Day 152: St. Joseph’s Offering

Summary

Podcast Summary: Day 152 – St. Joseph’s Offering

Introduction

In Episode Day 152: St. Joseph’s Offering of The Rosary in a Year podcast, hosted by Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, listeners embark on a contemplative journey surrounding the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Released on June 1, 2025, this episode delves deep into the role of St. Joseph during this pivotal moment in the Holy Family's life, drawing insights from a historical painting and reflecting on the profound implications of Simeon's prophecy.

Exploring the Sacred Art: The Presentation at the Church of St. Havel

Fr. Mark-Mary begins the episode by introducing a historical painting from the Church of St. Havel in Prague, likely dating back to the 17th or 18th century. He provides a vivid description of the artwork, emphasizing its intricate details:

"At the center of the painting, Mary in a fine blue toga bears in her arms the infant Jesus, who is sitting up, aware and present, and she offers him to a man in a priestly robe."
[00:00] Fr. Mark-Mary

Fr. Francis adds depth by identifying the priest as Simeon:

"This we know to be Simeon."
[02:02] Fr. Francis

The painting is depicted as bustling with onlookers, including St. Joseph in the background:

"Behind him, St. Joseph, cape billowing in the wind, passes two doves to an attendant at the temple."
[02:05] Fr. Mark-Mary

St. Joseph’s Role in the Presentation

The discussion shifts to St. Joseph's presence in the painting and his significance in the narrative:

"As we pray today with the fourth joyful mystery, the presentation of Jesus in the temple, we're going to keep with the theme of reflecting on St. Joseph and how he is taking part in and experiencing these different events in the life of the holy family."
[03:30] Fr. Mark-Mary

Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes Joseph's active role:

"He is making the offering. What I believe here is that St. Joseph in the presentation is going to be invited to make another offering, a deeper offering."
[03:31] Fr. Mark-Mary

Reflecting on Simeon's Prophecy and Its Impact on St. Joseph

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Simeon's prophecy to Mary and its emotional and spiritual impact on St. Joseph:

"Like Jesus, like Mary, he says yes, he submits. So today, as we pray, I'll invite you to reflect on this reality, right? That today a loving husband who has embraced his God-given call to care for and to protect his wife... hears that her soul is going to be pierced by a sword."
[07:48 - 08:36] Fr. Mark-Mary & Fr. Francis

Fr. Mark-Mary poignantly describes Joseph's internal struggle:

"I imagine Joseph's hearing of these words being received like a blow to the stomach which knocks all the wind out of him. And how he, too, like Mary, would have to ponder this prayerfully in his own heart."
[04:37] Fr. Mark-Mary

This reflection illustrates Joseph's profound faith and obedience despite foreseeing future suffering:

"But he doesn't rebel. He remains faithful."
[08:36] Fr. Mark-Mary

Parallels Between St. Joseph and Mary

The episode draws parallels between St. Joseph's and Mary's roles within the Holy Family, highlighting their mutual support and unwavering faith:

"Like Mary's mission of mother who so desired to protect her son, she's not able to protect him from all harm... Joseph too, right? Joseph has been called to provide for Mary and to protect her."
[07:10 - 07:48] Fr. Mark-Mary

Fr. Francis underscores Joseph's steadfastness:

"St. Joseph, the righteous man, says yes."
[08:39] Fr. Francis

Surrendering to God's Will

Fr. Mark-Mary encourages listeners to emulate St. Joseph's example of surrendering to God's will:

"He has come to love and to delight in and to protect Mary... he says yes, he submits... he remains faithful."
[08:06 - 08:39] Fr. Mark-Mary & Fr. Francis

This surrender is portrayed as a model for personal spiritual growth and deeper relationship with God.

Concluding Reflections and Prayer

The episode culminates in a communal prayer, led by Fr. Francis and joined by Fr. Joseph, reinforcing the themes of faith, obedience, and trust in God's plan. This prayer serves as a practical application of the day's reflections, inviting listeners to integrate these spiritual insights into their daily lives.

Conclusion

Day 152: St. Joseph’s Offering offers a thoughtful exploration of St. Joseph's role during the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, enriched by artistic interpretation and theological reflection. Fr. Mark-Mary Ames guides listeners to a deeper understanding of faith, obedience, and the profound mysteries of the Rosary, fostering a more intimate relationship with Jesus and Mary. Through this episode, listeners are inspired to emulate St. Joseph's unwavering faith and commitment, making the Rosary a transformative source of grace in their spiritual journeys.

Transcript

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Foreign Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars, the 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 152. To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.com forward/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. On behalf of myself and the whole team here at Ascension, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who's helped support this podcast financially. Your generosity is so appreciated and helps us to reach as many people as possible. And if you haven't already, please consider supporting [e-mail] support today we will be meditating upon and praying with the fourth joyful Mystery, the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, with help from a painting of the presentation at the Church of St. Havel in Prague. Now a brief introduction to our painting. The artist is unknown and the time period is actually uncertain. It's probably from the 17th or the 18th century. The church itself was built in the year 1232, but over its long history it's added a collection of sacred art, so we don't have much background actually for the painting today. So now we can go ahead and move into our description. At the center of the painting, Mary in a fine blue toga bears in her arms the infant Jesus, who is sitting up, aware and present, and she offers him to a man in a priestly robe.

[Fr. Francis]

This we know to be Simeon.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

One woman attends to the priest and even supports his arm, receiving Jesus from below. Another woman in a blue hood, crosses her arms and bends her knees in emotion and observance. Behind him, St. Joseph, Cape billowing in the wind, passes two doves to an attendant at the temple. Around them, the painting is brimming with onlookers. To the right, two young altar boys wear surpluses and carry poles with candles. From the far left, mothers and daughters in traditional European garb, as well as a man dressed as a cloaked sojourner stand in the temple and intently observe the scene through the classical arches. In the back, three heads pop in from a lower level, and many others. They watch in Light and in shadows. As Mary presents her son Jesus in the temple. As we pray today with the fourth joyful mystery, the presentation of Jesus in the temple, we're going to keep with the theme of reflecting on St. Joseph and how he is taking part in and experiencing these different events in the life of the holy family. And as I've been praying with the presentation in the Gospel of Luke and are painting today, my heart's deeply moved, right? We have St. Joseph in the back today.

[Fr. Francis]

And what's he doing?

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Like, he is making the offering. What I believe here is that St. Joseph in the presentation is going to be invited to make another offering, a deeper offering. So that's what we're going to look at today. And what strikes me, and maybe how we'll kind of begin and build up.

[Fr. Francis]

To this moment in salvation history is.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Just the reality of, like, how many times up to this point, and then again during their time in Nazareth, would Mary be going about her business? She's going around the house or she's taking a walk in nature, maybe on a journey, and enjoying the beauty of God's creation or feeding or interacting with the child Jesus, when out of the corner of her eye, she catches St. Joseph. And what is St. Joseph doing?

[Fr. Francis]

St. Joseph is looking at her lovingly.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Like, attentively and prayerfully.

[Fr. Francis]

And how loved and safe would Mary.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Always feel right in his presence and.

[Fr. Francis]

Under his loving gaze?

[Fr. Mark Mary]

And as we mentioned yesterday, we were praying with the Nativity, right? Mary experienced such profound freedom to pray and delight and care for Jesus because of Joseph's loving protection and how much Joseph both loved, but also felt the duty of creating this place of safety and security for Mary. Like it's what God called him to do and it is what his heart delighted in doing today at the presentation. He's there and he's taking it all in and he's lovingly watching mother and child. And then he hears these words of Simeon spoken to Mary, and a sword will pierce through your own soul also. And I dare say at hearing this prophecy, Joseph's own heart was pierced. We see that Joseph's mission at this moment is prophesied, that his mission too, like humanly speaking, in some ways will be a failure. In some ways, it's going to share the same fate as that of Jesus and Mary, or again, just kind of looking at it with human eyes. Jesus was rejected and Jesus was crucified. Mary and her mission of mother who so desired to protect her son, she's not able to protect him from all harm. And so she sees him suffer, and sees him suffering, the greatest of suffering. Now Joseph too, right? Joseph has been called to provide for Mary and to protect her. But also, in a certain sense, like in quotes, to fail as well as she will be hurt, as her soul is destined to be pierced by a sword. And I imagine Joseph's hearing of these words being received like a blow to the stomach which knocks all the wind out of him. And how he, too, like Mary, would have to ponder this prayerfully in his own heart.

[Fr. Francis]

Sharing his heart with God.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Sharing the pain that he feels, this prophecy, but also like surrendering to the Father's perfect will. How Mary ascended, she shared in the offering of Jesus. And we see in the painting today, St. Joseph being depicted making the offering of the turtle doves, artistically representing what also is happening interiorly as he makes.

[Fr. Francis]

This offering to the Father's will.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

This, yes, to the Father's will, made on the altar of his heart in the temple of his own body.

[Fr. Francis]

That.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

He has come to love and to delight in and to protect Mary, who.

[Fr. Francis]

God called to take as his wife. But her soul is going to be pierced with a sword. And so with that, so does St. Joseph. But what does he do?

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Like Jesus, like Mary, he says yes, he ascents. So today, as we pray, I'll invite you to reflect on this reality, right? That today a loving husband who has embraced his God given call to care for and to protect his wife, his innocent wife, his pure wife, his beautiful wife, his immaculate wife, hears that her.

[Fr. Francis]

Soul will be pierced. And how that must have pained his own heart.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

But he doesn't rebel. He remains faithful.

[Fr. Francis]

St. Joseph, the righteous man, says yes. Today in the temple now with Mary, let us pray in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Fr. Joseph]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

And lead us not into temptation, but.

[Fr. Francis]

Deliver us from evil.

[Fr. Joseph]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Fr. Joseph]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Fr. Joseph]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Fr. Joseph]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Fr. Joseph]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Fr. Joseph]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Fr. Joseph]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Fr. Joseph]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Fr. Joseph]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Fr. Joseph]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

[Fr. Joseph]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.

[Fr. Joseph]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

In the name of the Father and.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Fr. Joseph]

Amen.

[Fr. Francis]

All right.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

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

[Fr. Francis]

With you again tomorrow.

[Fr. Mark Mary]

Poco. Poco. Friends, God bless y' all.