Who was Saint Joseph? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 49

Family:

father: Jacob

mother: Heli

Born Country: Palestinian Territories

Saints Israeli Men

Died on: 20

place of death: Nazareth, Israel

Recommended For You

1

What is Saint Joseph the patron saint of?

Saint Joseph is the patron saint of the universal Church, fathers, workers, and a happy death.
2

Why is Saint Joseph called the foster father of Jesus?

Saint Joseph is referred to as the foster father of Jesus because he was the earthly guardian and protector of Jesus during his childhood.
3

Where is Saint Joseph's feast day celebrated?

Saint Joseph's feast day is celebrated on March 19th in various countries around the world, including Italy, Spain, and Portugal.
4

What is the significance of Saint Joseph in Catholic tradition?

In Catholic tradition, Saint Joseph is highly revered as a model of humility, obedience, and faithfulness. He is seen as an exemplary figure of paternal care and protection.
5

What are some common symbols associated with Saint Joseph?

Common symbols associated with Saint Joseph include lilies, carpentry tools, a staff, and the color green.

Origins in the Gospels

Saint Joseph’s mention is only found in three ‘Gospels’: the ‘Gospel of Matthew,’ the ‘Gospel of Luke,’ and the ‘Gospel of John.’ There is no mention of him in the ‘Gospel of Mark.’ The ‘Gospel of John’ mentions him only once in ‘John’ 6:42, where he is mentioned as Jesus’s father.

According to the ‘Gospel of Matthew,’ which traces Jesus’s ancestry back to King David, Joseph was born in 100 BC in the city of Bethlehem. Not much is mentioned about his life before his marriage to Mary, Jesus’s mother.

According to the gospels, Joseph married the Virgin Mary before he found out that she was pregnant. Upon finding out about her condition, he was scared for Mary’s life, as at that time, the punishment for a woman getting pregnant without getting married was death. Fearing for her life, he did not reveal anything about her pregnancy. However, he planned to divorce her in secret.

It has been written that an angel had come to him and told him not to divorce her because she was carrying the Holy Spirit, the son of God, inside her womb. Joseph believed this and dropped the intention of divorcing her.

It has also been written that the angels visited Joseph several times, and upon her recommendation, Joseph named the baby “Yeshua.” The baby was born healthy. Word about his birth spread rapidly. While Joseph and Mary previously lived in Nazareth, Jesus’s birthplace is mentioned as Bethlehem. The ‘Book of Luke,’ however, mentions that the move from Nazareth to Bethlehem was made by Joseph due to his belief that Bethlehem was the City of David, the origin of Joseph’s clan.

Jesus was born in a manger. Shepherds and the magi, a class of priests, came from faraway lands to celebrate the birth of the son of God. Following Jesus’s birth, the family moved back to Nazareth. As the news of the birth of the Messiah spread, King Herod became furious. The king deemed these rumors as a potential threat to his throne.

An angel appeared yet again and told Joseph to take his newborn and wife to Egypt, as King Herod was not too kind. The angel asked him to keep his family there until the death of King Herod. After Herod’s death, Joseph avoided the king’s son, who was as cruel as his father, and settled in Nazareth in Galilee. This is the last mention of Joseph in the ‘Gospel of Matthew.’

The ‘Gospel of Luke,’ however, narrates the story in a more detailed manner. There are minor differences in the accounts of the gospels. Another story mentioned in the ‘Book of Luke’ is related to a young Jesus at 12 years of age. According to the story, the family went to Jerusalem on their yearly pilgrimage. Once the feast was over, Mary and Joseph left the town without Jesus, thinking that he was in some other part of the caravan.

When they found out that he was not there, they went in search of him. He was then found in a temple. His parents found out that Jesus had already made a strong impression on the priests and the commoners there. Beyond that, none of the gospels mention Joseph.

Continue Reading Below

Other Sources

There have been many paintings, artefacts, and non-written tales that provide some details about Joseph’s life before and after Jesus’s birth. According to some nativity icons, the Devil had tempted Joseph to leave Mary when Joseph found out about her pregnancy. Had the Devil’s plans been successful, she would have been stoned to death and Jesus would never have existed in his physical form.

It has also been said that when Joseph found out about Mary’s pregnancy, he struck his face in agony and was visibly upset. It is also said that Joseph was accused of illicit sex with Mary and was exiled to a desert for some time.

In Catholic tradition, there has been mention of a young Jesus working with Joseph as a carpenter. Historians and archaeologists have also agreed that carpentry was a major profession at that time.

Several scholars see both Jesus and Joseph as carpenters, well-versed in woodwork, stonework, and metalwork. Jesus was taught by his father. By the time Joseph died, Jesus himself was a highly skilled carpenter.

Some Eastern accounts also state that Joseph was already married and widowed once before he married Mary. He was known to have had many children. However, almost all accounts mention that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life and never had any sexual relations with Joseph.

Sainthood & Death

Saint Joseph’s death finds no mention in any of the gospels or in any other credible source. However, it is believed that he died somewhere around 1 AD and several accounts also mention that he lived for 111 years.

The estimate about the year of his death is based on the fact that Joseph is not mentioned anywhere when Jesus’s crucifixion has been mentioned. So it has been assumed that he was already dead by that time.

Despite the fact that Joseph has always been regarded as a saint in Catholic and Orthodox traditions, Joseph was not really celebrated on his own account in the Western countries until the later half of the Middle Ages. In December 1870, Pope Pius IX proclaimed Joseph as the “Patron of the Universal Church.”

Joseph is regarded as the patron saint of workers, and several feast days are dedicated to him. He is also known as the patron of sickness and happy death.

Continue Reading Below

March 19 is celebrated as Saint Joseph’s Day, and several feasts are organized on the holy day.

Honours

Many places have been named after Saint Joseph. San Jose in Costa Rica and San Jose in California are two of the most well-known places named after him. Many more places in France and the US have been named after him.

There are hundreds of churches around the world that are dedicated to Saint Joseph. In San Jose, California, there is a catholic church named ‘The Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph.’

Many schools and hospitals, too, have been dedicated to Saint Joseph.

Facts About Saint Joseph

Saint Joseph is often depicted with a lily, a symbol of purity, in Christian art.

He is also known as the patron saint of carpenters, workers, and fathers.

According to tradition, Saint Joseph was a skilled craftsman and worked as a carpenter in Nazareth.

He is believed to have been a compassionate and caring husband to Mary and a loving father figure to Jesus.

Saint Joseph is venerated in various cultures around the world, with feast days and celebrations held in his honor.

Saint Joseph Biography

You wanted to know

What is Saint Joseph the patron saint of?

Why is Saint Joseph called the foster father of Jesus?

Where is Saint Joseph's feast day celebrated?

What is the significance of Saint Joseph in Catholic tradition?

What are some common symbols associated with Saint Joseph?