Day 151: St. Joseph’s Protection

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Rosary in a Year - Day 151: St. Joseph’s Protection

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)
• Host/Author: Ascension
• Episode: Day 151: St. Joseph’s Protection
• Release Date: May 31, 2025

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Introduction

In Day 151 of The Rosary in a Year podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, delves into the theme of St. Joseph’s Protection within the context of the Nativity. This episode guides listeners through a contemplative journey using the Rosary, enriched by art and theological reflection, aiming to deepen their prayer life and relationship with Jesus and Mary.

Exploration of the Artwork: "Adoration of the Shepherds" by Gerard van Honthorst

Fr. Mike Schmitz introduces the episode by presenting a detailed analysis of Gerard van Honthorst’s 1622 painting, "Adoration of the Shepherds." He provides a brief biography of the artist, highlighting his Dutch origin, training in Rome, and early influence by Caravaggio’s dramatic style, evolving into a successful portrait painter.

Description of the Painting (00:00 - 01:50):

• Visual Elements: The Christ Child is depicted lying on a manger adorned with white cloth and straw, emanating a radiant glow that illuminates Mary’s face.
• Mary’s Portrayal: Mary is shown in a red dress with a blue hood, exuding peaceful contentment and tenderness as she gazes at her newborn.
• Presence of St. Joseph: Among the six men surrounding the manger, St. Joseph stands out, embodying joy and expectation as he witnesses the holy scene alongside his family.

“Luminescent and bright, the Christ Child laying on a manger covered in pure white cloth and straw, radiates a gleaming shine into the face of his mother Mary...” [00:50]

The Role of St. Joseph in the Nativity

Fr. Patrick takes over to emphasize the often-overlooked presence of St. Joseph in the Nativity scene. He posits that without St. Joseph, the Adoration of the Shepherds and subsequent events may not have occurred.

Key Points (01:50 - 05:31):

• Human Reality of Mary’s Vulnerability: Mary, a young and vulnerable woman in Bethlehem, likely had no support system in an unfamiliar town.
• St. Joseph as Protector: Fr. Patrick suggests that Mary, in her state, would prudently seek safety and protection rather than welcoming unknown shepherds unguarded.

“I think prudently she's going to... remain to herself, almost in hiding.” [03:30]

• Facilitating the Adoration: St. Joseph creates a secure environment that allows Mary to receive the shepherds peacefully, enabling the adoration of the Christ child.

“Like the one who makes this adoration possible. Like the door to this beautiful moment is St. Joseph...” [05:00]

Insights into Mary and Joseph’s Relationship

Fr. Mike Schmitz expands on the mutual support between Mary and St. Joseph, highlighting how Joseph’s presence allows Mary to fully focus on Jesus and share Him with the world.

Key Insights (05:31 - 08:30):

• Mutual Support and Protection: Joseph’s goodness, fidelity, and strength provide Mary with the security needed to nurture her child and embrace divine invitations.

“Mary writes she can have the freedom to focus on Jesus, to give him her full attention and then to share Jesus with the world in the safety that she finds in the heart, the care, the presence, the protection of good St. Joseph.” [07:45]

• Divine Providence: The episode underscores the importance of God’s intervention in sending St. Joseph to support Mary, enabling the beautiful scenes of the Nativity to unfold.

“If God didn't send that angel to St. Joseph... this beautiful moment and this beautiful life he'll get to share with Mary in the Christ child [would not happen].” [08:00]

Reflection and Spiritual Application

Fr. Patrick invites listeners to meditate on the intimate and grace-filled scene depicted in the painting, encouraging them to appreciate the protective role of St. Joseph in their own spiritual lives.

Reflection Points (08:30 - 12:04):

• Imagining the Scene: Listeners are guided to visualize Mary and Joseph’s profound connection and mutual gratitude for God’s gifts.

“Imagine Mary... her eyes lock with St. Joseph's eyes and with a knowing and loving glance, both their hearts well up with love and gratitude...” [07:30]

• Personal Application: The protection and support exemplified by St. Joseph serve as a model for believers to seek and recognize divine protection in their own lives.

“My brothers and sisters, like we too are welcome into this beautiful and intimate and grace filled scene and to experience the warmth of the holy family and the protection and the safety offered by good Saint Joseph.” [07:50]

Recitation of the Rosary

The episode transitions into the recitation of the Hail Mary, led by various Fathers, fostering a communal prayer experience. This segment, lasting from [09:01] to [11:52], includes the complete Rosary prayer, emphasizing the meditative aspect of the devotion.

Conclusion and Closing Remarks

Fr. Mike Schmitz closes the episode by thanking listeners for joining in prayer and expressing anticipation for continuing the journey together.

“Thanks so much for joining me and praying with me again today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow.” [12:03]

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Key Takeaways

• St. Joseph’s Essential Role: The protection and presence of St. Joseph are pivotal in the Nativity, facilitating the adoration of the shepherds and ensuring the safety of Mary and Jesus.
• Interconnectedness of the Holy Family: The harmonious relationship between Mary and Joseph exemplifies mutual support, enabling a deeper focus on their divine mission.
• Personal Reflection: Listeners are encouraged to reflect on the protective and supportive aspects of their spiritual lives, drawing parallels from St. Joseph’s role.
• Deepening Prayer Life: The structured recitation of the Rosary serves as a tool for meditation and strengthening one’s relationship with Jesus and Mary.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “Luminescent and bright, the Christ Child laying on a manger covered in pure white cloth and straw, radiates a gleaming shine into the face of his mother Mary...” [00:50]
• “I think prudently she's going to... remain to herself, almost in hiding.” [03:30]
• “Like the one who makes this adoration possible. Like the door to this beautiful moment is St. Joseph...” [05:00]
• “Mary writes she can have the freedom to focus on Jesus, to give him her full attention and then to share Jesus with the world in the safety that she finds in the heart, the care, the presence, the protection of good St. Joseph.” [07:45]
• “If God didn't send that angel to St. Joseph... this beautiful moment and this beautiful life he'll get to share with Mary in the Christ child [would not happen].” [08:00]
• “Imagine Mary... her eyes lock with St. Joseph's eyes and with a knowing and loving glance, both their hearts well up with love and gratitude...” [07:30]
• “My brothers and sisters, like we too are welcome into this beautiful and intimate and grace filled scene and to experience the warmth of the holy family and the protection and the safety offered by good Saint Joseph.” [07:50]
• “Thanks so much for joining me and praying with me again today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow.” [12:03]

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For the complete prayer plan and to follow the Rosary in a Year journey, visit Ascension's website or text RIY to 33777.

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This episode beautifully intertwines art, scripture, and personal reflection to highlight the indispensable role of St. Joseph in the Holy Family, encouraging listeners to seek His protection and emulate his virtues in their own lives.

Transcript

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Foreign.

[Father Josh Johnson]

Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars with.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Renewal and this is the Rosary in Year podcast, where through prayer and meditation, the Rosary brings us deeper into relationship with Jesus and Mary and becomes a source of grace for the whole world. The Rosary in a Year is brought to you by Ascension. This is day 151. To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.com rosary in a year or text RIY to 33777. You'll get an outline of how we're going to pray each month and it's a great way to track your progress. The best place to listen to the Podcast in the Ascension app. There are special features built just for this podcast and also recordings of the full rosary with myself and other friars. No matter what app you're listening in, remember to tap, follow or subscribe for your daily notifications. Today we will be meditating upon and praying with the third joyful mystery, the Nativity, with help from a painting entitled Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard van Honthorst. Now a brief introduction to our artist and the artwork. Gerard van Honthorst was born in the year 1592. He died in the year 1656, and he was a Dutch painter who studied in Rome. He was influenced by Carvaggio's style early in his career and enjoyed success as a portrait painter later in his career. This particular painting was done in the year 1622. Now our description of the painting Luminescent and bright, the Christ Child laying on a manger covered in pure white cloth and straw, radiates a gleaming shine into the face of his mother Mary, who.

[Father Patrick]

Is wearing a red dress and blue.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Hood and places her arms on either side of the manger and beams herself a look of peaceful contentment, of sweetness and delight to her child as her face shines with a warm smile as she tenderly gazes at the baby in her arms. Her right hand holds up the cloth he lies on. Around them, in varying degrees of shadow, six men gather round, including St. Joseph, also with joy and expectation as they appreciate the holy sight of the tiny newborn child. So today we have this beautiful painting of the Adoration of the Shepherds. And who else do we find there? Good Saint Joseph? Today I'd like to pray with Saint Joseph and his presence at the Nativity. And we're going to look at it as what I'll call, I guess, like a very human reality. And basically what I'm proposing is that the Adoration of the Shepherds, right in the future Adoration of the Magi. It probably doesn't happen at all without the presence of St. Joseph. Help me explain. So we have this beautiful scene today depicted where the shepherds come to Bethlehem, right? And they see the Christ child in the arms of the Blessed Mother and they fall to their knees in adoration and wonder and praise of God. But for this to happen, St. Joseph has to be there. At least that's my hypothesis. Okay, so now, now why? Well, we have Mary, right? And who is Mary at this point? Mary is a young and a vulnerable woman. And that's just kind of like the state of her and her femininity before the world, right? She's this young, vulnerable woman who has just given birth to her son. So now we have a young mother and her young newborn, tiny little son in a manger, like in a town where she doesn't know anyone. And while I guess the gospel don't explicitly say she doesn't know anyone in Bethlehem, I do think we can infer this based on the fact that, that she's there in the manger. There was no one to take her in in her time of need. Like there must not have been anyone she knew there. So now if a woman is in this state, just like, let's just think about it like it's human realities, you think she's just going to freely and peacefully welcome into her sort of inner sanctum this group of unknown men, like in today's case, the shepherds. She can say, come on in. I just don't think so. I think prudently she's going to. Right. In the name of a wise self preservation and also protection for her child, like remain to herself, almost in hiding. And so it's St. Joseph who creates a safe place for Mary and child. And the safety that Mary experiences in his presence that allows her to receive the shepherds and to join them and to join St. Joseph in adoring the newborn babe of Bethlehem in the manger. As we contemplate today's painting, notice the intimacy, notice the peace, notice the glow on the faces of Mary and St. Joseph and the shepherds and these hearts.

[Father Patrick]

Filled with awe at the Christ child.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Like the one who makes this adoration possible. Like the door to this beautiful moment is St. Joseph and the character of St. Joseph, his goodness, his fidelity, his presence, his strength. Mary writes she can have the freedom to focus on Jesus, to give him her full attention and then to share Jesus with the world in the safety that she finds in the heart, the care, the presence, the protection of good St. Joseph. And so she receives this deep Gift, the presence of the shepherds, of the adoration of the shepherds towards her Christ child, of the testimony of the shepherd, something that she keeps in her heart and ponders. Why? Because St. Joseph is there. And the shepherds, right, they go away glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen because of the presence of St. Joseph. So today, as we pray, like, I'll invite you to reflect on Mary's heart here in Joseph's presence. The gratitude, the peace, the thankfulness that never ceases to rise to heaven in gratitude to God for bringing St. Joseph into her life and for sending the angel to encourage him to remain with her and to take her as his wife so that she cannot be afraid. And now with your imagination, if you can, like, imagine Mary, they're contemplating Jesus, maybe holding Jesus the shepherds come and adore. And for a moment her eyes lock with St. Joseph's eyes and with a knowing and loving glance, both their hearts well up with love and gratitude at this gift that they are to each other, given ultimately by God himself. If God didn't send that angel to St. Joseph, like maybe this adoration, like the safety, the experience that Mary feels like doesn't happen, but also St. Joseph, right, like if, if God doesn't send the angel, maybe he misses this beautiful moment and this beautiful life he'll get to share with Mary in the Christ child. My brothers and sisters, like we too are welcome into this beautiful and intimate and grace filled scene and to experience the warmth of the holy family and the protection and the safety offered by good Saint Joseph. Today as we pray, let us receive that gift and prayerfully enter into that space. And now with Mary, let us pray.

[Father Patrick]

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Father Brian]

Amen.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.

[Father Patrick]

On earth as it is in heaven.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but.

[Father Patrick]

Deliver us from evil.

[Father Brian]

Amen.

[Father Matthew]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Father Chris]

The Lord is with the.

[Father Patrick]

Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Father David]

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for.

[Father Josh Johnson]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Father Brian]

Amen.

[Father Matthew]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Father Chris]

The Lord is with the Blessed art.

[Father Patrick]

Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Father David]

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for.

[Father Josh Johnson]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Father Brian]

Amen.

[Father Matthew]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord.

[Father Chris]

Is with the blessed art thou among.

[Father Patrick]

Women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Father David]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Father Josh Johnson]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Father Brian]

Amen.

[Father Matthew]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Father Chris]

The Lord is with the blessed art.

[Father Patrick]

Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Father David]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Father Josh Johnson]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Father Brian]

Amen.

[Father Matthew]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Father Chris]

The Lord is with the blessed art.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Thou among women, and blessed is the.

[Father Patrick]

Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Father Josh Johnson]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Father Brian]

Amen.

[Father Matthew]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Father Chris]

The Lord is with the blessed, art.

[Father Patrick]

Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Father David]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Father Josh Johnson]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Father Brian]

Amen.

[Father Matthew]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Father Chris]

The Lord is with the blessed art.

[Father Patrick]

Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Father David]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Father Josh Johnson]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Father Brian]

Amen.

[Father Matthew]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

[Father Patrick]

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Father David]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Father Josh Johnson]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Father Brian]

Amen.

[Father Matthew]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Father Chris]

The Lord is with the blessed art.

[Father Patrick]

Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Father David]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Father Josh Johnson]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Father Brian]

Amen.

[Father Matthew]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Father Chris]

The Lord is with the blessed art.

[Father Patrick]

Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[Father David]

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for.

[Father Josh Johnson]

Us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Father Brian]

Amen.

[Father Patrick]

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is.

[Father Josh Johnson]

Now and ever shall be, world without end.

[Father Brian]

Amen.

[Father Patrick]

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Father Brian]

Amen.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

All right. Thanks so much for joining me and praying with me again today. I look forward to continuing this journey.

[Father Patrick]

With you again tomorrow.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Poco. Poco. Friends, God bless you.