SAINT JOSEPH, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Foster-Father of Jesus Christ

SAINT JOSEPH, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Foster-Father of Jesus Christ.

FEAST DAY: March 19th

CANONIZED A SAINT: Pre-era of the Congregation for the Canonization of Saints. Declared Universal Patron of the Church in 1870 by Blessed Pope Pius IX

PATRONAGE: Against doubt and hesitation and for a happy death.

OUTLINE The dates of the birth and death of Saint Joseph are unknown. Although he is spoken of in two of the Gospels, not one word of Saint Joseph is recorded in the Gospels. A descendent of the Royal House of David, Saint Joseph cared for and protected his bride, the Blessed Virgin Mary as well as his foster-child, Jesus. Saint Joseph is the patron saint of the Universal Church as well as a happy death.

SCRIPTURE READING A reading from the Gospel of Saint Matthew Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, an upright man unwilling to expose her to the law, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream and said: ‘Joseph, son of David, have no fear about taking Mary as your wife. It is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived this child.’ When Joseph awoke he did as the angel of the Lord directed him and received her into his home as his wife. ~Matthew 1: 18 – 20 and 24

PRAYER Father, you entrusted our savior to the care of Saint Joseph. By the help of his prayers may your Church continue to serve its Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

1 SAINT JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY FOSTER-FATHER OF JESUS CHRIST

INTRODUCTION It is said that Jesus is the “son of silence,” as there is not one recorded word of his foster-father, Saint Joseph recorded in the Gospels or anywhere in the entire Bible. What is known of Saint Joseph comes to us directly from the Gospels of Saint Matthew and Saint Luke, and is not even mentioned in the Gospels of Saint Mark or Saint John. It is not known when Saint Joseph was born or exactly when he died, although it is widely held that he died between the time of Jesus’ twelfth and thirtieth birthdays. It is believed that Saint Joseph was a carpenter and that he brought Jesus up in the trade; “is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary…” (Mark 6: 3) Saint Joseph has a great deal to teach each one of us. Together, let us explore the life and the many lessons of Saint Joseph, the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster-father of Jesus.

GENEALOGY OF JESUS As mentioned in the Introduction, Saint Joseph is mentioned only in the Gospels of Saint Matthew and Saint Luke. His introduction to us is through the Genealogy of Jesus. In the Gospel of Saint Matthew, Saint Joseph, a descendant of King David is mentioned at the end of a long list of names beginning with Abraham; “Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary. It was of her that Jesus who is called the Messiah was born.” (Matthew 1:16) Saint Luke introduces the genealogy of Jesus through Saint Joseph; “When Jesus began his work (ministry) he was about thirty years of age, being – so it was supposed – the son of Joseph…” (Luke 3: 23) It is Saint Joseph who brings to Jesus his royal lineage, being from the line of David as well as coming from Bethlehem, the city from which the messiah would come; “But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; Whose origin is from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5: 1)

BETROTHED TO MARY It is safe to say that Saint Joseph, a carpenter by trade was probably a great deal older than his future spouse, Mary; a man would not be able to marry without a developed skill, by which he could support his wife and family. Betrothal was a complicated relationship as opposed to our understanding of being engaged. Betrothals and subsequent marriages were arraigned by the families of the couples involved. According to Jewish law, to be betrothed was legally binding as is

2 marriage in our society today. The betrothed couple would be considered married, even though the couple did not live together as this was a time for the couple to get to know each other before entering into marriage. The betrothal normally did not last more than a few months. When Joseph and Mary were betrothed, yet before they lived together; “she was found with child through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, an upright man unwilling to expose her to the law, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream and said to him: ‘Joseph, son of David, have no fear about taking Mary as your wife. It is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived this child.’ She is to have a son and you are to name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1: 18 – 21) Prior to the dream, by which the angel of the Lord confirmed what Mary would have told Joseph, he intended to end the betrothal. According to Jewish law, Mary could have been stoned to death, had Joseph not stepped up to the plate, trusting his beloved as well as heavenly father. After Joseph was instructed by the angel of the Lord, in the dream; “he received her into his home as his wife…” (Matthew 1: 24)

BIRTH OF JESUS Due to a census, decreed by Caesar Augustus, to be taken throughout the entire Roman Empire, Joseph had to take his pregnant wife from their “town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to David’s town of Bethlehem – because he was of the house and lineage of David to register with Mary, his espoused wife, who was with child.” (Luke 2: 4 – 5) While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, she gave birth to Jesus; “O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” (O Little Town of Bethlehem) It is fascinating to note that the word Bethlehem is a Hebrew word, meaning “house of bread.” It is also interesting that for a cradle, Mary and Joseph place the baby Jesus in manger, which was a box or trough, used for feeding animals. Jesus was placed in a feed box in Bethlehem, the “house of bread,” both being early sign posts, pointing to Jesus as the Eucharist. In Eastern Iconography there are many Icons of the Nativity of Jesus, in which Saint Joseph is depicted as being tempted by the Devil (usually depicted as an old man, hunched over, with furled wings). The temptation was for Jesus to leave Mary for the child is really not of the Holy Spirit. As Saint Joseph was a man of deep faith, he had no time for such temptations. In the midst of his many struggles through all that had taken place, Joseph abandoned himself to the Divine Providence of God.

THE SHEPHERDS As the shepherds, who were keeping watch over their sheep, were greeted by the angels and were told of the birth of Jesus, the Gospel of Luke explains how they ran in haste “and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.” (Luke 2: 16) Joseph and Mary were overcome with joy upon hearing the accounts of the shepherds. I suspect Joseph was able to put the Devil and his temptations aside based on the experience of the shepherds.

3 PRESENTATION OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE When Jesus was only forty days, old according to Jewish law, his parents brought him to the temple, where he would be dedicated to God. It is safe to say that Joseph and Mary were financially poor as they were only able to offer a pair of turtle doves as a sacrifice in the temple. It was in the temple where the holy prophet Simeon proclaimed Jesus to be the light of the world; “The child’s father and mother were marveling at what was being said about him. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: ‘This child is destined to be the downfall and the rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed – and you yourself (Mary) shall be pierced with a sword – so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare.’” (Luke 2: 33 – 35)

THE MAGI Traditionally, we have celebrated the arrival of the Magi (Epiphany) within twelve days of the birth of Jesus (Christmas). Historically, this event did not happen within twelve days of the birth of Jesus, but rather two years after his birth. You will see why in just a moment, as you read further on. “After Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of King Herod, astrologers from the east arrived one day in Jerusalem inquiring, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.’” (Matthew 2: 1 – 2) We know the story well; when the three wise men, who have traditionally been known as Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, came to where Joseph and Mary lived, with the baby Jesus, they brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. When the Magi first arrived in Bethlehem, they paid a courtesy call upon Herod, king of Judea, who inquired about the new born king, not because he too wanted to honor the babe, rather he wanted to destroy the child. After the Magi spent some considerable time with the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary and Jesus), they were going to return to Persia. Through the course of a dream, the Magi knew not to return by way of King Herod, as they had an idea of what his true intentions were.

THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT King Herod was enraged that the Magi departed without first paying their respects to him. Again, his interest in the birth of the infant-king Jesus was not to pay homage to him, rather it was to destroy him, as he did not want to share his power with anyone. Aware that he had been deceived by the Magi, Herod ordered the slaughter of all baby boys, two years and younger. It is a safe bet that Herod’s soldiers, carrying out his orders, did not check the sex the children were when they massacred them, or ask their age of their parents. The massacre was swift and complete, including, boys and girls ranging in age from infancy to possibly as old as six or seven. Even some of the parents were killed in their feeble attempt to protect their children. Herod was so paranoid and enraged that he even had his four infant sons executed, along with one of his wives and in-laws. Joseph was warned in a dream to take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, in order to protect the two year old savior; “the angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph with the command: ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you otherwise, Herod is searching for the child to destroy him.’ Joseph got up and took the child and his mother and left that night for Egypt. He stayed there

4 until the death of Herod, to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’” (Matthew 2: 13 – 15)

RETURN TO NAZARETH After the death of Herod, possibly two or more years later after the massacre, Joseph was originally going to bring his family back to Bethlehem, but was warned in a dream to go to Nazareth, as Joseph had heard that one of Herod’s sons, Archelaus had succeeded his father to the throne. Joseph knew that the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree and was fearful that Archelaus was as big a nut-job as was his father. Joseph’s fears were confirmed in yet another dream; “there he settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way what was said through the prophets was fulfilled: ‘He shall be called a Nazorean.’” (Luke 2: 23)

FINDING THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE From the time that Joseph returned his family to Nazareth, possibly when Jesus was four years old or more, we do not hear anything in the Gospels about the Holy Family until Jesus has reached the age of twelve. According to Jewish custom, entire villages would work their way to the Temple in Jerusalem for the Jewish feast of Passover. Joseph brought Mary and Jesus to the Temple for the celebration of Passover which was celebrated from the fifteenth to the twenty-fourth day of the Jewish month of Nisan (March – April). It is most likely that everyone who was able to travel from Nazareth traveled with Joseph and his family. When the celebration had been completed, the entire village would travel back together. For whatever reason, Joseph and Mary left Jerusalem, most likely thinking that Jesus was with others from Nazareth. What actually took place is that the twelve year old Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, taking on the religious leaders of his day in the Temple. Joseph and Mary separated from the rest of the village as they worked their way back to Jerusalem in order to find their son. It is important to remember that Joseph and Mary were not plastic statues, void of emotions and feelings. It is more than logical and safe to say that they were worried sick about their son and what could have happened to him. It was three days later before they found Jesus in the Temple; “When his parents saw him they were astonished, and his mother said to him: ‘Son, why have you done this to us? You see that your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow.’ He said to them: ‘Why did you search for me? Did you not know I had to be in my Father’s house (the Temple)?’ But they did not grasp what he said to them. He (Jesus) went down with them then, and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them (Joseph and Mary).” (Luke 2: 48 – 51)

DEATH OF SAINT JOSEPH From the time that Jesus was missing (at the age of twelve) until he began his public ministry when he was the age of thirty, there is nothing recorded in the scriptures concerning either Joseph or Mary. The next time we hear anything about Jesus’ parents is at the Wedding of Cana. Jesus attended the wedding with his disciples, while his mother also attended the wedding. No mention is made of Joseph and it would have

5 been improper for Mary to have attended the wedding without Joseph, unless she was in fact at this time a widow, which is the most likely scenario. There is no historical record as to when Saint Joseph died, but it is believed that he died sometime between the time that Jesus was twelve and when he began his public ministry at the age of thirty. It has been a traditional sentiment that Joseph died in the arms of Jesus and Mary. Saint Joseph was a faithful, hard working, loving husband and father who courageously did whatever was necessary to protect his family from the ravages of King Herod. He humbly placed his trust in his heavenly Father; the same heavenly Father of his foster-son, Jesus as well as ours.

CANONIZATION OF SAINT JOSEPH It was the tradition of the early church and long before there was a canonization process of saints, aside of the early martyrs, that any virtuous person who had any sort of an intimate relationship with Jesus was simply considered a Saint. This would certainly be the case for his father, Saint Joseph. Devotion to Saint Joseph actually began in the Eastern Church, while in the Western or Latin Church, devotion spread through the order of Servites, who celebrated the feast day of Saint Joseph on March 19th as early as the year 1324. By 1621, Pope Gregory XV spread the devotion of Saint Joseph throughout the entire Western Church and in 1870, Blessed Pope Pius IX declared Saint Joseph as the Patron Saint of the Universal Church. To counter the Soviet Union’s celebration of May Day (May 1 st), celebrating the Communist revolution, Pope Pius XII established the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker in 1955, honoring Saint Joseph as a carpenter and encouraging those who earn their bread by the sweat of their brow.

READING A reading from a sermon by Saint Bernardine of Siena, priest

There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to any human being. Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfill the task at hand.

This general rule is especially verified in the case of Saint Joseph, the foster- father of our Lord and the husband of the Queen of the world, enthroned above the angels. He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph’s wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying: “Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.”

Remember us, Saint Joseph, and plead for us to your foster-child. Ask your most holy bride, the Virgin Mary, to look kindly upon us, since she is the mother of him who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns eternally. Amen.

6 POINTS TO PONDER

1.) Joseph’s trust in God’s Divine Providence

2.) Joseph’s protection and devotion of the Blessed Virgin Mary

3.) Joseph’s fidelity to his family as a faithful, hard worker.

4.) Not one word of Saint Joseph is recorded in the scriptures, yet his impact on the life of Jesus is monumental.

SOUCESE USED

4.) Unpublished Source Material