St. Joseph

There is not a whole lot of information on St. Joseph and what we do know comes from the Scriptures. We know he was a carpenter since the Nazarenes ask the question about Jesus “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” (Mt 13:55) And we know he wasn’t a wealthy man since the offering for Jesus’ circumcision and Mary’s purification was not a lamb but turtledoves and 2 pigeons, which was an acceptable offering for those who could not afford a lamb according to Jewish law. (Luke 2:24)

St. Joseph was compassionate since he wanted to quietly divorce Mary when he found out she was carrying a child and he knew it wasn’t his. He did not want her hurt needlessly and she would have been stoned for having relations with a man other than her husband. (Mt 2:13-23) He was an obedient, believing, and faithful man since he followed the instructions from the angel to marry Mary because she was carrying God’s son. And he also fled to Egypt without questions to protect his family when an angel told him to do that as well. (Mt 2: 13-23)

Let us all try to follow Joseph's example and be obedient and faithful to God and not to the distractions of the world. St. Joseph, pray for us.