Joseph, Husband of Mary

The Cult of Joseph

Just as God established the Patriarch Joseph, son of Jacob, as Governor of the whole of Egypt, in order to assure for his people the wheat necessary for their life, in the same way when the time came to send His only begotten Son to the earth to redeem us, He chose another Joseph of whom the first was only a figure. The second Joseph He established as Lord and King of His household and all its goods: He committed to his custody the richest of treasures. In fact, espousing Mary ever Virgin, of whom was born through the virtue of the Holy Spirit Jesus Christ, Joseph had under his authority the Prince of Heaven and Earth. The Lord of Lords deigned to be called "the son of the carpenter" and obeyed His putative father in everything. St Joseph nourished Him whom the faithful feed upon as bread of eternal life.


The Church's most powerful protector

In 1661, the feast of St Joseph was declared a public holiday throughout the whole of France. In 1870 Pius IX proclaimed St Joseph Patron of the Universal Church. In 1889 an Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII proposed St Joseph model of all workers and fathers of families. In 1917 St Joseph appeared to the three seers of Fatima, presenting the Child Jesus to the world. In 1937, in his Encyclical "Divini Redemptoris" Pius XI wrote: "We place the entire action of the Catholic Church against world wide Communism under St Joseph, the Church's most powerful protector". In 1955 Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of St Joseph the Worker on May 1st of every year. In 1962, on orders from Blessed John XXIII, the invocation "Blessed Joseph, spouse of the Virgin Mary" was introduced into the Canon of the Mass.


The power of helping in all our needs

St Teresa of Avila said "It seems that the Lord has accorded to particular saints the privilege of providing for us in one necessity or other, but St Joseph has the power of helping us in all our needs, whatever they are. I know this through putting it to the test." St Joseph pray for us.


Prayer to St Joseph

Almighty God, you have chosen St Joseph to be the mainstay of Jesus and Mary, the wise and faithful servant in whom they could trust. We pray that he may truly be the guardian of your Church; that he mat inspire with confidence those who work in the vineyard of your Son; and finally, that he may be a source of strength to us, who wish, like him, to dedicate ourselves to Christ's service, now and in times to come. Amen.