19 March: Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Patron Saint of the Universal Church
A righteous man and the protector of the Holy Family
Saint Joseph, adoptive father of Jesus and husband of Mary, is a key figure in Christian tradition, both because of his role in the economy of salvation and because he was a model of virtue. Joseph is not mentioned in detail in the Bible. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke are the ones which reveal the most about him.
Joseph was originally from Bethlehem but lived and worked in Nazareth as a carpenter. He is described in the Gospel of Matthew as being a "righteous" man, and a descendant of King David. When his wife, Mary, became pregnant through the Holy Spirit, Joseph, a righteous man, initially wanted to divorce her quietly, so she could be spared from dishonor. But an angel appeared to him in a dream and urged him to take Mary as his wife and to welcome the Child she would bear, because the child was the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Joseph obeyed and married Mary, taking the Child Jesus into his care.
After Jesus's birth, Joseph acted as his adoptive father and protected the Holy Family from the wrath of King Herod, who wanted to kill the newborn. Joseph fled with Mary and Jesus to Egypt, where they lived until Herod's death. The last mention of Joseph in the Gospels is when Jesus stayed behind in the Temple of Jerusalem at the age of 12, causing great alarm to both him and Mary.
Joseph is known for his humility, diligence, and gentleness. He was a tireless and devoted worker, capable of profound faith and obedience to God. It is said that Joseph died before Jesus began his public ministry and that Mary and Jesus were beside him in the final moments of his life, which is why he is invoked for divine assistance at the hour of death.
The Church celebrates Saint Joseph on 19 March, a feast established by Pope Gregory XV in 1621, although earlier celebrations in his honor during the month of March, date back to the year 800. Indeed, March is dedicated to Saint Joseph, a time in which the faithful are called to reflect on his virtues. Pius IX proclaimed him Patron Saint of the Universal Church in 1870. In 1889, Leo XIII proclaimed him Patron Saint of fathers and workers, and in 1955, Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker on 1 May, to highlight his role as the patron of workers.
On 1 May, 2013, "by virtue of the faculties granted by the Supreme Pontiff Francis", the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments decreed "that the name of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is henceforth to be added to Eucharistic Prayers II, III, and IV as they appear in the third typical edition of the Roman Missal, after the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary".