Statue of St Joseph and Jesus, Millegem Kerk.

The genealogy in the Gospel of Matthew says that Joseph's father was called Jacob,^[Mt. 1:16] but according to the genealogy in the Gospel of Luke, Joseph was a son of Heli.^[Lk. 3:23] The canonical Gospels, however, give neither date and place of Joseph's birth nor of his death. All that is known from them is that Joseph lived at times in Nazareth in Galilee, before Jesus' birth^[Luke 2:4] on return from exile in Egypt after Herod's death,^{[Mt. 2:23] [Lk. 2:39]} after the Passover visit to Jerusalem when Jesus was 12 years old, ^[2:51] stayed for a couple of years in Bethlehem in Judea,^{[2:4] [Mt. 2:1-14]} and was forced into exile for a time in Egypt.^[2:14-22]

Joseph was a "τεκτων"; traditionally the word has been taken to mean "carpenter",^[5][6] though the Greek term is much less specific. It cannot be translated narrowly; it evokes an artisan with wood in general, or an artisan in iron or stone.^[7] Very little other information on Joseph is given in the Gospels, in which he never speaks. He is mentioned in the Gospels as present on the visit to Jerusalem when Jesus was 12, but no mention can clearly be placed later than that one. Christian tradition, though vague on the time and place of his death, represents Mary as a widow during the adult ministry of her son.^{[citation needed]} In Roman Catholic and other traditions, Joseph is the patron saint of workers and has several feast days. He was also declared to be the patron saint and protector of the Catholic Church by Pope Pius IX in 1870, and is the patron of several countries and regions.

In the canonical Gospels

The next event related is when Joseph is told by the angel in another dream of Herod the Great's plan to kill Jesus, and ordered to save the boy by taking him and his mother to Egypt, which he promptly does.^[8]

Once Herod had died, Joseph is told by the angel in a further dream to return with Jesus and his mother to the land of Israel; but when Joseph learns that Herod has been succeeded in Judea by Herod Archelaus, and Joseph worries on account of the latter's ill repute, a further dream guides him to the district of Galilee. And so Joseph takes mother and child to Nazareth and settles there.^[9]

The last event mentioning the presence of Joseph is the family's Passover visit to the Temple in Jerusalem when Jesus is around 12 years old, hence coming to the end of his childhood.^[10]

The canonical Gospel accounts are silent about the life of Jesus and his family during the next couple of decades. They resume the narration when first John the Baptist, and then Jesus himself, commence their public ministries; but their accounts from thereon mention only the presence at certain events of Mary and never again that of Joseph.

In apocryphal anecdotes

Apocryphal sources elaborate the terse canonical Gospel accounts. Thus they describe Jesus as working side by side with Joseph in Joseph's carpenter shop at Nazareth, and sometimes staying with Joseph while the latter worked. They also tell how Joseph made an important decision when he heard that Mary was pregnant before their arranged marriage and instead of allowing her to be stoned by townspeople, he took her away and protected her. In some Catholic traditions, Joseph is described as dying "in the arms of Jesus and Mary".^[11][12]

In the canonical Gospel accounts, Jesus is described as being the brother of James, Joses (Matthew has the spelling: Joseph, Mark has Joses), Judas, and Simon, and of sisters whose names however are not mentioned.^[13] The Eastern Orthodox Church teaches that Joseph was a widower and that these brothers and sisters were children from his first marriage, thus making them Jesus' half-brothers and half-sisters. This version of events is related in the apocryphal History of Joseph the Carpenter, which names the eldest brother Justus and the sisters Assia and Lydia, but does not name the wife.^[14] Catholic tradition, as taught by St. Jerome and the Fathers of the Church, teaches that the term "brother" in biblical times had a broader meaning and included cousins and other more distant relatives as well. Authoritative Orthodox sources contradict the History, retaining the biblical name of the eldest son, names Joseph's first wife Salome, and his sisters Salome and Esther along with an unnamed third sister.[Authoritative primary source needed]^[15]

The Roman Catholic tradition is clear that these "brothers and sisters" are the cousins of Christ and affirms strongly that Joseph remained celibate while married to Mary.^[16] Orthodox doctrine agrees on the latter point, with both Catholic and Orthodox affirming the perpetual virginity of Mary. Some Protestant denominations (including many Evangelical Protestant traditions) no longer espouse strong views on the subject of relations between Mary and Joseph.^{[citation needed]}

In art

Up to about the 17th century Joseph tends to be depicted as a man advanced in years, with grey hair, often balding, occasionally frail and with arthritic fingers and a sharp nose, a comparatively marginal figure alongside Mary and Jesus if not entirely in the background, passive other than when leading them on their flight to Egypt. Joseph is shown mostly with a beard, not only in keeping with Jewish custom, but also because – although the Gospel accounts do not give his age – later literature tends to present him as an old man at the time of his wedding to Mary. This depiction arose to allay concerns about both the celibacy of the newly wedded couple^[17], the mention of brothers and sisters of Jesus in the canonical Gospels,^[18] and Joseph's other children spoken of in apocryphal literature – concerns discussed very frankly by Jean Gerson for example, who nonetheless favoured showing him as a younger man.^[19] In recent centuries – in step with a growing interest in Joseph's role in Gospel exegesis – he himself has become a focal figure in representations of the Holy Family. He is now often portrayed as a younger or even youthful man (perhaps especially in Protestant depictions), whether going about his work as a carpenter, or participating actively in the daily life of Mary and Jesus as an equal and openly affectionate member.^[20]

Sainthood

It is unknown where Joseph was at the time of Jesus' crucifixion, however, it is widely assumed that he was already deceased by this time.

Within the Roman Catholic tradition, Joseph is the patron saint of various things and places. Pope Pius IX proclaimed him the patron of the Universal Church on December 8, 1870. Joseph is the unofficial patron against doubt and hesitation, as well as the patron saint of fighting communism, and of a happy death. Joseph having died in the "arms of Jesus and Mary" according to Catholic tradition, he is considered the model of a pious believer who receives grace at the moment of death.

In addition to his primary feast day in the Catholic and other traditions, Joseph is honored by the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker (May 1), introduced by Pope Pius XII in 1955 to counteract May Day, a union, workers and socialists holiday. This reflects Joseph's status as what many Catholics and other Christians consider the "patron of workers" and "model of workers." Catholic and other Christians teachings and stories about or relating to Joseph and the Holy Family frequently stress his patience, persistence, and hard work as admirable qualities which believers should adopt.

In that tradition, Joseph is the patron saint of the New World; of the countries China, Canada, Korea, Mexico, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Peru, Vietnam; of the regions Carinthia, Styria, Tyrol, Sicily; of the cities and/or dioceses of Florence, Turin, Baton Rouge, Bemidji, Buffalo, Cheyenne, Haugesund in Norway, Louisville, Nashville, San Jose, Sioux Falls, Hidalgo del Parral, etc.

Roman Catholics also believe he prays especially for families, fathers, expectant mothers (pregnant women), travellers, immigrants, house sellers and buyers, craftsmen, engineers and working people in general. Official patronage assigned to him, however, is vague. Numerous geographical locations, some vocations and various circumstances of personal life have been attributed to his patronage (see Patron Saints Index: Saint Joseph link below). This is Saint Joseph's sainthood.

Feast days in Christian churches

Veneration of Joseph, when compared with that of other saints, was introduced rather late in the Catholic Church. It was in the tenth century that he began to be celebrated in some parts of the West with a feast on 19 March. This feast was accepted in Rome only in 1479,^[22] less than a century before the 1570 Tridentine Calendar, in which it was included. This is Saint Joseph's Day in the Roman Catholic and Anglican traditions. In 1847 Pope Pius IX declared Joseph patron of the universal Church and instituted another feast, with an octave, to be held in his honour on Wednesday in the second week after Easter. This was abolished by Pope Pius XII, when in 1955 he established the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, to be celebrated on 1 May (see General Roman Calendar of Pope Pius XII). Pope John XXIII added the name of Joseph to the Canon of the Mass. The 19 March feast is a Solemnity and so is transferred to another date if impeded (for instance, if it falls on a Sunday within Lent). The 1 May celebration is an optional Memorial, and so is omitted if impeded. (However, the traditional Catholic calendar had to celebrate St. Joseph the Worker on May 2 in 2008 because May 1 was Ascension Thursday.)

In the Lutheran Church also, 19 March is observed as the Feast of Saint Joseph, Guardian of Jesus. This festival is on the official calendar of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, the Wisconsin Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Some Protestant traditions also celebrate this festival as a commemoration of Joseph's life and witness.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the feast day of Saint Joseph is celebrated on the First Sunday after the Nativity of Christ. The following hymn is chanted:

Verily, Joseph the betrothed, saw clearly in his old age that the foresayings of the Prophets had

been fulfilled openly; for he was given an odd earnest,

receiving inspiration from the angels,

who cried, Glory to God; for he hath bestowed peace on earth..

Institutions and places named after Joseph

Josephite Order

In the 19th century, the Josephite Fathers of the Roman Catholic Church were created under the patronage of Joseph, intending to work with the poor. The first Josephites in America re-devoted their part of the Order to ministry within the newly-emancipated African American community.

Churches

Saint Joseph's Oratory is a Roman Catholic oratory and basilica (historically-designated special church) in Montreal, Canada. Constructed at the wishes of Brother André Besette (Congregation of Holy Cross)—a blessed in the Catholic canon—it is dedicated to St. Joseph who is believed to have performed many miracles of healing in Montreal. In the oratory are hundreds of crutches and other items left by those who experienced a spontaneous healing (like those at Lourdes, France). The Oratory is the largest church in Canada, with the largest dome of its kind in the world after that of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. (Some churches named after St. Joseph are actually dedicated to a different saint, Saint Joseph of Cupertino.)

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph is located in San Jose, California and is the cathedral (episcopal headquarters) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose. Since 1972, Basilica of St. Joseph, Alameda, California. The Basilica of Saint Joseph Proto-Cathedral is a prominent Roman Catholic church in Bardstown, Kentucky, United States; it was the first Roman Catholic Cathedral west of the Allegheny Mountains and the cathedral mother church of the former Roman Catholic Diocese of Bardstown. Saint Joseph's Church and Saint Joseph's University, both in Philadelphia, were named after St. Joseph. National Shrine of Saint Joseph built in 1601 in Mandaue City ,Cebu, Philippines, houses the oldest St. Joseph statue in the nation.

Many schools, universities, hospitals, churches and monasteries are dedicated to Saint Joseph in Lebanon, such as Lycée Saint-Joseph in Ain Ebel, Université Saint-Joseph in Beirut, the Hôpital Saint Joseph des Soeurs de la Croix in Dora and Church of Saint Joseph in Aitou.

Places

Many cities, towns, and geographical features are named after Joseph. At least 6 places named St. Joseph exist in France and its overseas possessions, and at least 14 towns, counties, or townships in the United States. Numerous bays, rivers, peninsulas, and other features are named after Joseph (or St. Joseph) in North America.

St. Joseph, Trinidad and Tobago is the oldest town in Trinidad and Tobago. Originally named San José de Oruña, it served as the capital of Spanish Trinidad between 1592 and 1783.

According to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the Spanish form, San Jose, is the most common place name in the world. Probably the most-recognized San Joses are San José, Costa Rica and San Jose, California, United States, given their name by Spanish colonists. The latter is the subject of the famous song Do You Know the Way to San José.

The emperor Joseph II once granted an audience to a tavern-owner who had commissioned a painting of the ruler to decorate his establishment, which he intended to name in honor of the monarch - only to be forbidden to do so by the Viennese city council. Joseph II told him to add a beard and a halo to the painting and rename the tavern "Saint Joseph."

Modern literature

• Aramis Thorn, The Foster Father of God (a fictional account of the life of Joseph, the betrothal of Joseph and Mary and the birth and childhood of Jesus).

• José Saramago, The Gospel According to Jesus Christ gives a humanist perspective on the life of Joseph who is represented as the biological father of Jesus who is crucified by the Romans after being mistaken for a rebel during the sacking of Sepphoris.
• The Story of Joseph the Carpenter Fatherhood Principles of Joseph the Carpenter: Examples of Godly Fatherhood by Akili Kumasi (GIL Publications, 2009) gives a historical and spiritual account of how Joseph came to be the earthly-father of Jesus, how he influenced Jesus during Jesus' childhood and how this helped to prepare Jesus for his earthly ministry.

Other St. Josephs

• Saint Joseph of Arimathea, in the gospel accounts
• Abba Joseph of Thebes, Desert Father
• Saint Joseph of Damascus
• Saint Joseph Marello
• Saint Joseph of Cupertino (Giuseppe Desa)

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Saint Joseph

• Joseph, the name
• Solemnity of Saint Joseph
• History of Joseph the Carpenter
• Prayer to Saint Joseph
• Genealogy of Jesus
• Josephite Fathers
• Sisters of St. Joseph
• Saint Joseph's Day
• Saint Joseph of Arimathea

Notes

External links

• The Life of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster-father of Our Lord Jesus Christ
• Saint Joseph at Patron Saints Index
• Catholic Online Saints: St. Joseph* Eastern Orthodox Tradition: The Righteous Elder Joseph The Betrothed, And His Repose
• Holy Righteous Joseph the Betrothed Orthodox icon and synaxarion for the Sunday after Nativity

SAINT JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY... March 19

Joseph, someone once joked, was indeed the perfect husband: the only major character in Jesus' story who never utters a word!  But the Gospel recounts and the liturgy celebrates his silent witness of faith-filled deeds: "With a husband's love he cherished Mary, the Virgin Mother of God; with fatherly care he watched over Jesus" (Preface of Saint Joseph, Sacramentary).  Catholic devotion, therefore, hails him as patron-protector of the universal church.  Some cultures set a festive "Saint Joseph's Table," welcoming the poor and strangers to feast with family and friends.  Tradition keeps today as the anniversary of his death, which we presume was peaceful, with Jesus and Mary present.  Thus, Catholics invoke Joseph's provision of a home for Mary and Jesus, he was, fittingly, a carpenter by trade; thus, patron of workers.  Spring, nature's rebirth, begins between his feast and Annunciation (March 25), approximately, since Joseph's silent obedience and Mary's "Let it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38) usher in humanity's spiritual rebirth.  - Peter Scagnelli, © Copyright J.S. Paluch Co,

MEMORARE TO SAINT JOSEPH

Remember, O most pure Spouse of the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, my beloved patron,
that never hath it been heard that anyone invoked thy patronage 
and sought thine aid without being comforted.
Inspired by this confidence, I come to thee and fervently commend myself to thee.
Ah, despise not my petition, dear foster father of our Redeemer, but accept it graciously.  
Amen

LITANY OF SAINT JOSEPH

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, hear us, Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

He has made him master of His House
And the ruler of His possessions.

LET US PRAY
O God, in your loving providence, you chose Blessed Joseph 
to be the spouse of your most Holy Mother,
give to us the favor of having him for our intercessor in heaven,
whom we venerate as our Protector,
You, who live and reign forever and ever.  Amen.

PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH

To you, O Blessed Joseph, we go in our difficulties, and while asking for the help of your most holy Spouse, Our Blessed Lady, we confidently invoke your patronage also.  With the same love which united you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by the fatherly affection which you showed to the Child Jesus, we humbly ask you to remember that you are united to us by the glorious new life which Jesus shares with us through His Death and Resurrection and to help us in our need by your powerful intercession.

O most provident guardian of the Holy Family, protect us, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ; help us keep ourselves from falling into error and ways which are contrary to love for Jesus; united to us as you are in the communion of saints, assist us, O most powerful protector, in our struggle with the powers of darkness, and as once you rescued the Child Jesus from an attack against His life, so now defend the Mystical Body of Christ from those who try to divide and destroy Christ in His Holy People.

Shield each one of us with your unceasing patronage, that by imitating your example, and supported by your aid, we may be enabled to live a good life, die a holy death, and come to everlasting happiness in the presence of God.  Amen.

TO OBTAIN A SPECIAL FAVOR

O Blessed Saint Joseph, tender-hearted father, faithful guardian of Jesus, chaste spouse of the Mother of God, I pray to you to join with me in praising God the Father through His divine Son who died on the cross and rose again to give us sinners new life.  Through the hole Name of Jesus, pray with us that we may obtain from the eternal Father, the favor we ask for.....

We have been unfaithful to the unfailing love of God the Father' beg of Jesus mercy for us his brothers.  Amid the splendors of God's loving presence, do not forget the sorrows of those who suffer, those who pray, those who weep.  By your prayers and those of your most holy Spouse, our Blessed Lady, may the love of Jesus answer our call of confident hope.  Amen.

FOR THE CANONIZATION OF BROTHER ANDRE

O Jesus, you wanted the devotion to your foster-father Saint Joseph to be made known through the efforts of Brother Andre, grant that the church may glorify, at the earliest opportunity, this faithful friend of the poor, the sick and the afflicted.

Saint Joseph of Mount Royal, pray for us!

(Father Rector, Saint Joseph's Oratory, 3800 Queen Mary Road, Montreal, Canada H3V 1H6  Tel.# 514-733-8211)

O Glorious St. Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, to thee do we raise our hearts and hands, 
to implore thy powerful intercession in obtaining from the benign Heart of Jesus 
all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare,
particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special favor we now implore (mention it).

(Then say the following seven times in honor of the seven sorrows and joys of St. Joseph)

O Glorious St. Joseph, through the love thou bearest to Jesus Christ and for the glory of His Name,
Hear our prayers and obtain our petitions.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist us.

PRAYER FOR A HAPPY DEATH

O Glorious Saint Joseph, behold I choose thee today for my special patron in life and at the hour of my death.  Preserve and increase in me the spirit of prayer and fervor in the service of God.  Remove far from me every kind of sin; obtain for me that my death may not come upon me unawares, but that I may have time to confess my sins sacramentally, and to bewail them with a most sincere contrition, in order that I may breathe forth my soul into the hands of Jesus and Mary. Amen

PRAYER FOR SUCCESS IN WORK

Glorious Saint Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work conscientiously putting the call of duty above my natural inclinations; to work with gratitude and joy, considering it an honor to employ and develop, by means of labor, the gifts received from God; without recoiling before weariness or difficulties; to work above all, with purity of intention, and with detachment from self, having always death before my eyes and the account which I must render of time lost, of talents wasted, of good omitted, of vain complacency in success so fatal to the work of God.  all for Jesus, all for Mary, all after thy example, O Patriarch Saint Joseph.  Such shall be my watchword in life and in death.

(Albert Cardinal Meyer, Archbishop of Chicago, Ill, July 26, 1962)

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