Ann_St.Joseph

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St. Joseph

St. Joseph

Feastday: March 19, May 1
Patron of the Universal Church

Everything we know about the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus comes from
Scripture and that has seemed too little for those who made up legends about him. We know
he was a carpenter, a working man, for the skeptical Nazarenes ask about Jesus, "Is this
not the carpenter's son?" Matthew 13:55. He wasn't rich for when he took Jesus to the
Temple to be circumcised and Mary to be purified he offered the sacrifice of two
turtledoves or a pair of pigeons, allowed only for those who
could not afford a lamb 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 mark his descent from
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. However,
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 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 and 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.

Since Joseph does not appear in Jesus' public life, at his death, or resurrection, many
historians believe Joseph probably had died before Jesus entered public ministry.

Joseph is the patron 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 19 for Joseph the Husband of Mary and
May 1 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.

In His Footsteps:

Joseph was foster father to Jesus. There are many children separated from families and
parents who need foster parents. Please consider contacting your local Catholic Charities
or Division of Family Services about becoming a foster parent.

Prayers:

Saint Joseph, patron of the universal Church, watch over the Church as carefully as you
watched over Jesus, help protect it and guide it as you did with your adopted son. Amen

Here is a prayer that I really really love, over 1900 years old:

Oh St. Joseph whoese protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God,
I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful
intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus
Christ our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power, I may offer
my Thanksgiving and Homage to the Loving of Fathers.

Oh St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you with Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not
approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head
for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph,
patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen.