Saint Joseph Revisited

These future articles will explain to all Catholics and all Christians why the Church honors people with Sainthood. What is a saint? He or she is a normal human being with faults like all of us. The saint overcomes these faults or human weaknesses by accomplishing ordinary tasks extraordinarily well. Let us now examine the life of Saint Joseph.

Joseph was considered a laborer who was able to construct articles from metal and from wood. In today's occupational language, he would be considered a carpenter/millwright and a repair man. This was the occupational training that he gave to young Jesus. So what was his role in the life of Mary and Jesus? He earned a living wage to be able to supply his family with food, clothes, and shelter. He is the patron saint of all workers especially carpenters. We honor him on May 1 for these tasks.

Joseph also protected Jesus and Mary on their flight to Egypt, their residence in Egypt, and their return from Egypt. All of this information was supplied by the Father through angel messengers including where to live when they returned to Israel. He was the foster father of Jesus and earthly spouse of Mary, the mother of God. These are the reasons that the Holy Church chose Joseph to be its protector.

He observed the virtues of chastity, patience, courage, and obedience. He was faithful to the calling from the Father. When you think of Joseph's family life, he lived with the perfect sinless Son of God and Mary who was conceived without original sin. Some religious circles question whether Joseph was baptized. I believe that living with Jesus and Mary gave him the grace of Baptism. No human being could endure what Joseph endured without some form of Baptism. The reception of Baptism probably occurred when Joseph consented to marry Mary who was already pregnant with Jesus.

Saint Joseph is also considered the Patron Saint of a happy death. At the time of his passing, he was comforted by Jesus and Mary. As I have said in a previous essay, Joseph was probably the first person who Jesus met when He descended to the dead after his death on the cross. It would be a great honor if that at the hour of our death we were surrounded by Jesus and Mary. We honor Joseph also on March 19 which is the traditional commemoration date of his death.

I personally pray to Saint Joseph for assistance in my earthly life, blessings, health, and protection for myself, my family living and deceased, those that surround me, and all others that I pray for daily. It is a short prayer, and always remember your manners taught to you as a child. Always say Please and Thank you.

Until next time, Laus Tibi, Christe. Laus Deo. Deo Gratias. See you in Paradise. Amen.