A Special Insight into Service, Mortification, and the Relationship with St. Joseph - The Transfixion - Bk5 - Ch17

The Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus of Ágreda describes the changes in the activities of the Blessed Virgin Mary after the death of St. Joseph. The Blessed Virgin Mary places special emphasis on service and mortification as she describes the Holy Family's relationship with St. Joseph saying, "...I wish that, before proceeding to narrate other mysteries, you understand well all that the Lord commanded in regard to my intercourse with my holy spouse, Saint Joseph. When I espoused myself to him, God commanded me to change the order of my meals and other exterior duties in order to accommodate myself to his circumstances; for he was the head of the family, and, according to the common rule, I was the inferior. The same conduct was also followed by my most holy Son, though He was true God, yet He subjected Himself before the eyes of the world to him who was thought to be his father."