gallery. St Joseph is often shown wearing a brown robe over a garment of royal purple, to show that his royal descent from King David was hidden by his humble station in his earthly life. |
