Saint Joseph
Holy Family by Raffael (1506)
Husband of Mary; Foster-father of the Lord; the Betrothed
Born	Unknown date 1st century B.C.,
Died	Prior to the Passion (traditional), Nazareth (traditional)
Venerated in	All Christianity
Feast	March 19 (Roman Catholicism), the Sunday after the Nativity of the Lord (Eastern Orthodoxy)
Attributes	Carpenter's square or tools, the infant Jesus, staff with blossoms.
Patronage	The Universal Church, workers, against doubt and hesitation and of a happy death. Many others; see [5]
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Joseph "of the House of David" (heb.יוֹסֵף also Saint Joseph, Joseph the Betrothed, Joseph of Nazareth, and Joseph the Worker) was, according to the canonical Christian Gospel accounts and tradition, the husband of Mary^[1] and the father of Jesus of Nazareth,^[2] although – as they also assert – Joseph did not physically beget Jesus, but Mary had conceived him through divine means (see Virgin Birth).^[3]

The genealogy in Matthew^[4] shows that Joseph's own father was called Jacob; according to the genealogy in Luke^[5] Joseph was a son of Heli.

From the canonical Gospel accounts little else is known about Joseph himself except that he was a skilled craftsman (often held to have been a carpenter)^[6] and during Jesus's childhood lived at times in Nazareth in Galilee,^[7] Bethlehem in Judea,^[8] and in exile in Egypt.^[9]

In particular, the canonical Gospel accounts contain no information about Joseph's death. However, because they mention his presence only at events during Jesus's childhood^[10] but not during his public ministry and passion, moreover, when hanging on the cross Jesus made provision for the care of his mother after his own imminent death,^[11] the possibility cannot be ruled out that she was a widow by then and that Joseph had died some time during the two decades between Jesus's childhood and the commencement of his public ministry, an interval about which the canonical Gospel accounts are altogether silent.

In the Roman Catholic and other traditions, Joseph is the patron saint of workers and has several feast days (see Saint Joseph's Day). He was also declared to be the patron saint and protector of the universal Catholic Church (along with Saint Peter) by Pope Pius IX in 1870, and is the patron of several countries and regions.

Stained glass window at Sainte-Austremoine d'Issoire, Auvergne, France (1894).

At events in the canonical Gospel accounts

All the events involving Joseph's presence that have been narrated in the canonical Gospel accounts happened before Jesus's birth or during his childhood.

There is only an allusion to the first event, namely Joseph's betrothal to Mary that had made her his wife according to the Jewish law.^[12] The clarification has been added that they were not yet living together,^[13] from which follows that they had not yet conducted to concluding wedding rite, the "home taking", which is the legal ceremony that permits Jewish couples to begin conjugal relations.

The first event related in some detail is Joseph's dream during which he is told by "an angel of the Lord" not only to take his wife Mary home – in other words, to conduct the concluding legal wedding rite –, rather than to be afraid for the reason that the child with which she is now pregnant is holy, but also to name him Jesus, hence to assume legal paternity. The first command Joseph carries out, apparently promptly, the second in due time.^[14]

The next event is Joseph's journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be enrolled as required by the political authorities. He is accompanied by Mary who is heavily pregnant and, whilst they are there, gives birth to Jesus.^[15]

Thereafter Joseph and his young family are visited by a group of shepherds saying that they have been guided to them by an angel who told them the good news and its implications.^[16]

Eight days later, at the boy's circumcision – as the angel had told Joseph when he commanded him to take Mary home –, Joseph names him, calling him Jesus, and thus assumes legal paternity.^[17]

Shortly later, after completion of the post-natal cleansing prescribed by the Law of Moses, Joseph takes Mary and Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to offer the sacrifices required on the occasion of the birth of a couple's first son. Whilst doing so, he and his wife receive a blessing from the aged "just man" Simeon and listen to his words and those of the prophetess Anna – two people who have been waiting eagerly for the salvation of their nation and perceive now the significance of the child before them.^[18]

Joseph leads Mary and Jesus to safety in Egypt to escape from Herod (see Matthew 2:13-15), as depicted by Lorenzo Monaco (1405).

The next event related that involves Joseph occurred somewhat less than a couple of years later, when Joseph is told by the angel in another dream of king Herod's plan to kill Jesus, and ordered to save the boy by taking him and his mother to Egypt, which he promptly does.^[19]

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 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.^[20]

The last event mentioning the presence of Jesus's father, implying 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. ^[21]

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 "forerunner", and then Jesus himself commence their respective public ministries; but their accounts from thereon mention only the presence at certain events of Mary but never again of Joseph.

A notable fact about Joseph is that not one single word spoken by him is quoted in any of the four canonical Gospel accounts.

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 (including Roman Catholic), Joseph is described as dying "in the arms of Jesus and Mary".^[22][23]

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.^[24] A tradition at least as early as the second century, still current in Eastern Orthodoxy, has it that Joseph was a widower and that these brothers and sisters were from his first marriage, thus making them Jesus' step-brothers and step-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.^[25] Authoritative Orthodox sources contradict 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.^[26] The Roman Catholic tradition is unclear, and either the explanation above, or the explanation that these "brothers and sisters" are the cousins of Christ are both considered equally possible by the Church, but it affirms strongly that Joseph remained celibate while married to Mary. Some Protestant denominations (including many Evangelical or Fundamental Protestant traditions) no longer espouse strong views on the subject.

In art

Nativity by Martin Schongauer (1475-80)

St Joseph with the Infant Jesus, Guido Reni (c. 1635)

Joseph is shown mostly with a beard, in keeping with Jewish custom. In some imagery, statues of Joseph depict his staff as topped with flowers, recalling the non-canonical Protoevangelion's account of how Mary's spouse was chosen by collecting walking sticks of widowers in Israel, and Joseph's alone bursting into flower, thus identifying him as divinely chosen.

Several Nativity icons show Joseph tempted by the Devil (depicted as an old man with furled wings) to break off his betrothal, and how he resists that temptation.

Up to about the 16th century Joseph tends to be depicted as a man advanced in years, with gray hair, often balding, occasionally frail and with arthritic fingers, 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.

Holy Family with bird by Murillo (1645-50).

Holy Family by James Collinson (19th century)

In recent centuries – in step with a growing interest in Joseph's rôle in Gospel exegesis – he himself has become a focal figure in representations of the Holy Family. More usually he is portrayed as a youthful man, 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.

Sainthood

Statue of St. Joseph with a carpenter square symbolizing his trade, and lilies chastity.

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, St. Joseph is honored by the Feast of St. Joseph the Workman (May 1), introduced by Pope Pius XII in 1955 to counteract May Day, a union, workers and socialists holiday. This reflects St. 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, Bohemia, 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, 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).

Feast day and role in Christian churches

Statue of St Joseph and Jesus, Millegem Kerk.

The principal feast day of Saint Joseph is March 19, Saint Joseph's Day in the Roman Catholic tradition. Another feast day is May 1, Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, introduced by Pope Pius XII in 1955, replacing the older feast day on Wednesday in the second week after Easter and its octave. The veneration of Saint Joseph, when compared with that of other biblical saints, was introduced rather late in the Catholic Church. Pope Pius IX declared him patron of the universal Church; and Pope John XXIII added his name to the Mass canon. Some groups of Traditional Catholics reject this addition, but most use the 1962 missal, which includes this change.

In the Lutheran Church, March 19 is also observed as the Feast of St. 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 St. Joseph is celebrated on the First Sunday after the Holy Nativity of Christ. The following hymn is chanted in honor of the saint:

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 St 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. 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.

Sacred Heart Catholic Parish in Muenster, Texas is dedicated to St. Joseph after its first two churches were destroyed by tornadoes on St. Joseph's feast day. Since the parishioners have attended mass on his feast day the recent church has not been destroyed.

St. Joseph Church at Umerkhadi in Mumbai, India completed 75 years on 24th January, 2007. This is a small parish with ~700 parishoners. The parish celebrates its parish feast on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.

Many schools, universities, hosptials, 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."

In folklore

Burying a small statute of Saint Joseph on a piece of real estate for sale is reputed to enlist the saint's assistance in finding a buyer.^[27] Some versions require the statue to be buried upside down. Some believe that the saint's statue should be disinterred once the house sells, to avoid the property repeatedly changing hands; others leave the buried statue in hopes that Saint Joseph will continue to protect the property.^[28]

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).

Other St. Josephs

• Saint Joseph of Arimathea, in the gospel accounts
• Abba Joseph of Thebes, Desert Father
• 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 University, a Jesuit university in Philadelphia, PA

Notes

External links

• Patron Saints Index: Saint Joseph
• Catholic Online Saints: St. Joseph
• Bernard Orchard, The Betrothal and Marriage of Mary to Joseph, Part 1; Part 2
• Bernard Orchard, Summary of The Betrothal and Marriage of Mary to Joseph and chronological chart
• Skeptics Annotated Bible: a comparison of verses related to Jesus' father
• BeliefNet article on the various views on Joseph's role.
• Josephite Fathers in the US
• Saint Joseph at the Notable Names Database
• Eastern Orthodox Tradition: The Righteous Elder Joseph The Betrothed, And His Repose
• Novena to St. Joseph (EWTN)

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