To prepare ourselves for a spiritual retreat, let us pay attention to a typical attitude of Joseph, in order to make it ours: his ability to admire. 

During this retreat time, we 'll see how Joseph is the one who never thinks of him, because he does not have the time, because he does not want to, because he is always thinking about others, above all two Others who are sufficient to fulfill all his thoughts, all his imagination, all his affection. 

He spends his time admiring what God gives him. He admires Jesus, his humility as Son, his considerate kindness, lucidity and balance. Joseph enjoys silent join working, in the workshop in Nazareth; And Joseph and Jesus are often seen crossing together in the village, him the carpenter, expert in everything in a house, and, He, known as "the Joseph's son". During the meal they had so often exchanged about work, about the village,and the Galilea area. 

Joseph admires Marie, given to him for his  wife, and with whom he brings up his great son. From the first day he has been fascinated; and the mystery of  their union, of their happiness, is a secret which he shares only  with her and with God: no one could understand. Seeing her  activities, driven by the priority of caring for her family, quietly going about the work of the house and the kitchen, hearing what is said of her in the village, he begins to evoke the poem of "the virtuous woman" which concludes the Book of Proverbs (chapter 31). But above all, what makes daily Joseph's joy , is to remember how Marie welcomed him, for be loved as she wanted to be loved, that  means before God and in God. 

Joseph admires the "works of God": from a difficulty , God transforms it in a way of salvation. From his servant, He expects, as the language of love, listening and obedience; as an answer to the mystery of his goal, he loves above all silence; for all happiness, He gives Joseph to love his will; for all riches, He offers him "the Child and his Mother", his Son and his "favored". For the essential thing is not to love God as we wish, but to  love him as He wishes, as the Psalmist says: "I have seen, O Lord, that your decisions are right and that  in unchanging faith you have sent trouble on me "(Ps 119.      75). 

Great Joseph, dear to the heart of all: as for Marie, whose all beauty is within herself, all the richness of Joseph is in his inner sight, all his strength comes from the loyalty of his faith: "(...)I know in whom I have believed (...)" (2 Ti- 1,12). That is why he can be our model, the kind of man like the disciple who acts and prays. We can trust him for this retreat. Let us find and renew our capacity for wonder and admiration to let ourselves  be surprised by the Lord !!