The Ever Glorious St. Joseph
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| St. Joseph, Chaste Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Earthly Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ |
Saint Joseph is one of the important yet silent figure in the lives of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary despite the fact that little was written about him in the canonical Gospels. Yet through the centuries, St. Joseph emerged as a key figure in the life of the Church that numerous saints and Pontiffs acclaimed him and numerous shrines, churches, basilicas and congregations were established under his name. What makes St. Joseph a key figure in the Church and why we need him now more than ever in these times.
For this, we have to look on the life of the Ever Glorious St. Joseph by looking at his life based from the canonical Gospels, most specifically those from Sts. Matthew and Luke, the Sacred Tradition and to Church sanctioned private revelations (published with Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur after careful studies, yet the faithful is left by its own judgement to believe in them) from the likes of St. Bridget of Sweden, Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich and Ven. Maria Agreda among others.
The Early Life
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| St. Joseph |
St. Matthew and St. Luke both contain a genealogy of Jesus showing St. Joseph's ancestry from David, but through different sons; Matthew follows the major royal line from Solomon, while Luke traces another line back to Nathan, another son of David and Bathsheba. Consequently, all the names between David and Joseph are different. According to Matthew 1:16 "Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary", while according to Luke 3:23, Joseph is said to be "the son of Heli".
The variances between the genealogies given in Matthew and Luke are explained in a number of ways; one possibility is that Matthew's genealogy traces Jesus' legal descent, according to Jewish law, through Joseph; while Luke's genealogy traces his actual physical descent through Mary.
In the visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, she recounts her vision of the early life of St. Joseph where she writes that the young Joseph was gentle and already possesed a profound wisdom of the divine that he resolved to be chaste. Joseph was very devout and prayed fervently for the coming of the Messiah.
His trade as a carpenter
In the Gospels, Joseph's occupation is mentioned only once. The Gospel of Matthew asks about Jesus: "Is not this the carpenter's son?" (Mt. 13:55) St. Joseph's description as a "tekton" (τέκτων), as written in the origial Greek texts of the Gospels, has been traditionally translated into English as "carpenter", but is a rather general word that could cover makers of objects in various materials. The Greek term evokes an artisan with wood in general, or an artisan in iron or stone. But the specific association with woodworking is a constant in Early Christian tradition; St. Justin Martyr wrote that Jesus made yokes and ploughs, and there are similar early references.
His betrothal and espousal to the Blessed Virgin Mary
The variances between the genealogies given in Matthew and Luke are explained in a number of ways; one possibility is that Matthew's genealogy traces Jesus' legal descent, according to Jewish law, through Joseph; while Luke's genealogy traces his actual physical descent through Mary.
In the visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, she recounts her vision of the early life of St. Joseph where she writes that the young Joseph was gentle and already possesed a profound wisdom of the divine that he resolved to be chaste. Joseph was very devout and prayed fervently for the coming of the Messiah.
His trade as a carpenter
In the Gospels, Joseph's occupation is mentioned only once. The Gospel of Matthew asks about Jesus: "Is not this the carpenter's son?" (Mt. 13:55) St. Joseph's description as a "tekton" (τέκτων), as written in the origial Greek texts of the Gospels, has been traditionally translated into English as "carpenter", but is a rather general word that could cover makers of objects in various materials. The Greek term evokes an artisan with wood in general, or an artisan in iron or stone. But the specific association with woodworking is a constant in Early Christian tradition; St. Justin Martyr wrote that Jesus made yokes and ploughs, and there are similar early references.
His betrothal and espousal to the Blessed Virgin Mary
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| The Espousal of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph |
The Scriptures didn't record exactly when Mary and Joseph met and got married, but the first chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel describes the circumstances. Verse 18 speaks of them being "betrothed ... before they came together."
In the writings of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, she gave a vivid description on how their espousal took place. She wrote that God willed the Blessed Virgin Mary to be betrothed and get married despite her vow to be chaste for life. She then heard a voice and received a revelation which comforted her and gave her strength to consent to her marriage.
In another episode, she records that a priest saw a vision, and that the forefinger of his hand was laid upon the passage of Isaiah in the scroll: "And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse; and a flower shall rise up out of his root." [ Is. 11.1.] When the old priest came to himself again, he read this passage and apprehended something from it. Then from here, he sent messengers throughout the land and all unmarried men of the line of David summoned to the Temple. When these were assembled in large numbers at the Temple in festal garments, the Blessed Virgin was presented to them and among them was St. Joseph.
The high priest, in accordance with the inner instruction he had received, handed a branch to each of the men present, and commanded each to inscribe his branch with his name and to hold it in his hands during the prayer and sacrifice. As St. Joseph was was about to lay this on the altar before the Holy of Holies, a white flower like a lily blossomed out of the top of his branch, and I saw over him an appearance of like the holy ghost.Joseph was now recognized as appointed by God to be the bridegroom of the Blessed Virgin, and was presented to her by the priests in the presence of her mother. Mary, submissive to the Will of God, accepted him meekly as her bridegroom, for she knew that all things were possible with God, who had accepted her vow to belong to Him alone, body and soul. Once the two met, the Virgin was pleased to know that St. Joseph was also a chaste man and dedicated it to God and St. Joseph offered himself to protect the Blessed Virgin Mary and to resolve to keep their promises to God to live a chaste life.
His role in the Incarnation and Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ
In the writings of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, she gave a vivid description on how their espousal took place. She wrote that God willed the Blessed Virgin Mary to be betrothed and get married despite her vow to be chaste for life. She then heard a voice and received a revelation which comforted her and gave her strength to consent to her marriage.
In another episode, she records that a priest saw a vision, and that the forefinger of his hand was laid upon the passage of Isaiah in the scroll: "And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse; and a flower shall rise up out of his root." [ Is. 11.1.] When the old priest came to himself again, he read this passage and apprehended something from it. Then from here, he sent messengers throughout the land and all unmarried men of the line of David summoned to the Temple. When these were assembled in large numbers at the Temple in festal garments, the Blessed Virgin was presented to them and among them was St. Joseph.
The high priest, in accordance with the inner instruction he had received, handed a branch to each of the men present, and commanded each to inscribe his branch with his name and to hold it in his hands during the prayer and sacrifice. As St. Joseph was was about to lay this on the altar before the Holy of Holies, a white flower like a lily blossomed out of the top of his branch, and I saw over him an appearance of like the holy ghost.Joseph was now recognized as appointed by God to be the bridegroom of the Blessed Virgin, and was presented to her by the priests in the presence of her mother. Mary, submissive to the Will of God, accepted him meekly as her bridegroom, for she knew that all things were possible with God, who had accepted her vow to belong to Him alone, body and soul. Once the two met, the Virgin was pleased to know that St. Joseph was also a chaste man and dedicated it to God and St. Joseph offered himself to protect the Blessed Virgin Mary and to resolve to keep their promises to God to live a chaste life.
His role in the Incarnation and Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ
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| The Archangel St. Gabriel visiting St. Joseph in a dream |
The time finally arrived for the arrival of the Messiah when Our Lord sent the Angel Gabriel to Nazareth where he visited the Blessed Virgin Mary to announce the coming of the Redeemer and she will be His mother thru the power of the Holy Spirit. A moment later, Mary, with the Child in her womb, visited her cousin St. Elizabeth to accompany her as she was to gave birth to St. John the Baptist - the Precursor of Our Lord.
Upon Mary's return, St. Joseph, noticed that Mary was pregnant. Thought that she was pregnant from another man, he decided to divorce her quietly until the Angel of the Lord appeared in his dream to discontinue his plan and explained that the Child is of the Holy Spirit and He is the promised Messiah. He did what the angel instructed him to do and took the responsibility as the Child's earthly father in fulfillment of the prophecy that the Child will come form the lineage of King David.
When the time of the birth drew near, Caesar Augustus commanded a census of Roman domains, and Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem, the ancient city of David, as he was of the House of David. So it came to pass that Jesus was born in Bethlehem; and since there was nowhere for them to stay in the town, the infant was laid in a manger while angels announced his birth to a group of shepherds who worshipped him as Messiah and Lord. Eight days later, the Infant Jesus was circumcised and was named "Jesus" as the angel instructed.
The Life of the Holy Family
Upon Mary's return, St. Joseph, noticed that Mary was pregnant. Thought that she was pregnant from another man, he decided to divorce her quietly until the Angel of the Lord appeared in his dream to discontinue his plan and explained that the Child is of the Holy Spirit and He is the promised Messiah. He did what the angel instructed him to do and took the responsibility as the Child's earthly father in fulfillment of the prophecy that the Child will come form the lineage of King David.
When the time of the birth drew near, Caesar Augustus commanded a census of Roman domains, and Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem, the ancient city of David, as he was of the House of David. So it came to pass that Jesus was born in Bethlehem; and since there was nowhere for them to stay in the town, the infant was laid in a manger while angels announced his birth to a group of shepherds who worshipped him as Messiah and Lord. Eight days later, the Infant Jesus was circumcised and was named "Jesus" as the angel instructed.
The Life of the Holy Family
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| The visit of the Magi |
The Magi from the east came to Herod and asked him where they would find the King of the Jews, because they had seen his star. Advised by the chief priests and teachers, Herod sent the Magi to Bethlehem, where they worshiped the child and gave him gifts. When they had departed, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and warned him to take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, for Herod intended to kill him. The Holy Family remained in Egypt until Herod died, when Joseph took them to Nazareth in Galilee for fear of Herod's son who now ruled in Jerusalem.
In accordance with the Jewish law, his parents presented the infant Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem, where two people in the temple, Simeon and Anna the Prophetess, gave thanks to God who had sent his salvation. Joseph and Mary then returned to Nazareth. There "the child grew and became strong, and was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him."
Each year his parents went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, and when Jesus was twelve years old they found him in the Temple listening to the teachers and asking questions so that "all who heard him were amazed". His mother rebuked him for causing them anxiety, because his family had not known where he was, but he answered that he was in his Father's house. "Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them, but his mother treasured all these things in her heart, and Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."After the episode in the temple, nothing was read about the life of the Holy Family and Jesus will once again resurfaced in the Gospels years later performing his public ministry.
His Death
In accordance with the Jewish law, his parents presented the infant Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem, where two people in the temple, Simeon and Anna the Prophetess, gave thanks to God who had sent his salvation. Joseph and Mary then returned to Nazareth. There "the child grew and became strong, and was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him."
Each year his parents went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, and when Jesus was twelve years old they found him in the Temple listening to the teachers and asking questions so that "all who heard him were amazed". His mother rebuked him for causing them anxiety, because his family had not known where he was, but he answered that he was in his Father's house. "Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them, but his mother treasured all these things in her heart, and Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."After the episode in the temple, nothing was read about the life of the Holy Family and Jesus will once again resurfaced in the Gospels years later performing his public ministry.
His Death
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| The Death of St. Joseph |
The circumstances of Joseph's death are not known, but it is likely that he died before Jesus's ministry began, and it is implied that he was dead before the Crucifixion. Our Lord Jesus and Our Lady comforted him and promised protection and life to everyone who did good in the name of Joseph. With those assurances, Joseph was able to die in peace and contentment – a happy death. By the 17th century, many Catholic groups had developed a special devotion to St. Joseph for those desiring a happy death.
The Veneration of the Church
Already a patron saint of Mexico, Canada and Belgium, in 1870, Joseph was declared patron of the universal church by Pope Pius IX, and in 1955 Pope Pius XII established May 1 as the "Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker" to counter the Communists' May Day. Having died in the "arms of Jesus and Mary" according to Catholic tradition, he is considered the model of the pious believer who receives grace at the moment of death, in other words, the patron of a happy death
References:
Everett Ferguson, Michael P. McHugh, Frederick W. Norris, "Joseph" in Encyclopedia of early Christianity, Volume 1, p. 629, 2000.
Perrotta, Louise B. Saint Joseph: His Life and His Role in the Church Today. Our Sunday Visitor Publishing. pp. 21, 110–112., 2000.
The Gospels were also silent on what happened to the mortal remians of St. Joseph since there were a few relics associated to him. Some mystics wrote that he was buried somewhere in Bethlehem while others wrote and believed that he was also assumed into heaven which is open for further discussion and debate on this matter.
The Veneration of the Church
Already a patron saint of Mexico, Canada and Belgium, in 1870, Joseph was declared patron of the universal church by Pope Pius IX, and in 1955 Pope Pius XII established May 1 as the "Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker" to counter the Communists' May Day. Having died in the "arms of Jesus and Mary" according to Catholic tradition, he is considered the model of the pious believer who receives grace at the moment of death, in other words, the patron of a happy death
Together with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus, Joseph is one of the three members of the Holy Family; since he only appears in the birth narratives of the Gospels, Jesus is depicted as a child when with him. The formal veneration of the Holy Family began in the 17th century by François de Laval.
In 1962, Pope John XXIII inserted the name of Joseph in the Canon of the Mass, immediately after that of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 2013, Pope Francis had his name added to the three other Eucharistic Prayers.
On December 8, 2020, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis declared the Year of St. Joseph in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church. The Holy Year begins on December 8, 2020 and ends on December 8, 2021.
References:
Everett Ferguson, Michael P. McHugh, Frederick W. Norris, "Joseph" in Encyclopedia of early Christianity, Volume 1, p. 629, 2000.
Perrotta, Louise B. Saint Joseph: His Life and His Role in the Church Today. Our Sunday Visitor Publishing. pp. 21, 110–112., 2000.
Wilson, Carolyn C., St. Joseph in Italian Renaissance Society and Art, Saint Joseph's University Press, 2001.
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