Virginity of St. Joseph

The following is from today's Magnifcat reading.

Joseph: Virgin Husband

What were the thoughts of Mary and Joseph on being united under the eyes of God? Ah! They wee surely turned toward Christ who was to come, toward the promised Messiah. The expectation of the Messiah was in the heart of every good Israelite. The Patriarchs, on entering into marriage, had in view primarily the propagation of the race from which the Messiah was to come.

But Mary had promised God to remain a Virgin and that promise was very dear to her. She agreed to marry Joseph, but she would remain a Virgin. And behold, Saint Joseph came into the presence of Mary. At once, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, by a sweet unction, his most pure soul understands that Mary must remain a Virgin, that virginity is essential to her person, inseparable from her. Mary inspires only chaste thoughts. She can be loved only with virginal love. From the first, Joseph is won to the zeal of holy virginity; and their marriage is made on the understanding that they will entrust one another with their virginity. The virginity of Joseph will be the treasure of Mary. What Joseph loves most in Mary is that she is a virgin, so all his love for her consists in guarding very preciously her virginity.

O, who can tell the delights of such a union which is not of the earth? The two souls of Mary and Joseph meet and melt into one another in the ineffable light of a wholly divine fusion, breathing the spiritual perfumes of holy virginity.

- Dom Bernard Marchaux