St. Joseph and The Virtue of Purity

The month of March is dedicated to St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus and the most chaste spouse of the Blessed Mother. St. Joseph is often depicted holding lilies, a sign of his purity and integrity. He is a saint of integrity, for anyone who lives the virtues of chastity and purity is undivided in his commitment to God.

But aren’t lilies a sign of effeminacy? Why flowers? Some mystics describe lilies bursting from St. Joseph’s staff as a sign that he was chosen to be Mary’s spouse. And does not every bride love to receive flowers from her husband? The better we treat our women, the more masculine we become. Tradition also holds that St. Joseph was a perpetual virgin, like Our Lady.

St. Joseph was a man of extraordinary purity. In fact, Venerable Maria of Jesus of Agreda once said, “In the virtue of purity, he was more elevated than the highest Seraphim… By this perfection and by his angelic integrity, he was prepared to be the spouse of the purest of creatures and to live in her society.”

So how do we acquire this great virtue of purity?

First, we beg Our Lord—and especially St. Joseph—each day to grant us this virtue. It can be as simple as waking up and consecrating our senses to God through St. Joseph: “Dear St. Joseph, I consecrate all five of my senses to your Son, Jesus. Guard me from every sin this day. Amen.” We also offer a beautiful prayer card for purity on the Integrity Restored website—St. Thomas Aquinas’ prayer for purity—which is available for purchase.

Second, cultivate devotion to St. Joseph’s bride, Mary. The Holy Rosary is a powerful weapon that keeps the devil at bay.

Third, in moments of temptation, invoke St. Joseph. Few saints would understand the temptations men face as deeply as he does. One of his titles is “Terror of Demons.” Satan mocks us when we fall into sin. But he cannot touch a soul devoted to St. Joseph.

Finally, consider connecting with our other apostolate, Fathers of St. Joseph, if you desire to grow in the spirituality of this great saint.

In the trenches of the battle for purity, never forget who stands with you: Jesus, Mary, and especially St. Joseph. Victory is promised to those who persevere to the end. Purity is not won once and for all—it is fought for daily.

St. Joseph, pray for us!