St. Joseph’s Ascension

For the last few weeks we’ve been reading a book aloud in the evenings titled “The Holy Family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph” published by the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This little book is so rich with Catholic lore that it makes a convert’s head spin. Tonight we learned that Joseph’s body is also believed to be in Heaven with Jesus and Mary:

“There are relics of Saint Joseph which have been left to us: the marriage ring which he gave to Mary, and which is at Perugia in Italy; his cincture, which was at Joinville in France; his cloak and his staff. His body, as we know, is in Heaven. Just imagine the Holy Family in Heaven with one body missing, if Saint Joseph were not there! Saint Bernadine of Siena and Saint Francis de Sales both declared their belief in the resurrection of the body of Saint Joseph from the dead, and his ascension into Heaven along with Our Lord, Jesus Christ. No Holy Father ever scolded them for so speaking, and Our Holy Mother Church canonized them despite this utterance … Saint Joseph ascended into Heaven with Our Lord on Ascension Day, and was there with Jesus to greet Our Lady on the day of her Assumption. And what must it not have been to him to see her crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth!”