The following is an afterthought to my just published Christmas Ad Rem…
In celebrating the Holy Ghost as Spouse of Mary, we do not detract the great Saint Joseph. In fact, I think we actually add to his praise by showing the loftiness of his dignity. Saint Joseph was the “Vicar of the Holy Ghost” on earth — he is called such, anyway, in a prayer composed by Blessed Bartolo Longo. I believe this title is justified because, as “Our Lady’s spouse,” the Patriarch of Nazareth stood on earth in the place of the Holy Ghost, respecting Mary’s virginal consecration to Her Divine Spouse. While, in this sense, Saint Joseph stands in the place, so to speak, of the Holy Ghost, in another sense — as legal father of Jesus according to the Mosaic Law — the head of the Holy Family stands in the place of the Eternal Father. Immense privileges have been heaped by God on this “just man”!
