 St. Joseph has two feast days: March 19th the feast of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, and May 1st the feast of St. Joseph the Worker Saint Joseph was chosen by God to be Jesus’ father on earth. God knew that Jesus would need a foster father to raise and teach him. The bible tells us that he was a just man. That means he was a good man, honest, fair and God loving. After an angel told Mary that she would be the mother of God, Saint Joseph wondered what to do. An angel appeared to him in a dream and told him not to worry, that the child was the messiah, conceived by the Holy Spirit. Joseph was to be her husband and protect the child as he grew. Joseph decided to trust the angel and God. He married Mary and took her into his home After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the angel appeared to Joseph again, warning him that the child was in danger. Joseph obeyed the angel’s message, and took his family to Egypt to escape from Herod’s soldiers. After many years, the Holy Family finally returned to their home village of Nazareth. Not much else is known about St. Joseph. The 30 years between the nativity and the beginning of Jesus’ ministry are called the hidden years. The only other event the Bible tells us about the child Jesus’ life and Saint Joseph is the Finding in the Temple, when Jesus was missing for three days and finally found in the temple teaching the scribes and elders. Saint Joseph was probably older than Mary, and probably died before Jesus began his ministry. As a saint in Heaven he still acts as a husband and father to his family and the Church, and will intercede for us on many occasions. He is invoked for aid in selling homes, for help to the poor, support and protection of fathers and families and is the patron of the Universal Church. And of course, he is the patron of Carpenters. PRAYER: Almighty God, You entrusted to the faithful care of Joseph the beginnings of the mysteries of man’s salvation. Through his intercession, may Your Church always be faithful in her service so that Your designs will be fulfilled. Amen.
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