The Death of Saint Joseph

Joseph passed away... No one has ever mentioned how he died... He came without making any noise; he struggled without glory; He was the silent actor of a sublime story, One day he disappeared, never to return. We watched him fade into the background, The Child-God walked in his foot prints next to the Virgin Mary; During the day he planed off the rough edges on wooden boards; And at night, the angels made him aware of hateful plots. When Jesus left home, Joseph’s role ended; Thereafter the Gospel speaks of him no more. One evening, he probably left aside his planer And just went to bed, with Mary at his bedside. The night fell no differently than that night long ago When the Angel of the Lord came to awaken him and tell him to flee... The Angel returned that night to help him die; And Joseph heard his soft and soothing voice. The Angel said: “Joseph, son of David, It is I again. Rest peacefully, for the Child and his mother No longer need to fear dangers on this earth. Now they are ready to live and die without you.” But Joseph was reluctant to fall asleep. Perhaps He was waiting for someone he wished to see again, For he was attentive to the noises outside With a glimmer of hope in his eyes. He sat up suddenly... Footsteps broke the silence; The door of the house opened to the darkness outside, And Jesus, crossing the threshold of his youth, Hurried to his father’s side and leaned over him. How far he must have walked to come! Dust Covered his bare feet and accentuated his features; But a bright light shone from his eyes And filled Joseph's eyes forever more... Mary whispered: “It is you, my Son!” And the Angel bowed down. Jesus, bending over Joseph’s bed, embraced his father; No words were exchanged between them, As Jesus fought his first battle against death! And in the shadows lingered death, powerless... But the old worker did not expect his Son to make his heart Young and strong again: he looked into the divine face And died with that vision set apart. Ah! Blessed is the one who, with a trusting soul, Having prayed, suffered and worked, One evening, waiting, can lie down his fatigue, And then, in a divine embrace, depart! Georges D'Aurac