Honoring our Saints
Saint Joseph
Patron Saint of Everything!
We know very little about this man who was the earthly father to Jesus of Nazareth and the husband to Mary, the Mother of God. However, the few things we do know about Joseph, the Patron of the Universal Church, are important.
Joseph was of the house of David, from which it had been prophesied, that the Messiah would come.
Matthew 1:19 says that Joseph was “a righteous man.” Would God have picked any one other than a righteous man to raise His Son on earth? No, so God the Father chose Joseph to be the father of His Son and the wife of the Mother of God.
When Joseph found out that Mary was with child, Joseph knowing the child was not his, planned to divorce Mary, but out of the kindness of heart would not expose her to public disgrace. Then, he had a dream…
“Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:18-21
We know that after Jesus was born, when His Parents took Him to the temple to be circumcised, the fee for this act was a small one, 2 turtle doves, the fee paid by the poor. Joseph was not a rich man.
Joseph raised the Son of God teaching Him the ways and religion of His people. Joseph taught the Father’s Son the trade of carpentry. In his life before Jesus began His mission, Jesus practiced that trade to support He and His Mother after Joseph died.
We assume that Joseph died in the arms of Mary and Jesus. Other than that, we do not know much.
Today, Joseph is known as the patron of the Universal Church. He is also the patron saint of a happy death, fathers, husbands, workers, employment, homes, and housing. He is renowned as a terror to demons. He can do just about anything! Wednesdays are the days of the week chosen to honor St. Joseph. His feast day is March 19. If you need something ask for his intercession as we walk this Camino Del Rey.
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