St. Joseph
Born: N/A
Died: N/A
Feast day: March 19
Patron saint of: Catholic Church, fathers, workers, married people, persons living in exile, the sick and dying, holy deaths
What did it feel like to be Jesus’ foster father? How did he find the courage to raise the son of God? Did he ever regret his choice?
I’ve gone back through the scant references to Joseph in the Bible, mining for some hidden clue. While meditating on the stories of Joseph, a favorite verse came to mind: “In quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15, NIV). Truly, Joseph’s life is a testament to the strength found in quietly trusting God.
When Pope Francis declared 2021 the Year of St. Joseph, he described Joseph as a man who “knew how to love with extraordinary freedom. He never made himself the center of things. He did not think of himself, but focused instead on the lives of Mary and Jesus.”
No words of Joseph are recorded in the Bible. As Pope Francis explains, Joseph was a “man who [went] unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence,” who ultimately played “an incomparable role in the history of salvation.”
More about St. Joseph:
St. Joseph, the original foster father
In the midst of the fostering journey, look to St. Joseph’s quiet example.
3 parenting tips from St. Joseph
The Year of St. Joseph inspires a parent to look closely at the earthly father of Jesus.
Make room for St. Joseph
Joe will probably never be as popular as Pat. On the food front, though, he can give St. Pat a run for his money.
Image: Wikimedia Commons/Fresco at Santa Maria Assunta, Arrone, Umbria, Italy
