We see that at the beginning of the New Testament, as at the beginning of the Old, there is a married couple. But whereas Adam and Eve were the source of evil which was unleashed on the world, Joseph and Mary are the summit from which holiness spreads all over the earth. The Savior began the work of salvation by this virginal and holy union. St. Pope Paul VI
Marriage is at the heart of creation and redemption. As St. Pope Paul VI states, Adam and Eve were present at the beginning of creation (Old Testament), and Joseph and Mary are present at the beginning of God’s re-creation (New Testament). Jesus himself speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven as a wedding feast (see Mt 22, 2).
Saint Pope Paul VI’s statement at the beginning of this section is incredibly profound. On some level, he is presenting the idea that St. Joseph is the head of the new covenant family, as Adam was head of the first covenant family.
This is a fascinating idea, one that has rarely been explored in theological studies. Usually, when we think of the new head of the human family (the new Adam) we think of Jesus (see 1 Cor 15:45), and rightly so. Jesus is God; he alone regenerates humanity. Nonetheless, as Head of the Holy Family, St. Joseph was the head of our Head. He is the father of our Savior, the Patron of the Universal Church, and our spiritual father.
St Joseph is a new Adam. St. Joseph is, after Christ, the new head of the human family. As such, we are obliged to obey the Fourth Commandment in his regard: “Honor your father and your mother” (Ex 20:12). Failure to love and honor St. Joseph is an offense against God. In fact, the fatherhood of St. Joseph is so important for us that our spiritual growth depends on it.
If Jesus himself increased in wisdom and knowledge through the fatherhood of St. Joseph, we need St. Joseph’s fatherhood to help us acquire the “proper attire” needed for entrance into the wedding feast of heaven (see Mt 22:12).
Saint Joseph will help you get to the wedding feast of heaven. Since we know that St. Joseph loves us and so we love and honor him in return, we can trust that he will help us get to heaven. The greatest thing any gather can do for his children is help them get to heaven.
Our first father (Adam) ruined this possibility for all his children. Our first father’s disobedience caused the downfall of all creation and kept us from entering heaven. He loves us, helps us become saints, and brings us to the only path that leads to heaven: Jesus.
Saint Joseph is the delight of saints. Every saint loves St. Joseph. It is impossible to find a single saint who did not love St. Joseph. While devotion to St. Joseph developed slowly over time, no saint ever disliked St. Joseph. It is impossible to truly have love of God and neighbor in your heart -that is, be holy- if you disdain the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ.
To enter heaven, you need to resemble your spiritual father in his steadfast love. He will help you acquire the correct attire -virtues and holiness- needed to enter the wedding feast of heaven!
It is written. “The first man, Adam, became a living being”, the last Adam a lifegiving spirit. But the spiritual was not first; rather the natural and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, earthly; the second man, from heaven. As was the earthly one, so also the earthly, and as id the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one. (1 Cor 15:45-49)