Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Foster Father of Jesus, Patron of the Universal Church
Early Life and Lineage
Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was of the royal lineage of King David. The Gospels of Matthew (1:1-17) and Luke (3:23-38) trace his ancestry back to David, fulfilling the prophecies that the Messiah would come from this line. Despite his noble lineage, Joseph lived humbly as a carpenter in the town of Nazareth.
Betrothal to the Blessed Virgin Mary
In accordance with Jewish custom, Joseph became betrothed to the Virgin Mary. Before they lived together, he discovered that she was with child. Being a “just man” (Matthew 1:19), he did not wish to expose her to shame and resolved to divorce her quietly. However, an angel appeared to him in a dream, revealing that the child was conceived by the Holy Ghost and instructing him to take Mary as his wife. Joseph obeyed without hesitation, becoming the earthly protector of both Mary and the divine Child.
Guardian of the Holy Family
Joseph played a crucial role in the early life of Jesus. He led Mary to Bethlehem, where Christ was born in a humble stable (Luke 2:4-7). After the visit of the Magi, an angel again appeared to Joseph, warning him to flee to Egypt to escape King Herod’s massacre of the Holy Innocents (Matthew 2:13-15). Joseph immediately obeyed, leading the Holy Family into exile. When Herod died, another angelic message directed him to return to Israel, where he settled in Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23).
As the foster father of Jesus, Joseph provided for Him and trained Him in the trade of carpentry. The only recorded words about Joseph’s life after Jesus’ childhood are found in Luke 2:41-50, when Mary and Joseph anxiously searched for the 12-year-old Jesus, who had stayed behind in the Temple, speaking with the doctors of the law.
Death and Heavenly Patronage
Sacred Tradition holds that Saint Joseph died in the arms of Jesus and Mary before Christ began His public ministry. Though Scripture does not record his death, it is generally believed that he passed away before the Crucifixion. This is why he is invoked as the Patron of a Happy Death.
Saint Joseph was declared Patron of the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX in 1870. He is also the patron of fathers, workers, families, and the dying. His feast is celebrated on March 19 (Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary) and May 1 (Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker).
Devotion to Saint Joseph
Many saints have had great devotion to Saint Joseph, including Saint Teresa of Ávila, who credited him with miraculous favors and protection. The Church has encouraged devotion to him through prayers such as the Litany of Saint Joseph, the Seven Sorrows and Joys of Saint Joseph, and the Thirty Days’ Prayer to Saint Joseph.
Conclusion
Saint Joseph, though silent in Scripture, speaks powerfully through his actions—his humility, obedience, and unwavering faith. He remains a model of fatherhood, chastity, and trust in Divine Providence, and his intercession is sought by the faithful throughout the world.
“Go to Joseph!” (Genesis 41:55) – Just as the starving Egyptians turned to the patriarch Joseph in the Old Testament, so too should Christians turn to Saint Joseph for spiritual and temporal needs.