St. Joseph was the husband of Mary, and foster father of Jesus. God entrusted his two greatest treasures, Jesus and Mary, to the care and protection of St. Joseph. Along with Mary, Joseph spent the most time with Jesus during his childhood. The Gospels of Saints Matthew and Luke tell us about Joseph.
Read Matthew 1:18-21 to learn about a dream Joseph had when Mary told him she was expecting a baby.
While his family was originally from Bethlehem, St. Joseph settled in Nazareth where he was a carpenter by trade. He took Mary his wife from Nazareth to Bethlehem for a census where the baby Jesus was born.
Following the birth of Jesus and the visit of the Wise Men, Joseph was again warned, in a dream, by an angel of the Lord to take the Holy Family into Egypt to escape Herod’s anger. They stayed there until the death of Herod, when Joseph was again directed in a dream by an angel of the Lord to leave Egypt and return to Nazareth.
You can read this in the Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 2:19-23
The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
When Jesus was twelve years old, his parents took him to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and, after three days, they missed him but then they found him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers. Mary was astonished and said to him, “Your father and I have been looking for you.” Jesus answered, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He was obedient to them and returned to Nazareth. “And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favour before God and man”
You can read this in St. Luke’s Gospel Chapter 2:48-52
The Gospel of Mark does not mention Joseph by name, but provides two important clues about Jesus. First, that Jesus is from Nazareth of Galilee and that Jesus followed in Joseph’s footsteps and became a carpenter: “Is not this Jesus, the carpenter, the son of Mary and Joseph?
The Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, is our best example of a loving family.
Saint Joseph is the Patron Saint of marriage and he is also the Patron Saint of fathers.
His feast-day is March 19 on the liturgical calendar.
As he earned his living with his hands, St. Joseph, the Worker, is also celebrated on May 1st each year.
He is the Patron Saint of carpenters as well as being patron of many nations (Austria, Belgium, Canada, Peru, Vietnam).
As part of their night prayers, many people pray to him for a happy death, as it is believed that he had the privilege of dying in the loving presence of Jesus and Mary.
Why not say this prayer now and each night before you go to sleep?
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you. Amen
On the 8th December 2020, Pope Francis declared this to be the Year of St. Joseph. It will end on December 8th 2021.
Pope Francis asks that we place ourselves under the protection of St. Joseph during this time.
St. Joseph, protect us and watch over us always. Amen.