SAINT JOSEPH

St. Joseph, patron saint of the universal church, a carpenter, a working man, righteous, compassionate and loving man.

St. Joseph was called by the Lord to be the husband of Mary. They were already engaged when Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant and he was not the father. He was unaware that the child Mary was carrying was the Son of God. Joseph showed his compassion when he planned to divorce Mary in silence and would not want to expose her to shame. But he was concerned about the suffering and trials of Mary.

Then an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. The angel told him the truth that the child Mary was carrying was the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Because of his faith and obedience to the Father, he immediately, and without hesitation and concern for gossip, took Mary as his wife.

Joseph’s obedience to the Father again showed when after Jesus was born an angel appeared in his dream. The angel told him that his family was in danger and asked him to take his family to Egypt where the Holy Family was to stay until such time that the angel would tell them to return. King Herod was after Jesus after he found out that a child had been born King of the Jews. Joseph took his family to Egypt leaving everything he owned including his friends and family.

Joseph had many sufferings like most of us do. When he and the pregnant Mary were at Bethlehem, they looked for a place to rest. Nobody wanted to take them in. Mary gave birth and laid Jesus in a manger. When Joseph bought his family to the Holy City on a pilgrimage they lost Jesus. Without the knowledge of his parents, Jesus stayed behind at the temple.

Joseph, Mary and Jesus are the perfect picture of a happy family. Joseph was the perfect loving father looking after him, talking, laughing, working and praying with him and Mary. Joseph taught Jesus how to be a carpenter.

Joseph is a just man because he lived his life in accordance with the will of the father. He died at the age of 60 just before the public life of his foster son Jesus. St. Joseph has two special Feast Days. One for his royalty on March 19 and one for his humility as a workman on May 1. He is also the patron saint of carpenters and of social justice.