MARY, OUR MOTHER

THE ESPOUSAL OF OUR LADY

2. The Virginal Union.

But God, for whom nothing impossible, found a way out. His solution was the virginal union of Mary and Joseph. Mary should not remain alone nor should She bear a Son without being betrothed. The world, having no idea about the miraculous conception brought about by the Holy Spirit, might have punished Mary for adultery, but the wisdom of God by giving Her a spouse, safeguards the honor of Mary, whilst at the same time through a virginal betrothal Her virginity is safeguarded. How well God does things!

How infinite is His wisdom. And how masterful His providence. It is madness to insist that everything should go according to our plans, measures and time-tables, disregarding altogether whatever God may have designed for us.

Contemplate now these two virginal spouses. St. Joseph was chosen by the priests because amongst all those who aspired to the hand of Mary he was virginal. Poetical tradition says that the Lord caused Joseph's rod to blossom with lilies after it had been placed in the Ark of the Covenant. St. Joseph had made no vow of virginity, such a vow being unknown in his day but certainly Our Blessed Lady on the very same day of Her espousals would have informed Joseph of the vow She had taken. Then St. Joseph admiring the pure virtue of the Virgin and not wanting to lag behind would, in the footsteps of his spouse, also by vow consecrate his virginity to God. It is sweet to think that it was Joseph who through Mary after Her made the first vow of virginity. Joseph immediately realized that his destiny was to be the guardian of the virginal purity of Mary. There was a veil over the Ark of the Covenant warding off the curious glances of the bystanders. That veil was an image of Joseph who hid and guarded the great mystery that was enclosed in the Ark of the New Testament, Mary.

[From 'Marian Meditations' Book]