You're listening to the I Pray with the Gospel Sunday Reflection on the St. Jose Maria Institute podcast.

In the name of the Father and of the, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

My Lord and my God, I firmly believe that you are here, that you see me, that you hear me.

I adore you with profound reverence.

I ask your pardon for my sins and the grace to make this time of prayer fruitful.

My Immaculate Mother, St. Joseph, my father, and Lord.

My guardian angel, intercede for me.

The fourth Sunday of Advent, a reading from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 1.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place this way.

When his mother, Mary, had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found

to be with child of the Holy Spirit, and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to

shame, resolved to send her away. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord

appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife,

for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus,

and he will save his people from their sins.

O poor Joseph, my father and Lord, what an agony for a heart like yours that love so much.

Your beloved wife, Mary, that wonderful creature who accepted your hand in marriage.

Oh, how blessed you felt not so long ago, when telling your family and friends, that the daughter

of Joachim and Anne, the most beautiful, lovely,

sensible, virtuous maiden of Nazareth was going to become your wife. Oh, Joseph, how you would

walk with your betrothed through the streets, your neighbors staring at you in awe, Mary Radiant,

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