“The marriage with Joseph was planned so that Mary’s virginity might remain hidden from the prince of this world. For the external forms of marriage were adopted by the Virgin, almost as if to distract the Evil One, who has always preyed on virgins, ever since he heard the prophet announcing: ‘Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son’ (Isaiah 7:14). With this marriage, then, the tempter of virginity was deceived. For he knew that the coming of the Lord in the flesh would entail the destruction of his dominion.” – St. Basil of Caesarea (On the Holy Generation of Christ)

As the birth of our Lord is upon us, in the darkness and silence of these next few nights of winter, I have to ponder the beautiful silence of St. Joseph.  A good man does not have to say much, nor does a strong man. His actions speak for him. He listened for our Lord, who was yet to come. He held Him in his arms, when He did arrive and he protected Him until his time was done. He gave his life to Him.