When Joseph was separated from his father, Jacob lost his sight through grief at the separation from his son. Abundant tears of blood flowed from his eyes; the name of Joseph was ever in His mouth. The angel Gabriel came and said to him: “If ever again Thou utter the name of Joseph, I shall blot out Thy name from the number of the prophets and the messengers.”
When this command came from God to Jacob, the name of Joseph was erased from His tongue; yet that name was ever as His companion, and he repeated it ceaselessly in his heart.
One night he saw Joseph in a dream, and called him to his side; but he remembered what God had commanded Him, and, in his distress and dejection, struck his breast. Yet, overcome by his weakness, he breathed a sigh of sorrow from his stainless heart. When he awoke from his pleasant sleep, Gabriel came and made these words heard: “God says: Thou hast not uttered the name of Joseph with Thy tongue, but Thou hast breathed a sigh instead; yet through Thy sigh I discern the truth. In truth, Thou hast made Thy penitence of no avail. What advantage hast Thou gained from it?” — “Love acts thus upon the spirit; behold what the play of love works in me.”
When this command came from God to Jacob, the name of Joseph was erased from His tongue; yet that name was ever as His companion, and he repeated it ceaselessly in his heart.
One night he saw Joseph in a dream, and called him to his side; but he remembered what God had commanded Him, and, in his distress and dejection, struck his breast. Yet, overcome by his weakness, he breathed a sigh of sorrow from his stainless heart. When he awoke from his pleasant sleep, Gabriel came and made these words heard: “God says: Thou hast not uttered the name of Joseph with Thy tongue, but Thou hast breathed a sigh instead; yet through Thy sigh I discern the truth. In truth, Thou hast made Thy penitence of no avail. What advantage hast Thou gained from it?” — “Love acts thus upon the spirit; behold what the play of love works in me.”