St. Joseph
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 but he was concerned for her suffering and safety. He knew that women accused to 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 (along with 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.
Prayer: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
Saint Joseph MedalsON SALE NOW! St Joseph medals crafted from solid 14K gold and sterling silver. Silver medals include a sterling silver chain. Overnight shipping available. CLICK HERE!
Cherished Saints is a collection of silver religious saints and icons, new and vintage (from France, Italy and other worldly places). Many were previously cherished by an owner from years past and one-of-a-kind. CLICK HERE!
ST JOSEPH STATUES, MEDALS, ROSARIES AND MOREMADE IN USA - Detailed medals of St. Joseph in 14K gold, sterling silver and pewter. Also: additional St Joseph items including St. Joseph statues, home seller kits, rosaries and more. CLICK HERE!
Previous Saint
< St. Joseph Chang Song-jib
Next Saint
Bl. Jose M. Rubio y Peralta >
Rate This Saint
1 - 20 of 339 Comments
Leave a Comment
Previous Saint
< St. Joseph Chang Song-jib
Next Saint
Bl. Jose M. Rubio y Peralta >
Find Saints
Catholic Online offers the largest searchable database of Catholic Saints on the internet.
| Browse Saints by Alphabet |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
| Patron Saints by Alphabet |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Videos
St. Francis of Assisi 78,617 views View Video
Padre Pio 47,105 views View Video
Black Saints Vol I 30,401 views View Video
Black Saints Vol II 26,988 views View Video
Most Popular
Editorial: Is the Scandal Ridden Obama Administration Becoming a House of Cards? Read More
There's the problem! Americans are out of touch with scientific consensus on climate change Read More
Did God make junk? Scientists say 98 percent of human genome is junk Read More
Sex In Uniform: Why the Increase in Sexual Assaults in the Military? Read More
Bill Donohue, Catholic League, Disclose Fight with the IRS, Demonstrate Courage Read More
Daily Readings
Reading 1, Sirach 1:1-10
All wisdom comes from the Lord, she is with him for ever. The ... Read More
Psalm, Psalms 93:1, 1-2, 5
Yahweh is king, robed in majesty, robed is Yahweh and girded ... Read More
Gospel, Mark 9:14-29
As they were rejoining the disciples they saw a large crowd ... Read More
Saint of the Day
St. Bernardine of Siena
May 20: In the year 1400, a young man came to the door of the largest ... Read More
Latest Videos
Former Nuncio in Egypt: A look at the Arab Spring from the inside View Video
Planned Parenthood: A Eugenics Death Cult! View Video
May 20 - Homily: Catholics Who Reject God By Rejecting Truth View Video
May 20 - Homily: Love of Jesus' Name View Video
Saint Alphonsa Catholic Mission Austin - Holy Communion 2013 - Part 1 View Video
Marketplace
The Great Battle Has Begun
From the best-selling author of The Secrets, Chastisement, and ... Read More
Faith Hope Love. Catholic Keychain. Corinthians. Custom Read More
please help me and jo get back together are please help lyle ask me out please amen
St Joseph
I've a prefect family and husband but recently sold our house to a lovely young recently engaged couple and have been unable to find somewhere to move to and lost out to properties. I am now scared our buyers will pull out and find the whole situation stressful making me take it out on my family which I am shamed bout. Pls st Joseph help me get a nice family home which we can grow and be happy in and I promise I will be a better wife and the best mum ever to my little babies and will never shout at them again when I lose my temper!
Pls find us that house we want. There is others in the world that need more and feel embarrassed to ask for help when I am blessed with what I already have but feel I need this move for my family to make them feel secure and settled for their childhood
Pls help me And answer my prayers. Pls may my mum and grandads and grandmother also look down and help!
Pls help
Amen
Please help my son find employment. Please guide my daughter in selling her house. Please continue to help them and draw them closer to your son Jesus. Amen and Praise to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
St. Jeosph is my role model
Dear Saint Joseph,
I am stuck and frustrated. I had to resign from my job due to harassment and to save my career. Please help me to get a job. I have applying everywhere. Please make it so that I will get calls for interview. I know this is too much to ask. I need to get back working in the Federal Government as soon as possible.
Thank you!
Dear Saint Joseph; I awoke this morning with thoughts of you in my mind. I have always felt a special connection to you and the holy family. I especially feel this connection since (like you) I am a father with a wife and family to care for. Would you please intercede for me and pray for me to your adopted son Jesus, and to God that I might find a job that will allow me to take care of them? Please help us to find a resolution with the collection agency over a debt that we have already paid. That it will be settled fairly and justly. Intercede for us that we will find a safe home near good schools for our sons. Thank you for remaining close to my family and me, and thank you for your assistance and intercession with these things. In the name of our holy lord Jesus Christ. ~Amen~
Dear St. Joseph, I would like to ask you to please intercede for me to Jesus to help me with my marriage difficulties so that we may have a happy and joyous life together for the rest of our lives until death do us both part. We have had such an emotional year together and we have only been married less than a year. My husband is a Jehovah's Witness and I am Roman Catholic and I also pray and ask you to intercede for my husband's conversion to the Catholic Church. I love you St. Joseph and keep you close to my heart. Please hear my petitions my dearest St. Joseph and kindly answer me. Thank you with all my heart.
St Joseph my dear patron saint. please intercede for me to Jesus and tell him that I am dying because I can not find a job and my life seems worthless. please St Joseph please I beg of you. it has been 4 long years since I have worked and I really really could use a job. please saint Joseph please intercede for me and help me find a job. please ask God to open a door for me soon so I can get back to work. I read prayers all the time where people were blessed with jobs. so my dear patron saint please bless me with a job too. I beg of you please. I ask this in jesus's holy name....amen
Please Saint Joseph,ask God if He would allow Catherine and I to be together,but only if it would be pleasing to Him
Dear St Joseph who is known for hopeless cases. I ask you now to please grant us your strenght for my brother david who is fighting lung cancer.
St. Joseph, My patron saint, please pray for me.
happy feast day St. Joseph. thank you for watching over me and my mom. help me to be more assertive and confident. thank you
St.Joseph i ask you 2 pray for me and my family and friends i pray in faith
I ask for Gods Blessing
Amen
St. Joseph
19th is one of those special days in my calendar. Through Jesus you performed great miracles. You saved my life at the age of 11, you saved my sons lives, you saved my marriage and you saved my sister's life on this date. Thank you for the miracles. Please continue to look after me and my family and all my loved ones, pray for me and teach me to be a parent like you and your spouse our Blessed Mother were to Jesus. Amen.
Good Morning St Joseph,
Today is Tuesday, 19 March 2013 and it is your FEAST DAY. I awoke this morning to be greeted by the sun shining and birds singing, and what a beutiful day it will be today on your FEAST DAY. I will be attending the midday Mass in your honour at the famous St Patrick's cathedral in the city of Melbourne. I will be praying for peace in the world, joy in our lives and love for Jesus who is the Risen Lord.
Today I will be celebrating your special place in the salvation story and our very close and lasting friendship that goes back to my teenage years when a lovely old nun introduced me to you in Perth, Western Australia the Spring of 1975. She assured me that there is no better or more powerful patron saint than you and she told me how her grandmother introduced you to her when she was a young girl in Ireland.
Lunch will be served after Mass and I was assured by my dear old mum that it will be something special for your FEAST DAY. She loves cooking and her kitchen is her favourate place where she spends most of the day producing wonderful dishes of all sorts. Mother loves nothing better than to gather us all around her large family table and serve us her irresistable dishes, and today she has something special for us all.
This evening we will be attending a famous musical at Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne called the Jersey Boys which is a musical story of Franky Valli and the Four Seasons. I already seen it twice but on your FEAST DAY I want to see it again as it is a heart-warming & inspirational true life story of New York school dropouts who make it big time and end up staying on top through hard work, loyalty and faithfulness to their calling.
LOVE IS ALL
Dear Saint Joseph, please help me to carry on the Church Liturgical activities as my contribution and offering. Amen.
Dear St Joseph: Through your intercessions, I just got a temporary short term job. Please continue your intercession so that this temporary job will be a full time regular job. BA
Thank you St Joseph for helping my sister with a house sale. Please continue to help her and draw her and her family closer to your son Jesus. Amen and Praise to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jlim
thank you so very much st joseph for geting me a good job and allowing me to take care of my familey i offer up so much thanks
\
Thank you Saint Joseph for helping us! Ksavoy