March 19 - Feast of St. Joseph - Husband of Mary - Intercessor of civil leaders

Catholic.org ^

[NYer]

Everything we know about the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus comes from Scripture and that has seemed too little for those who made up legends about him.

We know he was a carpenter, a working man, for the skeptical Nazarenes ask about Jesus, "Is this not the carpenter's son?" (Matthew 13:55). He wasn't rich for when he took Jesus to the Temple to be circumcised and Mary to be purified he offered the sacrifice of two turtledoves or a pair of pigeons, allowed only for those who could not afford a lamb (Luke 2:24).

Despite his humble work and means, Joseph came from a royal lineage. Luke and Matthew disagree some about the details of Joseph's genealogy but they both mark his descent from David, the greatest king of Israel (Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38). Indeed the angel who first tells Joseph about Jesus greets him as "son of David," a royal title used also for Jesus.

We know Joseph was a compassionate, caring man. When he discovered Mary was pregnant after they had been betrothed, he knew the child was not his but was as yet unaware that she was carrying the Son of God. He planned to divorce Mary according to the law but he was concerned for her suffering and safety. He knew that women accused to adultery could be stoned to death, so he decided to divorce her quietly and not expose her to shame or cruelty (Matthew 1:19-25).

We know Joseph was man of faith, obedient to whatever God asked of him without knowing the outcome. When the angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him the truth about the child Mary was carrying, Joseph immediately and without question or concern for gossip, took Mary as his wife. When the angel came again to tell him that his family was in danger, he immediately left everything he owned, all his family and friends, and fled to a strange country with his young wife and the baby. He waited in Egypt without question until the angel told him it was safe to go back (Matthew 2:13-2 3).

We know Joseph loved Jesus. His one concern was for the safety of this child entrusted to him. Not only did he leave his home to protect Jesus, but upon his return settled in the obscure town of Nazareth out of fear for his life. When Jesus stayed in the Temple we are told Joseph (along with Mary) searched with great anxiety for three days for him (Luke 2:48). We also know that Joseph treated Jesus as his own son for over and over the people of Nazareth say of Jesus, "Is this not the son of Joseph?" (Luke 4:22)

We know Joseph respected God. He followed God's commands in handling the situation with Mary and going to Jerusalem to have Jesus circumcised and Mary purified after Jesus' birth. We are told that he took his family to Jerusalem every year for Passover, something that could not have been easy for a working man.

Since Joseph does not appear in Jesus' public life, at his death, or resurrection, many historians believe Joseph probably had died before Jesus entered public ministry.

Joseph is the patron of the dying because, assuming he died before Jesus' public life, he died with Jesus and Mary close to him, the way we all would like to leave this earth.

Joseph is also patron of the universal Church, fathers, carpenters, and social justice.

We celebrate two feast days for Joseph: March 19 for Joseph the Husband of Mary and May 1 for Joseph the Worker.

There is much we wish we could know about Joseph -- where and when he was born, how he spent his days, when and how he died. But Scripture has left us with the most important knowledge: who he was -- "a righteous man" (Matthew 1:18). In His Footsteps:

Joseph was foster father to Jesus. There are many children separated from families and parents who need foster parents. Please consider contacting your local Catholic Charities or Division of Family Services about becoming a foster parent. Prayer:

Saint Joseph, patron of the universal Church, watch over the Church as carefully as you watched over Jesus, help protect it and guide it as you did with your adopted son. Amen

[NYer]

I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath.

What a beautiful image! How often do we ever reflect on Joseph's role as foster father of Jesus. Surely there were many nights when our Lord fell asleep, cradled in his arms.

And what about the faith required of Joseph to truly believe Mary's pronouncement that she was to be mother of the promised Messiah. What would the nornal reaction be! Or having a dream in which angels tell you to flee to Egypt. Again, how would the average person react? It took profound faith to believe the dream was real. Most of us would wake up, shake our heads, turn to our spouse and say: "Honey, you won't believe the dream I had last night."

[AnAmericanMother]

Happy Belated Name Day!

[irishtenor]

How is speaking the truth hate-filled?

[AnAmericanMother]

See post 23.

You might also add that in 50 A.D., there WAS no Bible . . . it wasn't until St. Jerome got things organized that there was any 'scriptural authority' per se.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Given the option of believing you or the Church Fathers, I'll believe them. Your continued displayed ignorance of the history of Christendom is sad.

By the way, what Bible did Christ use?

[A.A. Cunningham]

Why do you fail to refer to the very significant Mother of Christ as you are instructed to by God breathed Sacred Scripture? That's a rhetorical question by the way, since you and I and everyone else on this forum already know the answer.

"Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed." Luke 1:48

[Rokke]

"Why do you fail to refer to the very significant Mother of Christ as you are instructed to by God breathed Sacred Scripture?"

Do you believe you aren't "blessed"? I believe you are. I believe I am. I believe Mary was. But I believe we all fall short of the glory of God and that we are all sinners.

[murphE]

St. Joseph, terror of demons, pray for us.

[nmh]

I rejoice in that I can state my beliefs with Scripture!

I don't need the word of man, doctrine, hearsay, rumors, fallible mortals with an agenda - NOPE!

I can point to SCRIPTURE for ALL my beliefs and needs.

I stand firmly on this:

2Tim.3:16

[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

My faith is in Christ not fallible men and women!

Before He returns, I suggest others also start putting their faith in Him.

[NYer]

I can point to SCRIPTURE for ALL my beliefs and needs.

I stand firmly on this:

2Tim.3:16

[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

This verse nowhere makes the claim that the scriptures alone are profitable for teaching, reproof, etc. When that letter to Timothy was written by St. Paul, there was no codified New Testament canon. So if Timothy was to get from this verse that only scripture is the vehicle for revelation, he would have understood "the scriptures" to mean the Old Testament; and then he would have had four different canons to choose from. Sola scriptura fails in that it is not taught in scripture. Nowhere does the Bible teach that it is the only and sole source of divine revelation.

 The question of which books belong in the Bible is itself a tradition. There is no divinely inspired table of contents. Who decided what books belong and what books do not? What authority did they have to do so? Not only is tradition endorsed by scripture, but it is simply common sense. All non-Catholic Christians believe it; though, to be sure, they won’t admit it.

[AnAmericanMother]

The canon of the New Testament was developed only gradually, over a period of 2-300 years.

And the Old Testament canon has NEVER been agreed upon . . . there were several versions (and several translations) circulating at the time of Christ.

So you can't point to "scripture" for the first several hundred years of the Church, without relying upon tradition and the writings of the Church Fathers.

[nmh]

"So you can't point to "scripture" for the first several hundred years of the Church, without relying upon tradition and the writings of the Church Fathers."

You may want to argue that out with God because He states otherwise.

Have you EVER done a search through the Bible and seen how many times "it is written" is stated in the Bible?

It is because God knows everything and is in control. The Bible is God breathed. He's no fool. It was the Holy Spirit that guided men in giving us the Bible.

Again,

2Tim.3:16

[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Scripture is the Bible! It is the Bible that we are to use as our litmus test.

Have you ever matched up the Old Testament and the New Testament to see how they speak of one another?

There is agreement on the New and the Old Testament. Our Jewish friends might be able to help you out on that.

The Dead Sea scrolls confirm much of what we have. There is no way you can get away with trying to make the Bible "fuzzy" so that anything goes including "tradition". When the Bible does speak of tradition it is in a negative way.

People may very well have "traditions" but that doesn't make them right or Godly and it doesn't matter how long this "tradition" has gone on. Longevity doesn't make "tradition" correct either. These are common and obvious fallacies.

Regarding "tradition" the Bible is also very clear on what I just mentioned:

Col.2:8

[8] Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

It is clear that "tradition of men", mere fallible mortals, is NOT what we are to use as our yardstick for truth. Nor is it "philosophy" such as Augustine, Aristotle etc.. I see more and more people pursing philosophers, tradition and piles of documents as their religion and paying no heed to Christ and what "is written" for them in the Bible. It also seems that everyone else is more important that Christ! Scripture, rarely relied on or quoted - how sad!

People are doing precisely the opposite of

Col.2:8

[8] Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

A fallible mortal is more credible than Christ. Rituals and outer appearances are more important than sincere faith. I see this more and more of this and it saddens me.

The truth is there and trying to muddy the waters with the Bible not being agreed upon is ridiculous. The early church fathers were Bible based. It is the Catholic church that has drifted away from this.

Oh I could easily go on and give more specifics then you'd ever want to hear and see you grasping at straws trying to deny them but I'll let it rest here.


In any event, take care.

[Rokke]

"So you can't point to "scripture" for the first several hundred years of the Church, without relying upon tradition and the writings of the Church Fathers."

That is an interesting statement. It could be argued that it was those same Church Fathers who were the cause of a lack of agreement concerning what was "scripture". So to rely on them is to rely on the very sources of disagreement. But it is refreshing to read your statement that the Old Testament Canon has NEVER been agreed upon. I agree. Nonetheless, Paul clearly tells Timothy that "All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God." To me, that suggests that at least he and Timothy knew what he was talking about. Unfortunately, he didn't provide a list of what he considered "all scripture". That sure would have saved a lot of debate in the eons to come. But he did conclude with this statement regarding God's purpose in given us Scripture..."That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." To me, this makes it very clear that God's gift of Scripture "thoroughly" and "perfectly" equips us for every good work God would have us do. Since Paul was well aware of the new covenant provided by Jesus Christ, I don't think he would consider the Old Testament sufficient to equip us both "thoroughly" and "perfectly". Furthermore, he says nothing about the Church or tradition playing a role.

[murphE]

ST. JOSEPH

"To be convinced how much the intercession of St. Joseph prevails with Jesus Christ, we only have to consider these words of the Evangelist :

'And He was subject to them.'.

The Son of God employed thirty years assiduously obeying Joseph and Mary! It was sufficient for Joseph, by the least word or sign, to show that he wished Him to do anything; Jesus immediately obeyed. This humble obedience of Jesus teaches us that the dignity of Joseph is above that of all other Saints, except that of the Queen of Saints.

Let us hear what St. Teresa says of the confidence which all should place in the protection of St. Joseph:

'To the other Saints', she says, 'it appears that the Lord may have granted power to succor us on particular occasions; but to this Saint, as experience proves, He has granted power to help us on all occasions. Our Lord would teach us that, as He was pleased to be subject to Joseph upon the earth, so now He is pleased to grant whatever this Saint asks for in heaven. Others whom I have recommended to have recourse to Joseph, have known this from experience. I never knew anyone who was particularly devout to him, that did not continually advance more and more in virtue. For the love of God, let him who believes not make this his own trial. And I do not know how anyone can think of the Queen of Angels, at the time when she labored so much in the infancy and childhood of Jesus, and not return thanks to Joseph for the assistance which he rendered both to the Mother and to the Son.'

We should be particularly devout to Saint Joseph, that he may obtain for us a happy death."

From The Feast of St. Joseph, March 19, Roman Catholic Daily Missal, Angelus Press.

[Coleus]

It is a shame, He's a perfect role model for all catholics, especially for fathers. He was the first to hold Jesus, obedient to God and was his family's spiritual leader.

The Italians were right on target for venerating this Jewish saint.

I wonder why Cardinal Spellman didn't give dispensation from abstinence on St. Joseph's day?

[Salvation]

BTTT on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this year celebrated on 3-20-06!

[Salvation]

From the Office of Readings for today:

Reading	From a sermon by Saint Bernardine of Siena, priest
The faithful foster-father and guardian
There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to any human being. Whenever the divine favour chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfil the task at hand. This general rule is especially verified in the case of Saint Joseph, the foster-father of our Lord and the husband of the Queen of our world, enthroned above the angels. He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph’s wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying: “Good and faithful servant enter into the joy of your Lord”. What then is Joseph’s position in the whole Church of Christ? Is he not a man chosen and set apart? Through him and, yes, under him, Christ was fittingly and honourably introduced into the world. Holy Church in its entirety is indebted to the Virgin Mother because through her it was judged worthy to receive Christ. But after her we undoubtedly owe special gratitude and reverence to Saint Joseph. In him the Old Testament finds its fitting close. He brought the noble line of patriarchs and prophets to its promised fulfilment. What the divine goodness had offered as a promise to them, he held in his arms. Obviously, Christ does not now deny to Joseph that intimacy, reverence and very high honour which he gave him on earth, as a son to his father. Rather we must say that in heaven Christ completes and perfects all that he gave at Nazareth. Now we can see how the last summoning words of the Lord appropriately apply to Saint Joseph: “Enter into the joy of your Lord”. In fact, although the joy of eternal happiness enters into the soul of a man, the Lord preferred to say to Joseph: “Enter into joy”. His intention was that the words should have a hidden spiritual meaning for us. They convey not only that this holy man possesses an inward joy, but also that it surrounds him and engulfs him like an infinite abyss. Remember us, Saint Joseph, and plead for us to your foster-child. Ask your most holy bride, the Virgin Mary, to look kindly upon us, since she is the mother of him who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns eternally. Amen.

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