Mary's husband, Jesus' foster dad. Jesus is also referred to in the Gospels as "the carpenter's son." By doing so, we are recognizing and honoring the man who raised Jesus, who taught him a trade, taught him his Jewish faith, and who was an example of manhood to a young boy.
Still, so little is known about our dear Joseph! He is not quoted, and at one point when Jesus is older and begins his ministry, nothing more is ever said about Joseph's presence.
We often speak of Our Blessed Mother's obedience to God, and "Mary's Fiat": Her great YES. Yes, let it be done to be according to Your will.
But Joseph, too, freely offered his great YES to God, didn't he? God spoke to him in a dream, as we know, and it was Good Joseph's response and reaction to Mary's pregnancy that makes his YES resound through the ages.
I remember once being present at Mass when a young reader, who was nervous and seemed inexperienced, read the passage describing St Joseph. Instead of saying, he was "a JUST man," this young reader became confused and said, he was "JUST a man."
I smiled at that mistake, but then it struck me: Yes, St Joe was also JUST a man. A man who lived a life of hidden holiness, cooperated fully with God's grace in his life, but ultimately was a regular person, just like us.
Good St Joe, please pray for us. Pray that our hearts are always open to accept God's will, and then please pray that we will rely on God's grace, just as you did.
Did you ever hear the story of St Joseph's staircase? I hope you enjoy this video as well as the one from Father James Martin, SJ:
With love and prayers,
Simple Soul
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