Who is St. Joseph?

Feast Days:
March 19 - Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
May 1 - St. Joseph the Worker

Everything we know about St. Joseph, the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus, comes from Scripture. We know he worked as a carpenter because the skeptical Nazarenes questioned Jesus' authority when they asked, "Is this not the carpenter's son?"(Matthew 12:55). We know that he was not a rich man because he offered two turtledoves or pigeons for the sacrifice when Jesus was presented at the Temple. The typical sacrifice would be lamb; thus, his offering the birds tells us of their humble lives (Luke 2:24).

Despite his humble work and means, Joseph came from a royal lineage. Luke and Matthew disagree some about the details of Joseph's genealogy but they both tells us that he is descends from the line of David, the greatest king of Israel (Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38). Indeed the angel who first tells Joseph about Jesus greets him as "son of David," a royal title used also for Jesus.

We know Joseph was a compassionate, caring man. When he discovered Mary was pregnant after they had been betrothed, he knew the child was not his but was as yet unaware that she was carrying the Son of God. He planned to divorce Mary according to the law but he was concerned for her suffering and safety. He knew that women accused of adultery could be stoned to death, so he decided to divorce her quietly and not expose her to shame or cruelty (Matthew 1:19-25).

We know Joseph was a man of faith, obedient to whatever God asked of him without knowing the outcome. When the angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him the truth about the child Mary was carrying, Joseph immediately and without question or concern for gossip, took Mary as his wife. When the angel came again to tell him that his family was in danger he immediately left everything he owned, all his family and friends, and fled to a strange country with his young wife and the baby. He waited in Egypt without question until the angel told him it was safe to go back (Matthew 2: 13-23).

We know Joseph loved Jesus. His one concern was for the safety of this child entrusted to him. Not only did he leave his home to protect Jesus, but upon his return settled in the obscure town of Nazareth out of fear for his life. When Jesus stayed in the Temple we are told Joseph (along with Mary) searched with great anxiety for three days for him (Luke 2:48). We also know that Joseph treated Jesus as his own son for over and over the people of Nazareth say of Jesus, "Is this not the son of Joseph?" (Luke 4:22).

We know Joseph respected God. He followed God's commands in handling the situation with Mary and going to Jerusalem to have Jesus circumcised and Mary purified after Jesus' birth. We are told that he took his family to Jerusalem every year for Passover, something that could not have been easy for a working man.

Many historians believe Joseph probably had died before Jesus entered public ministry. Joseph is the patron saint of the dying because, assuming he died before Jesus' public life, he died with Jesus and Mary close to him, the way we all would like to leave this earth. Joseph is also patron of the universal Church, fathers, carpenters,and social justice. We celebrate two feast days for Joseph: March 19th for Joseph the Husband of Mary and May 1st for Joseph the Worker.

There is much we wish we could know about Joseph - where and when he was born, how he spent his days, when and how he died. But Scripture has left us with the most important knowledge: who he was - "a righteous man" (Matthew 1:18).

O Blessed Saint Joseph, steadfast protector of Jesus Christ, strengthen an guide our parish family. With simplicity of heart and unwavering devotion ask the Lord Jesus to fill our hearts with the fire of His love.

Awaken in us the virtues of integrity, simplicity and reverence so that we may radiate God's love to all.

May your spirit bring us joy in union with the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Through your intercession protect our parish of Saint Joseph, so that we may live as dedicated followers of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.