by Catherine Moran and Barb Ernster
St. Joseph in Sacred Scripture is only briefly mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. He is a silent figure, never quoted, and yet he was the guardian, provider and protector of Jesus and Mary. Very little is known of him, yet people all over world turn to him every day for comfort, protection and help with all the details of their lives, including selling their homes, financial duress, jobs, sickness and death.
Today St. Joseph is the patron of a happy death, having died in the arms of Jesus and Mary, the patron of workers, including many particular vocations, the patron of the Universal Church, and the patron of husbands and fathers. He is the perfect example of a head of family and a model for chastity and purity, especially for young men.
First what is known of him is his genealogy from the Gospels. Pere Binet, SJ, writes, “By birth he is a prince of the royal house of David; his ancestors are the patriarchs, the kings of Judah, the great captains of the people of God, the most illustrious among the sons of men.” (The Divine Favors Granted to St. Joseph, TAN Books 1983) Despite his regal ancestry, St. Joseph lived a poor and very humble life in obscurity, which reflects the life of Jesus and God’s plan for His public revelation.
The writings of the Church Fathers tell us a little more about St. Joseph, which helps us understand the importance of his role and mission as guardian of the Holy Family.
In the first century, St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, “The virginity of Mary, her giving birth, and also the death of the Lord, were hidden from the prince of this world (Satan) – three mysteries loudly proclaimed but wrought in the silence of God.” [18, 2] He also states, “…Jesus Christ, was of the family of David according to the flesh (Joseph’s lineage), the Son of Man and the Son of God…” [20, 2]
St. Jerome later commented on this text, “Why was Jesus not simply conceived of a virgin, but of a married woman? In the first place so that Mary’s genealogy might be established by Joseph’s; next, so that she might not be stoned by the Jews as an adulteress; finally, so that, as a fugitive in Egypt, she might find support in the person of Joseph.” The holy Martyr Ignatius adds a fourth reason: That this childbirth be kept hidden from the Devil.
Satan, who knew that the Son of God would be born of a virgin, would not have sought the child in a marriage.
It is the pious belief that St. Joseph was sanctified in the womb of his mother before his birth, just as the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 1:5) and St. John the Baptist (Lk 1:5-19, 41-44) before him. They were freed from the stain of original sin by the grace of God after their conception. St. Alphonsus de Liguori upheld this belief as did the great 14th century French theologian and chancellor Jean Gerson, and that Joseph was given special graces to fulfill his office.
Was St. Joseph a Virgin?
Many saints, theologians and philosophers also believe that by some special inspiration from God, Joseph made a vow of virginity and remained a virgin as a married man. St. Peter Damian was so positive of this, he seemed to make it an article of faith. This was also the belief of Gerson and of Francisco Suarez, considered the greatest living philosopher and theologian of the 16th century. St. Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444) believed this and stated, “Joseph was the living image of his Virgin Spouse; they resembled each other like two pearls.”
The 17th century Spanish mystic Mary of Agreda, who had special insights into the life of St. Joseph, also wrote about this in her voluminous works, City of God. She was given to understand that Joseph, a consecrated virgin, was chosen by Simeon among the eligible men to take the consecrated virgin Mary as his spouse so that she could fulfill her vow of virginity. Mary’s question to the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation that she would bear a son makes sense in light of this understanding. Would she, a woman betrothed to a man and given in marriage, ask the question, “How can this be since I do not know man?” Likely she was asking, is my vow as a consecrated virgin to be broken?
Early Church Devotion
Devotion to St. Joseph began to develop early in the hearts of the faithful. In the East he was honored and cherished from Apostolic times. The Coptic Church in Egypt kept a feast for him even before the time of St. Athanasius, who lived in the fourth century. St. Joseph was honored in Syria and Persia. The Syrian calendar marked the seventh Sunday before Christmas as the feast of the Revelation to Joseph, Spouse of Blessed Virgin Mary. The ancient hymns of the Greek Church pay honor to St. Joseph.
In the Latin Church, early churches were built as shrines to honor and house the relics of the martyrs. Other than the garments of St. Joseph, there are no other relics of his. A relic of a piece of the mantle of St. Joseph, the very mantle that probably enveloped the Infant Jesus when held in Joseph’s arms, is kept in the tabernacle of the ancient Church of St. Anastasia, built around the year 300. The tabernacle also holds a relic of the true Cross and a relic of the veil of the Blessed Virgin.
St. Joseph’s Great Esteem in Heaven
St. Joseph’s glory in heaven is great! One day Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret of Cortona (1247-97) telling her how pleased He was with her devotion to St. Joseph, who was most dear to Him. Our Lord expressed a wish that she show some daily special act of homage to St. Joseph.
St. Gertrude the Great (1256-1302), rapt in ecstasy, beheld heaven open and there she saw St. Joseph seated on his throne. Every time his name was pronounced, the saints reverently bent their heads in deep respect. Mary many times referred to St. Joseph as her dear spouse when talking about him to St. Gertrude. She also referred to him as her dear spouse when speaking about him to St. Bridget of Sweden.
Today, St. Joseph is honored by 31 titles in the Litany of St. Joseph and many prayers and novenas seek his constant intercession. His patronage extends across many needs of the family and the Church.
St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, “Some saints are privileged to extend to us their patronage with particular efficacy in certain needs, but not in others; but our holy patron St. Joseph has the power to assist us in all cases, in every necessity, in every undertaking.”
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Catherine Moran is the president of the World Apostolate of Fatima Byzantine division of the Eparchy of Parma, Ohio, an author, speaker and regular contributor to Soul Magazine and the Fatima blog.
