St. Joseph, Advent, and Eucharistic Adoration

An Advent reflection while in the chapel of the Canadian College in Rome…

St. Joseph’s First Advent: A Model of Adoration

Imagine St. Joseph during his first Advent, returning home after a long day of labor. He walks into the kitchen, sees his pregnant wife, and realizes Who is in her womb. He genuflects, then walks over to Mary in quiet reverence and tenderly kisses her immaculate womb, his heart full of awe and gratitude for the great Mystery unfolding before him.

To others, Mary may have appeared as any expectant mother, but Joseph knew she carried the Holy of Holies—the long-awaited Messiah—Emmanuel, God-with-us. His life of faith, hope, and charity flowed from this profound realization.

• Faith: St. Joseph’s faith pierced the veil of the ordinary, fully believing in God’s promises and Mary’s word, allowing him to see the hidden presence of the Messiah and respond with deep trust.
• Hope: Amid the uncertainties of what their future like would bring, Joseph waited with joyful anticipation, steadfast in the assurance that God’s promises that the Child was the answer to humanity’s deepest longings.
• Charity: Joseph’s self-giving love was evident in his tireless work to provide for Mary and the unborn Christ, enduring every hardship with patient devotion.

Imitation of St. Joseph

St. Joseph’s preparation for the first Advent offers a profound model for our own, inviting us to adore Christ hidden in the Eucharist as he adored Him in Mary. St. Peter Julian Eymard observed, “St. Joseph was the first adorer. He never ceased adoring Jesus in Mary’s womb.” Fr. Donald Calloway described Mary as “a living tabernacle, a walking monstrance, a veiled temple… God lived in her body.” Joseph’s life of adoration—whether accompanying Mary on the journey to Bethlehem or kneeling in silent awe—foreshadows our own call to adore Christ veiled in the Blessed Sacrament.Like St. Joseph, we can embrace the theological virtues in Eucharistic Adoration:

Like St. Joseph, we can embrace the theological virtues in Eucharistic Adoration:

• Faith: Adoration deepens our belief in Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist, inviting us to approach with the same reverence Joseph showed to Mary.
• Hope: In the Eucharist, we are reminded of our ultimate destiny, strengthening our joyful expectation of God’s promises, just as Joseph awaited the birth of Christ.
• Charity: By choosing to spend time with Jesus in Adoration, we mirror Joseph’s devotion to Mary and Christ, offering ourselves in love to the One who first loved us.

A Call to Adore Like St. Joseph

This Advent, let us imitate St. Joseph’s life of adoration by dedicating ourselves to Eucharistic Adoration. As St. Peter Julian Eymard counseled, “We must beg for good adorers; the Blessed Sacrament needs them to replace St. Joseph and to imitate his life of adoration.” May we kneel before our Eucharistic Lord with faith, hope, and charity, preparing our hearts to welcome Emmanuel, the Savior of the world.

Reflection Questions:

• How can you adjust your schedule to spend more time in Adoration this Advent?
• What distractions can you set aside to say a greater “yes” to Jesus?
• Which theological virtue do you most need to cultivate, and how can you ask Jesus for this gift today?

As Fr. Calloway reminds us, “The Church needs more people like St. Joseph. To be like St. Joseph, you, too, need to adore Christ.” Let us take up this call, making room in our hearts for Emmanuel through devotion and reverence.