This is the secret of St Joseph’s greatness, something which goes well together with his humility.
He made his whole life one of service and of sacrifice to the mystery of the Incarnation and the
redemptive mission that went with it. He made use of the authority over the holy family due to
him according to the law in order to give his life, his work and himself totally. He converted his
human calling to domestic love into a superhuman self offering of his heart and all his abilities,
into love placed at the service of the Messiah coming to birth in his house, his nominal child and
son of David, but in reality son of Mary and son of God.
If ever anyone deserved this gospel motto, “service out of love”, Saint Joseph does. He is
adorned with it, he seems defined by it, like the splendour that glorifies him. To serve Christ was
his life, to serve him in the deepest humility, in the most complete dedication, serving him with
love and out of love.
Pope Paul VI
Homily
19 March 1966