St. Joseph was the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus during his time on earth. He was a carpenter, a working man, however, despite his humble work and means, Joseph came from a royal lineage, the house of David, the greatest king of Israel. As indicated by the angel who first tells Joseph about Jesus and greets him as “son of David,” a royal title used also for Jesus.

Joseph was a compassionate, caring, man of faith, obedient to whatever God asked of him without knowing the outcome. When the angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him the truth about the child Mary was carrying, Joseph immediately and without question or concern for gossip, took Mary as his wife. When the angel came again to tell him that his family was in danger, he immediately left everything he owned, all his family and friends, and fled to a strange country with his young wife and the baby. He waited in Egypt without question until the angel told him it was safe to go back.

Joseph does not appear in Jesus’ public life, at his death, or resurrection, many historians believe Joseph probably had died before Jesus entered public ministry. Therefore, the church as chosen him as the patron saint of the dying.
Joseph is also patron of the universal Church, fathers, carpenters, and social justice.

The Catholic Church celebrates two feast days for Joseph: March 19 for  St. Joseph the Husband of Mary and May 1 for St. Joseph the Worker.