Mary’s School of Sanctity                   

Lesson #21  The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius –—SECOND WEEK –THE SECOND CONTEMPLATION—THE NATIVITY

At this time St. Ignatius brings us to our Second Contemplation for his plan of the second week.  This contemplation will be about the Nativity.

As usual we will give the text of St. Ignatius and then give some further considerations.

Besides the Contemplation on the Nativity, we are including an additional Contemplation about the Doubts of St. Joseph.  This Contemplation, in an abridged format, will be set out first because St. Joseph’s doubts occurred prior to the Nativity.  Further, this allows the exercitant to combine some of these ideas with his contemplation about the Nativity if he so wishes.  The doubts of St. Joseph are not mentioned in St. Ignatius’s plan for the second week.  Still, knowing that we can draw great profit from studying the virtue of the Universal Patron of the Church, we thought it fitting to include this separate contemplation of St. Joseph’s doubts in the same Lesson as the Contemplation of the Nativity.  Indeed, this additional Contemplation may help us increase our appreciation of St. Joseph, the foster father of Our Lord.

*** THE EXTRA CONTEMPLATIONè THE DOUBTS OF ST. JOSEPH ***

The preparatory prayer is the same as usual, I ask God Our Lord the grace that all my intentions, actions, and works may be directed purely to the service and praise of the Divine Majesty.

The FIRST PRELUDE: I will review the history concerning St. Joseph’s doubts once he found that Mary was with Child.  He is a just man and we see how God informed him in his sleep what he ought to do.              

The SECOND PRELUDE: I will also form a mental image of St. Joseph bewildered when Mary returns from visiting St. Elizabeth in Judea and is clearly with child.  I will imagine St. Joseph sleeping and him seeing in his dream an Angel to guide him.

The THIRD PRELUDE: It will be the same and in the same form as it was in the preceding contemplation.  [In the preceding contemplations –This was to ask for what I desire.  Here I will ask for an intimate knowledge of Our Lord, Who has become man for me, that I may love and follow Him better.  And in particular how Providence ordained that good St. Joseph was specially chosen from all eternity to be the foster father of the Incarnate Word.]

The FIRST POINT: We will SEE St. Joseph noticing a physical change in the sweet Virgin maid.   

The SECOND POINT: I will also consider the THOUGHTS that St. Joseph is having concerning his intended spouse with whom he has an understanding since they both have made vows of consecrated virginity.

The THIRD POINT: I will also OBSERVE and CONSIDER how St. Joseph is sleeping and being enlightened about what to do with Mary.  I see him waking from slumber and obeying the Holy Ghost by taking her into his own home.  

The COLLOQUY: Conclude with a colloquy with St. Joseph, and as in the preceding contemplation, end with the “Our Father.”   

Considerations for the FIRST POINT: TO USE THE SENSE OF SIGHT

·         SEE the situation before Mary and St. Joseph came together as man and wife.  St. Joseph was reassured by an angel in a dream that he should take Mary as his wife.  [The following verses are from St. Matthew 1:18-24:]

When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost.

Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately.  But while he thought on these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost.  And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus.  For he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying:  Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.  And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife.

Considerations for the SECOND AND THIRD POINTS: OBSERVE and HEAR what was spoken and the actions done.

We must remember that St. Joseph was espoused to Mary.  This was rather like a time of engagement.  Although, for the Jews, this really meant that the couple technically belonged to each other and could join together whenever they wished.

St. Thomas Aquinas explains several reasons why Our Lady was espoused and had a husband.  One reason was that she would not have the shame of being with child without a husband.  Another reason was because she would need a man’s protection when fleeing for the life of the Child.  Yet another reason was so the devil would not know about the Divinity of Our Lord, because God did not want the devil to know this truth and thereby prevent the crucifixion.[1]

St. Joseph was a just man and therefore he feared God and he feared sin.  He did not want to offend God.  He had vowed perpetual chastity, thus he feared that taking Mary in her condition would be a grave scandal.  He feared that he would be consenting to a sin by taking her within his home because there could be no other explanation for her condition other than adultery.  Nevertheless, St. Joseph had such a great opinion of Mary’s purity that he could not doubt her.  He could not understand the enigma.  Scripture says he “thought on these things”.  What turmoil this must have been for poor St. Joseph!  Truly a spiritual cross!  This was God’s will for St. Joseph to suffer this mental anguish for his higher sanctification and for our edification.  Mary must have likewise suffered greatly because it was not her place to tell St. Joseph the plan of God.   She would certainly have known that St. Joseph would wonder what was going on.  What suffering for both of them!   How faithful they were to God to simply trust that His Providence would take care of everything![2]

St. Joseph surely knew the scripture from Isaiah 7:14: “Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and His Name shall be called Emmanuel.”  Did he think within himself, “Is Mary this virgin?”

St. Thomas says, “So also the Lord permitted Joseph to doubt concerning the chastity of Mary, that doubting he might receive the Angelic revelation, and by receiving might believe more firmly.”[3]    

St. Joseph did not make any rash decision about what to do with Mary’s situation.  He was prudent and waited for the Lord to instruct him.  Also St. Joseph wanted to take care of the situation showing Mary the most mercy, thus he considered putting her away quietly. 

St. Thomas explains that St. Joseph was a faithful believer in God’s plan and so it was fitting that an Angel should reveal to him what he needed to know.  “However, because a corporeal apparition is miraculous, such type of apparition was not becoming to him, since he believed and was faithful.”  It was fitting for Our Lady to receive a visible apparition because the message conveyed to her was more difficult to believe because it was at the beginning of the Incarnation, whereas St. Joseph could readily notice a physical sign of the revelation being true.[4]

The angel Gabriel addressed St. Joseph as the son of David because he was of the house of David.  We must notice, too, that the angel told St. Joseph, “Fear not”, just as St. Gabriel had also told St. Zachary and Our Lady.  This angel was sent from God and was a true messenger and so there was no reason to fear.  As soon as St. Joseph found out that her conception of Our Lord was from the Holy Ghost, he had no fears.  What a wonderful consolation for him!!  With what fervor and dedication he would embrace all the trials that would come concerning Him Who Mary was to bear!

Another very edifying example to note about St. Joseph is that he immediately obeyed the angel’s command and rose up to take Mary for his wife.

The COLLOQUY: Oh dear St. Joseph, you are such an edifying example for us of trust in God and His Plan for us.  Even though you were beset with unanswerable questions and doubts, you remembered that God’s Will is for our good.  You simply prayed for guidance and had confidence that God would answer your prayers and not leave you in uncertainty.  Please intercede for us, St. Joseph and beg God’s assistance for us in our present needs and tribulations.  

Now having finished our brief look at the Doubts of St. Joseph let us turn to the main part of our Lesson, namely, the study of the Nativity of Our Lord.

CONTEMPLATION ON THE NATIVITY

The preparatory prayer is the same as usual, I ask God Our Lord the grace that all my intentions, actions, and works may be directed purely to the service and praise of the Divine Majesty.

The FIRST PRELUDE: I will review the history of the Nativity.  How Our Lady, almost nine months with child, set out from Nazareth, seated on an ass, as may piously be believed, together with Joseph and a servant girl leading an ox.  They are going to Bethlehem to pay the tribute that Caesar has imposed on the whole land.

The SECOND PRELUDE: I will form a mental image of the scene and see in my imagination the road from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  I will consider its length and breadth, and whether it is large or small, whether high or low, and what it contains.

The THIRD PRELUDE: It will be the same and in the same form as it was in the preceding contemplation.  [The preceding contemplations were to ask for what I desire.  Here I will ask for an intimate knowledge of Our Lord, Who has become man for me, that I may love and follow Him better.]

The FIRST POINT: I will SEE the persons: our Lady and St. Joseph, the servant girl, and the Child Jesus after His birth.  I will become a poor, miserable, and unworthy slave looking upon them, contemplating them, and ministering to their needs, as though I were present there.  I will then reflect within myself in order that I may derive some fruit.

The SECOND POINT: I will OBSERVE, consider what they are SAYING and to reflect within myself that I may derive some profit.

The THIRD POINT: I will OBSERVE and CONSIDER what they are doing: the journey and suffering which they undergo in order that Our Lord might be born in extreme poverty, and after so many labors; after hunger and thirst, heat and cold, insults and injuries, He might die on the cross, and all this for me.  I will then reflect in order to gain some spiritual profit.

The COLLOQUY: Conclude with a colloquy as in the preceding contemplation and with the “Our Father.”  {Note: the preceding contemplation had the following colloquy suggestion from St. Ignatius—I will now think of what I should say to the Three Divine Persons, or the eternal Word Incarnate, or to His Mother and Our Lady.   I will ask help according to the need that I feel within myself, so that I may more closely follow and imitate Our Lord Who has just become Incarnate.  Close with the “Our Father”.} 

Now let us take some time to review the events surrounding the Nativity. Here is the Scriptural account: [The following are verses from St. Luke 2:1-20]

And it came to pass that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.  This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria.  And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city.

 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David. To be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.  And it came to pass that when they were there, her days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds watching and keeping the night watches over their flock.  And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them and the brightness of God shone round about them: and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people: For, this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David.  And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will. And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath shewed to us.

And they came with haste: and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.  And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child.  And all that heard wondered: and at those things that were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Considerations for the FIRST POINT: TO USE THE SENSE OF SIGHT

·          SEE the journey to Bethlehem

What a trial it must have been for St. Joseph and Our Lady who was with Child, the Incarnate Wisdom!  The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem took several days.   Certainly it would be slower with Mary’s condition.  Dear reader, you can imagine they have a donkey as St. Ignatius suggests or if you wish, you could imagine them walking because they were very poor.  To travel from Galilee, they would have to pass through Samaria and this course was known to be dangerous because of thieves which were prevalent on this route. 

The weather was cold and damp— bone-chilling cold.  Poor St. Joseph must give up his work in order to fulfill the command of Caesar and go to the town of David.  This foreign ruler did not care about the Jewish people.  He only cared to know the count of his people so he could get more revenue out of them.

If Our Lord had been born at their home in Nazareth, it would not have been a rich palace by any means, but it would have been easier for the Holy Family.  Even though the Holy Family was poor at Nazareth, they were in far poorer conditions in Bethlehem.  Let us not forget that these circumstances were exactly as God willed them to be.

·         SEE their arrival at Bethlehem

Imagine their arrival at Bethlehem.  St. Joseph looks for lodging for Mary and the Child soon to be born.  The town is packed with people also coming to be enrolled in the Census.  The cobblestone streets are narrow and crowded.  All the inns are full and the only place that the Holy Family can find to get out of the wind is a cave used as a stable.  “He came unto His own and His own received Him not.”

They descend the steep steps to find a cloverleaf shape set of rooms—three symbolizing the Trinity. Watch how St. Joseph cleans the place the best he can without having cleaning tools.  Mary takes the handmade swaddling clothes she has brought out of her small bundle of belongings.  She prays in holy expectation of the moment of the sublime birth of her God made Man.

·         SEE  the moment of the Nativity

Let us see this wondrous Birth which is the pivot point of all human history.  This is the miraculous Birth of Our Lord shining forth as light through a glass.  Our Lady suffers nothing and remains ever-virgin. We shall consider more of the details below under the point of considering actions.   

Considerations for the SECOND POINT: HEAR what Mary and St. Joseph might say on their way to Bethlehem and during the time that St. Joseph was looking for lodging for himself and his expectant wife.  

 Can we hear what St. Joseph and Mary might say to each other?  They mostly walk in prayerful silence.  When they do speak, they have words of mutual edification and resignation.  They are determined to do God’s Will no matter what is involved.

It has been a long and tiring journey and now that they have arrived in Bethlehem, they meet with noisy crowds of complaining travelers.  St. Joseph stops at inn after inn and is refused entrance, sometimes with harsh words and other times with flimsy excuses.  He sorrowfully tells Mary the results.  They neither complain nor murmur but thank God for doing His Will through them. 

Consider how God treats His chosen ones—especially this holy couple.  He gives them the choicest crosses and sanctifies them still further.  They win abundant merits.

We can compare our wretched sinfulness to this holy pair.  Fr. Hurter, S.J., has some moving words on this point.  He says,

How often did Our Savior wish to come to you, and you did not receive Him.  You closed your heart and turned your back on Him.  Many a time, especially at Christmas, you think: Had I been living in Bethlehem at the time, how willingly I should have received Our Divine Savior in my house and waited upon Him.[5] 

Fr. Hurter exhorts us further saying,

What was not possible for you then, you can do now.  For what you do to one of your brethren the Savior considers as done to Himself.  How consoling the thought that by works of Christian charity you can make up for the cold-heartedness of the inhabitants of Bethlehem![6]

Considerations for the THIRD POINT: TO CONSIDER ACTIONS

Consider the actions of the people in Bethlehem at the time of Our Lord’s Nativity.  Consider also the actions of St. Joseph, Our Lady, and Our Dear Savior after His Birth.

What did the people of Bethlehem care about on such a momentous night?  They only cared about being as comfortable as possible in the inns.  Little did they know that the King of kings and Lord of lords had now been born physically into the world.  Fr.  Hurter has these edifying words, to say about Our Lord’s birth:

Adore the newborn Savior in the manger.  Affectionately participate in the ineffable joy of the Virgin Mother and of St. Joseph, who now forgot all hardships, privations and humiliations, since for them the stable has become a paradise.  Search into the mystery here consummated before your eyes.   All the divine perfections of goodness, mercy, love, and omnipotence shine forth from it, more than from the creation of the universe.  Already in the manger the Infant Jesus, by His example, teaches us a lesson of all virtues in a heroic degree, which later as the dying Savior He wished to recommend as a compendium from the cross.  The manger and the cross—what effective pulpits!  Learn especially one virtue from the Infant Jesus in the manger.  As humility shines from the Incarnation, so the love of poverty from His birth.  Humility and poverty are the pillars of the following of Christ.[7]

Fr. Hurter instructs us about Our Lord’s poverty.  He tells us that His poverty was perfect. Our Lord lacked necessaries and a child could not come into the world under poorer conditions.[8]

He tells us that Our Lord’s poverty was His own choice. “And this is to be wondered at since He could have redeemed us if He had been rich.”[9]

Lastly, he informs us that Our Lord’s “poverty was intended and sought.  He permitted the decree of Augustus to be issued at this time that He might come into the world among strangers and very poor.  At Nazareth the maternal solicitude of Mary would have made it too comfortable for Him.”[10] 

Yes, the actions of the Holy Parents are so inspiring for us—their willingness to suffer all things for Christ their Son and King.  They knew that they were so blest to be the guardians of their Savior.

Let us now briefly consider the message of the Holy Angels who appear to the shepherds in the fields.  These simple and poor shepherds are found worthy to hear the tremendous news that the Christ, the Messiah, has been born.  They are told that He can be found in swaddling clothes, the prefigurement of the Holy Winding Sheet and that He is lying in a manger.  Well do these shepherds know about mangers and so they know which cave to find the Infant Savior.  They go with haste to see Him.  They report to the holy couple what they have seen and heard.

Mary, His Mother, files all of what they say deep in her heart to ponder again and again.  The shepherds can see that St. Joseph is a tender protector of the Holy Family.  They can also see that this tiny Infant is indeed special. 

Our Infant King, we must keep in mind has perfect use of His reason being both God and Man.  And yet, He acts and appears like a helpless Infant.  What humility! The very one Who created heaven, earth, and all creation is allowing Himself to exist in such a lowly state.

Concluding thoughts: we will let Fr. Hurter supply our closing comments:

We shall close this meditation with a fervent prayer to the dear Infant Jesus to communicate to us that love of poverty which in the manger He so much recommended; and we shall resolve, in case we are not in duty bound to it by vow, to practice it at least in spirit by detaching our hearts from earthly goods, by bridling  our too strong inclinations towards them, by being content with the means we possess, and by reducing our superfluous expenses, so that we may dispose of the money thus saved for the greater honor of God!

COLLOQUY: Dearest Babe in the manger, oh Incarnate Word, how can I thank Thee enough for becoming Man.  Oh glorious Hypostatic Union, so mysterious to us that one Person can have two Natures.  How happy I am that Thou hast accomplished this Union and will remain so for all eternity.  Thou teacheth us so many lessons by being born so.  Such humility!  Such poverty! Such detachment from things of this world!  Clearly Thy birth in a stable shows us that the things of this world should be as nothing to us.  Unite me to Thee, O Infant King, and never let me separate myself from Thee.  I thank Thee also for giving us such holy examples in St. Joseph and our tender Mother Mary. 

Oh Mary, dear Mother of God, intercede for me.  Instruct me in the ways of poverty and detachment.  Teach me, too, how to accept all God has planned for me.  Thank you, Mary, for being such a model of virtue for your children.

Dear St. Joseph, help me to lean on thee for protection and strength.  Help me to follow your edifying examples of trust and confidence in God.  Help me to pray for guidance like you did and humbly submit to God’s plan for me.

We have done the meditations on the Incarnation and the Nativity.  St. Ignatius has us go through several scenes of Our Lord’s Life in the second week of the Spiritual Exercises. We can take topics from the Gospel of Our Lord’s Life before He began His Public Life.  For our next lesson we will set out the contemplation/meditation of the Trials of the Holy Family.  Of course, a separate meditation could be done on each of the Trials. We will consider the Flight into Egypt, the Return from Egypt and the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple.