Redemptoris Custos

Brief History
Outline
Link to Complete Document
Source

Brief History

After the Marian Year with its many Marian documents Pope John Paul II presented a document on Saint Joseph. Jesus Christ was born into a family. Mary was given the companionship of Joseph to provide that unit recognized as the most fundamental cell of society, the family. Redemptoris Custos defines the relationships among Jesus, Mary and Joseph. For instance, the document states, "And while it is important for the Church to profess the virginal conception of Jesus, it is no less important to uphold Mary's marriage to Joseph, because juridically Joseph's fatherhood depends on it." (7) Joseph has accepted the legal responsibilities of fatherhood. He does everything that is required of that responsibility. This is what constituted the family, and in the case of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the holy family. A quote inserted from Pope Leo XIII helps to define Joseph's role: It is certain that the dignity of the Mother of God is so exalted that nothing could be more sublime; yet because Mary was united to Joseph by the bond of marriage, there can be no doubt but that Joseph approached as no other person ever could that eminent dignity whereby the Mother of God towers above all creatures. Since marriage is the highest degree of association and friendship, involving by its very nature a communion of goods, it follows that God, by giving Joseph to the Virgin, did not give him to her only as a companion for life, a witness of her virginity and protector of her honor: he also gave Joseph to Mary in order that he might share, through the marriage pact, in her own sublime greatness. (20) The greatness of Mary and Joseph consists in their holiness, in the pure gift of grace they experience by dwelling with the Lord Jesus Christ. But the gift does not immune them from the daily struggles that pertain to every family. Although the Gospel relates snippets of the struggles in the Infancy Narratives, the greater part of the daily routine of marriage and family life remains hidden. As the document states, "All of the so-called "private" or "hidden" life of Jesus is entrusted to Joseph's guardianship."(8) In view of this unique entrustment of God to Joseph, Pope John Paul II again entrusts the universal Church to Joseph's protection.

Outline

28- 32 Introduction 1 I. The Gospel Portrait 2-3 II. The Guardian of the Mystery of God 4-6 The Service of Fatherhood 7-8 The Census 9 The Birth at Bethlehem 10 The Circumcision 11 Conferral of the Name 12 The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple 13 The Flight into Egypt 14 Jesus' Stay in the Temple 15 The Support and Education of Jesus of Nazareth 16 III. A Just Man – A Husband 17- 21 IV. Work as an Expression of Love 22-24 V. The Primacy of the Interior Life 25-27 VI. Patron of the Church in Our Day

Link to complete document

This document is found at: Guardian of the Redeemer Note: To locate a specific quote once you have reached the document, use ctrl+f to search.

Source

Origins 44 (October 30, 1989): 1-6 St Paul Editions, 1975

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