Husband of Mary~ Universal Patron of the Church
St. Joseph, the pure spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster-father of our Blessed Lord, was descended from the royal house of David. He is the "just man" of the New Testament, the lowly village carpenter of Nazareth, who among all men of the world was the one chosen by God to be the husband and protector of the Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ, God Incarnate. To his faithful, loving care was entrusted the childhood and youth of the redeemer of the world.
After the Mother of God, not one of the children of men was ever so gifted and adorned with natural and supernatural virtues as was St. Joseph, her spouse. In purity of heart, in chastity of life, in humility, patience, fortitude, gentleness, and manliness of character, he reveals to us the perfect type and model of the true Christian.
Poor and obscure in this world's possessions and honors, he was rich in grace and merit, and eminent vefore God in the nobility and beauty of holiness. Because St. Joseph was the representative of the Eternal Father on Earth, the divinely appointed head of the Holy Family, which was the begining of the great family of God, the Chuch of Christ, Pope Pius IX, somemnly proclaimed the foster-father of Jesus as Patron of the Universal Church, and from the time his feast has been celebrated on March 19 as one of high rank. In some places it is observed as a holy day of obligation.
Devotion to St. Joseph, fervent in the East from the early ages, has in later times spread and incresed in such a marvelous way that in our day the Catholics of all nations vie with one another in honoring him. Besides the feast of March 19 there is another feast, that of St. Joseph the Worker, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (May 1st). Promulgated in 1955, it replaced the older "Solemnity of St. Joseph" which had been celebrated since 1847-first as the "Patronage of St. Joseph" on the third Sunday after Easter and after 1913 as the "Solemnity of St. Joseph" on the Wednesday before the third Sunday after Easter. John XXIII inserted the name of St. Joseph in the Roman Canon or Eucharistic Prayer I.
From his throne of glory in Heaven, St. Joseph watches over and protects the Church militant and no one who calls on him in need ever calls in vain. He is the model of perfect Christian life and the patron of a happy death. His patronage extends over the Mystical Body of Christ, over the Christian family, the Christian school, and charity and powerful intercession, especially in the hour of death; for hi who, when dying, recieved the affectionate ministry of his foster-Son, Jesus, and his Virgin spouse, Mary, may well be trusted to obtain for us the mercy of God and the grace of a peaceful and holy death.
Prayer
Almighty God, You entrusted to the faithful care of Joseph the beginings of the mysteries of man's salvation. Through his intercession may Your church always be faithful in her service so that Your designs will be fulfilled.
~Amen~