Feast Day - March 19
Patron Saint of Belgium, Canada, Carpenters, China, Fathers, Happy Death, Peru, Russia, Social Justice, Universal Church, Vietnam and Workers.
An ordinary manual labourer, who is a descendant of King David. In the designs of Providence he was destined to become the spouse of the Mother of God. His high privilege is expressed in a single phrase, "Foster-father of Jesus." About him sacred Scripture has little more to say than that he was a just man-an expression which indicates how faithfully he fulfilled his high trust of protecting and guarding God's greatest treasures on earth, Jesus and Mary.
The darkest hours of his life may well have been those when he first learned of Mary's pregnancy; but precisely in this time of trial Joseph showed himself great. His suffering, which likewise formed a part of the work of the redemption, was not without great providential import: Joseph was to be, for all times, the trustworthy witness of the Messiah's virgin birth. After this, he modestly retires into the background of holy Scripture.
Scripture tells us nothing of Joseph's death. However, there are indications that he died before the beginning of Christ's public ministry. He had the most beautiful death anyone would wish for - in the arms of Jesus and Mary. Humbly and unknown, he passed his years at Nazareth, silent and almost forgotten, he remained in the background through centuries of Church history. Only in more recent times has he been accorded greater honour.
Liturgical veneration of Saint Joseph begun in the fifteenth century, fostered by Saint Brigid of Sweden and Bernadine of Siena. Saint Teresa, too, did much to further his cult.
Liturgical veneration of Saint Joseph begun in the fifteenth century, fostered by Saint Brigid of Sweden and Bernadine of Siena. Saint Teresa, too, did much to further his cult.
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