HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF ST JOSEPH SPOUSE OF MARY
Homily for the Solemnity of St. Joseph (Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary). 2 Samuel 7:4-5a,12-14a,16. Psalm 89:2-3,4-5,27,29. Romans 4:13,16-18,22. Matthew 1:16,18-21,24a. Today's solemnity should have been celebrated yesterday (19th of March, 2023), but it had to be celebrated today because yesterday was Sunday. The liturgy of the fourth Sunday of Lent was celebrated yesterday. St. Joseph, the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father of our Lord Jesus Christ, was descended from the royal house of David. This is reflected in the promise of God to David through the Prophet Nathan in the first reading: "And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your house shall be established forever" (2 Sam.7:16). This feast originated in the fifteenth century and was then extended to the whole Church in 1621. In 1847, Pope Pius IX named St. Joseph the Patron of the Universal Church, and from then, the feast has been celebrated on March 19 as one of...