03/19/2025
Today is the Solemnity of St. Joseph.
Oh holy spouse of the Virgin and protector of Jesus, Ora pro nobis!
EARLY CHURCH THEOLOGIANS: ST. JOSEPH NEVER SUSPECTED MARY OF INFIDELITY
Matthew's Gospel tells us that when Mary was found to be with child, "her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly" (1:19).
Why did he resolve to "send her away" at all? The immediate response may well be that he suspected her of adultery, but did not want to make this publicly known lest she be shamed and, indeed, stoned to death.
John Chrysostom, Ambrose, and Augustine all argued for this view. Given the scriptural data, as well as these corresponding interpretations from such great authorities, we might consider this question settled.
However, their view was not unanimous in the early Church. Some theologians held a different view: St. Joseph knew EXACTLY what was going on. St. Thomas Aquinas summarizes:
"According to Jerome and Origen, he had no suspicion of adultery. For Joseph knew Mary’s chastity; he had read in the Scriptures that 'a virgin will conceive' (Isa. 7:14) and, 'and there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root' (11:1); he also knew that Mary was descended from David. Hence he more easily believed that this had been fulfilled in her than that she had fornicated. And therefore, considering himself unworthy to live with such great sanctity, he wished to hide her away, just as Peter said, 'depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord' (Luke 5:8). Hence he did not wish to hand her over, i.e., to take her to himself, and receive her in marriage, considering himself unworthy (see chs. 1-12)" (Commentary on Matthew, 117).
The Church has not ruled definitively on which view is correct, so it is a matter of theological opinion and Catholics are free to hold to either.
But some may be suspicious. Isn't this an "overly pious" stretching of the true meaning of the Scriptures on this matter, ignoring the obvious meaning of divine revelation on this question?
Not necessarily. Read more below... 👇
