St. Joseph
Saint Joseph
When They Lived:
St. Joseph, also known as Joseph the Worker, lived during the first century AD, believed to be born around 1 BC and passing away around 18 AD.
Where They Lived:
St. Joseph’s life primarily unfolded in Nazareth, a small town in Galilee, which was a region in ancient Palestine.
Notable World Events During Their Time:
- Roman Occupation: The land of Palestine was under Roman occupation, with various Roman governors and procurators.
- Birth of Jesus: The nativity story revolved around Joseph and Mary seeking refuge in Bethlehem.
- Death of Herod the Great: A significant transition in the political landscape of Palestine.
- Expansion of the Roman Empire: St. Joseph’s experiences were shaped by Roman culture and governance.
- Development of Judaism: A period of significant theological and cultural growth.
- Scientific Advances: Continuing discoveries contributing to expanding human knowledge.
Their Patronage:
St. Joseph is recognized as the patron saint of various aspects of life:
- Workers and Laborers
- Fathers and Families
- The Dying
- Craftsmen and Engineers
- Social Justice Causes
Early Life
Saint Joseph is one of the most popular and revered saints in Christianity. Venerated as the earthly father of Jesus Christ, what little is known about him is taken from his appearance in the Bible.
Saint Joseph has since been studied by various historians. However, these studies were made difficult by the fact that he existed even before Jesus Christ was born.
There are various books, facts, and hearsay about him.
There have been many difficulties in theologians and historians being able to place the birth of Saint Joseph. Many historians fix his date of birth to be circa 100 B.C.E.
Saint Joseph first made an appearance in the Bible in the book of Matthew, the New Testament.
In the book of Matthew, Saint Joseph is said to be a descendant of King David. What he did earlier in his career is up for argument. Even his account of his life before meeting the Virgin Mary varies.
Some historians claim Saint Joseph had children from a former Marriage. So accounts Claim that Joseph was a virgin before he met the Blessed Mary.
Dedication and Devotion
Saint Joseph was said to have lived in Nazareth. He was described in the Bible as being a “tekton”. This was taken by literal accounts to mean carpenter.
However, the literal translation of the word was said to mean technical, placing Saint Joseph as a maker of things. Like other information about this saint, this little piece of information has been debated for years.
Joseph was betrothed to Mary, whom he had met as a virgin. After discovering she was pregnant with a child, the Bible describes him as wishing to secretly divorce Mary in order to save her reputation.
After making up his mind, however, he had a dream where he was instructed by an angel to stay with Mary and the Child. He was told that the child was a product of the Holy Spirit.
A man who believed in God, Saint Joseph trusted this vision and stayed married to Mary.
After Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, Joseph was recorded in the Bible to once again have a vision. In this vision, an angel warned him about returning home.
It was shown to him that King Herod of Judea bore malevolent thoughts toward his child. Fearing for their lives, Saint Joseph led his family to Egypt.
They lived there for some years before the angel once again appeared to him to break the news of Herod’s death.
Saint Joseph settled in Nazareth with his family. There, he taught Jesus the art of Carpentry.
It is noted that the last time Saint Joseph appeared in the Bible (Luke 2:41–49) was when Jesus went missing. Joseph found young Jesus teaching in the temple.
It is recorded in the Bible that when told by his parents that they had been searching for him, Jesus replied, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house”.
He was, however, mentioned once more in John 6:41–42 when Jesus Christ was being discussed by the Jews: “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven?”.
Legacy
Saint Joseph is famously associated with the accounts of Jesus Christ. He is venerated across all Christian denominations as the father of Jesus Christ.
Because of the lack of proper documentation, it is not clear what he spent the rest of his life doing.
It is still argued today whether Saint Joseph had any children except Jesus Christ. Some historical accounts venerate him as a Perpetual Virgin.
These accounts assume that Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary remained chaste throughout their marriage.
There are lots of writings intended to fill up the space left open by the missing accounts of Saint Joseph.
Death and Canonization
Saint Joseph’s death is not recorded in the Bible.
Some accounts claim that he passed away before Jesus started his ministry. Others claim that Saint Joseph passed away peacefully at the age of 111. This is supported by various 17th-century writings.
He was named the patron of the universal church by Pope Pius IX in 1870.
Saint Joseph is celebrated by Western Christianity on the 19th of March. He is also commemorated on the third Wednesday after Easter Sunday and on the 1st of May.
5 Interesting Facts About St. Joseph
- Did you know that Saint Joseph is the Patron Saint of many things
including Fathers, Immigrants, Craftsmen, and Cebu? - Did you know that Saint Joseph’s supposed father is Jacob?
- Did you know that Saint Joseph was named the patron saint of several
countries like America, Croatia, Belgium, and Peru? - Did you know that there is no recorded quote from Saint Joseph in the
Holy Bible? - Did you know that some accounts record Saint Joseph dying in Jesus
Christ’s and the Virgin Mary’s arms
Prayer to St. Joseph
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary! To you, God entrusted his only Son; in you, Mary placed her trust; with you, Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us, too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.
Source:[https://portlanddiocese.org/prayers-st-joseph]{.ul}
