By Sister Shawn Pauline, O.C.D.
There it was! A heart twined with white flowers and crowned by a single lily stock. Dumfounded, I looked again intently at the image. Previously, I had only known of Jesus’ Sacred Heart and Mary’s Immaculate Heart. Joseph was holding little Jesus, yet the child was keeping his tiny Sacred Heart hidden. A paternal protecting glance surrounded the tiny child and was firmly fixed on me. With one arm, Joseph held the Christ Child, and in the other, a strong staff with yet one more lily finished the image. With all those lilies representing a triple purity, it was as if Joseph said to me, “Mine is the most chaste heart. I protect all those especially consecrated to God.”
During the Solemnity of St. Joseph, we often pray the great litany which references three titles pointing to Joseph’s all protecting and holy, chaste heart. These titles are specifically: chaste guardian of the Virgin, Joseph most chaste, and guardian of virgins. These point to his most chaste heart that guards, defends and protects all of those devoted to God and vowed to a life of chastity. This trio of titles suggests that one cannot glance over these words without pondering the significance of this man’s great holiness and purity of heart.
Joseph was the guardian of the Virgin of Virgins. After many years of pondering the beauty of Mary and her most glorious virtues, Joseph must have been divinely inspired to inquire for her hand in marriage. In the period of their betrothal, how strange it must have seemed to him that she could be with child, this most upright and virtuous woman. As we all know, it was his sense of justice that willed to protect Mary until the angel revealed the truth of the matter. He must have received a tremendous grace to see now in his betrothed, the very Mother of God. How could he not defend and protect this woman of grace, and the Divine One within her?
Joseph most chaste is the next title that warrants reflection for every soul this year. His boundless chastity is clearly the fruit of living with the two most perfectly chaste people. Surely his own inner virtues were strengthened and polished as he rubbed elbows with Jesus and Mary. His own chaste heart was brought to profound recollection and prayer as he must have watched both of them go about their day in total communion with the Heavenly Father. How could Jesus not affect him to become more pure each day, and Joseph’s chaste heart is truly a model of pure manhood that all fathers can emulate as an example to their sons.
Since Joseph is also hailed now as “guardian of virgins”, everyone who has vowed virginity to God can turn to Joseph for protection and guidance too. He has a Heavenly place devoted to caring for and protecting all virgins just as he did for the Blessed Virgin. The “guardian of virgins” can bestow wisdom, patience, and guidance simply by prayer and relationship with him. He knows what it means to suffer and endure hardship physically and spiritually as he defended Jesus and Mary, and he knows what it takes to live on a supernatural plane. All those devoted to God and vowed to virginity can find a secure refuge in him just as the Blessed Mother did. May his heart wrapped in lilies be the third heart leading all of us into deeper intimacy with God as we imitate his purity and love.
Original watercolor paintings created by the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles.
