St Joseph

Feast Day March 19th

St. Joseph pray for us

Who was St. Joseph?

We know that Joseph was a descendantof King David.An angel appeared to Joseph and said,“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraidto take Mary as your wife. She willgive birth to a son, and you are to givehim the name Jesus, because he willsave his people from their sins.”

Joseph was engaged to Mary

Joseph was betrothed to Mary.

In those times a “betrothal” waseven more of a promise than an“engagement” is to us.

Mary told Joseph that she wasgoing to have a baby. Mary’s baby was the Son of God.

An angel appeared to Joseph and said, “Joseph, son David,do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She will givebirth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins.” So hetook Mary home with him. It showed his trust in God.

Joseph had a Dream

Painting is “St Joseph’s Dream”

Birth of Jesus

Joseph and Mary had to go toBethlehem for the census. They were unable to find a room for thenight. Joseph wanted the best possibleplace for Mary to give birth.

He experienced great joy when he saw the

new-born baby, Jesus, the Son of God. God gave the role of earthly father of

Jesusto Joseph because he was a kind and

caring man.

He is known as the ‘foster-father’ of Jesus.

The Flight into EgyptSoon after Jesus was born an

angel came to Joseph and warned him that his family were in danger because King Herod wanted to kill Jesus.

Joseph immediately took Mary and Jesus to Egypt and remained there until the angel told them it was safe to return (Matthew 2:13-23).

This is known as the “Flight into Egypt.”

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to Jerusalem “to present him to the Lord” (Luke 2:22).

This was in order to do what the Jewish law told them.

Every male child was to be taken to the temple.

Mary and Joseph took two turtle doves as their offering for their baby.

The Finding of the Child Jesus in the temple

Jesus was 12 years old when he accompanied Mary and Joseph on pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.

Unknown to them Jesus stayed behind in the temple instead of coming home with them.

After 3 days Joseph and Mary found Him sitting in the temple with the priests and elders teaching them!

Read more in Luke 2: 42-51

The ‘hidden years’After Jesus was found in the

temple, he returned to live in obedience to Mary and Joseph.

He lived with them from the age of 12 to 30.

At the age of 30 he started his work among the people.

Joseph taught Jesus how to work with wood and how, as the Holy Family, they would have prayed together.

The death of St. Joseph

Joseph died a happy death in the arms of Jesus and Mary, whom he had loved so much.

The Church has chosen St. Joseph to be the special patron of a happy death.