What is known about Joseph, the father of Jesus, and what happened to him?
The Solemnity of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is on the third Wednesday after Easter Sunday.
Joseph was married to Mary and was the legal father of Jesus.The brothers of Jesus were thought to be the sons of Joseph from an earlier marriage by the apocryphal work of the late 2nd century.The Western church still holds to the idea that both Joseph and Mary must have been virgins, despite the fact that this position is still held in the Orthodox churches.There are differing views on Joseph as a historical figure.[4]
Saint Joseph is venerated as a saint in a number of churches.Some Lutherans observe his feast day.Joseph is the patron saint of workers and is associated with various feast days.March is dedicated to Saint Joseph.According to the belief that he died in the presence of Jesus and Mary, Pope Pius IX declared him to be both the patron and the protectors of the Catholic Church.Joseph has become a patron of many places.
The images of Saint Joseph have been granted a decree by the pope.He is associated with lilies in religious iconography.Since the 1950s centers for studying Josephology have been formed due to the growth of Mariology.[6][7]
The oldest Christian writings are the epistles of Paul.These do not refer to Jesus' father, but his mother.The first gospel to be written and with a date about two decades after Paul, Mark does not mention Jesus' father.[9]
The first appearance of Joseph is in the books of Matthew and Matthew.Each contains a genealogy of Jesus showing ancestry from King David, but through different sons; Matthew follows the major royal line from Solomon, whileluke traces another line back to Nathan, another son of David and BathshebaDavid and Joseph have different names.
The infancy narratives only appear in Matthew andluke and take different approaches to reconcile the requirement that the Messiah be born in Bethlehem with the tradition that Jesus came from Nazareth.Joseph obeyed the direction of an angel to marry Mary.Following the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, Joseph is told by an angel in a dream to take the family to Egypt to escape the massacre of the children of Bethlehem planned by Herod.Joseph was told to return but to avoid Herod's son, he took his wife and child to Galilee and settled there.In Matthew, the infant Jesus is in danger from a cruel king, like the Old Testament Joseph has a father named Jacob, and both Josephs receive important dreams foretelling their future.10
Joseph and Mary have to travel to Bethlehem to be counted in a census, so Jesus is born there.Jesus was born there.Mary and other people are visited by angels, but no mention is made of his visit to Egypt or the Massacre of the Innocents.
The last time Joseph appeared in person was in the story of the Passover visit to the Temple in Jerusalem when Jesus was 12 years old.No mention is made of him after that.The story emphasizes Jesus' awareness of his coming mission, but he fails to impress his parents.
Mary is a widow during the adult ministry of her son.At the beginning of Jesus' mission and at the end of his life, Joseph is not mentioned.If he had been present at the Crucifixion, he would have been expected to take charge of Jesus' body, but this role is performed by Joseph of Arimathea.If her husband had died, Jesus wouldn't have given his mother the care of John the Apostle.[13]
There is a scene in the synoptic Gospels in which the people of Nazareth doubt Jesus' status as a prophet because they know his family.They call Jesus "Mary's son" in Mark 6.In Matthew, the townsfolk call Jesus the carpenter's son without naming his father.Jesus was thirty years old when he began his ministry.It was thought that he was the son of Joseph.The son is supposed to be Joseph, but in reality he is Heli.In Mark and Matthew, the tone of the contemporary people is negative.In a parallel story, the disbelieving neighbors refer to Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know.
In Matthew, Joseph is mentioned as the father of Jesus.Matthew andluke have a genealogy of Jesus showing his ancestry from David, but through different sons; Matthew follows the major royal line from Solomon, whileluke traces another line back to Nathan, another son of David and Bathsheba.David and Joseph have different names."Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary" and "Joseph is the son of Heli" are both said to be true.
One possibility is that Matthew's genealogy traces Jesus' legal descent, according to Jewish law, through Joseph, while the genealogy of Matthew traces his actual physical descent through Mary.
There is only one mention of Joseph's occupation in the Gospels.Matthew asks about Jesus.
Joseph's description is usually translated into English as "carpenter", but is a more general word that covers makers of objects in various materials.The Greek term evokes an artisan in wood, iron or stone.There are references to Jesus making yokes and ploughs in the Early Christian tradition.[20]
Other scholars have argued that a highly skilled craftsman in wood or the more prestigious metal, perhaps running a workshop with several employees, and noted sources recording the shortage of skilled artisans at the time, could equally be called tekton.The terms 'carpenter' and'son of a carpenter' are used in the Jewish Talmud to signify a very learned man, and Geza Vermes suggests that a description of Joseph as 'naggar' (a carpenter) could indicate that he was considered.Nazareth was an obscure village in Galilee, about 40 miles from the Holy City of Jerusalem, at the time of Joseph.It is not possible to Archaeology over most of the site, but from what has been excavated and tombs in the area around the village, it is estimated that the population was around 400.After the city of Sepphoris was destroyed by the Romans in 4 BC, it was expensively rebuilt.Historians have speculated that Joseph and Jesus traveled daily to the nearby city of Nazareth, which had an overwhelmingly Jewish population, although with many signs of Hellenization.The large theatre in the city has caused a lot of controversy over dating and other issues.Other scholars think that Joseph and Jesus are the general village craftsmen, working in wood, stone, and metal on a wide variety of jobs.[31]
Most of the time, the name "Joseph" is found in the genealogies and infancy narratives.There are differing views on the relationship between Joseph and the Virgin Mary.The Eastern Orthodox Church believes that Joseph was a widower.The position of the Catholic Church is that Joseph was the husband of Mary, but that references to Jesus' "brothers" should be understood to mean cousins.Throughout history, and elsewhere in the Bible, such usage occurs.Laban and Abraham's nephew Lot were both referred to as his brother."brother" is a generic term for one's fellow man.In modern times, close friends, colleagues, and fellow churchgoers are often called "brothers and sisters."Some Protestants refer to children born of Mary as "brothers and sisters" of Jesus.
The first part of a two-part marriage is referred to as kiddushin.Until death or divorce, couples who fulfill the requirements of the kiddushin are married.35, 36, and 37
There is no mention of Joseph's death in the New Testament, and Mary is always presented as a widow in other texts and art covering the period of the ministry and passion of Jesus.The apocryphal History of Joseph the Carpenter, from the 5th or 6th century, has a long account of his peaceful death in the presence of Jesus, Mary and angels.The scene appears in art in the 17th century.[38]
The problem was created by the fact that Mary was a virgin and that Joseph was not Jesus' father.The theological situation was complicated by references to Jesus' "brothers and sisters" and the fact that he was described as "Joseph's son" by John and Matthew.From the 2nd century to the 5th century, writers tried to explain how Jesus could be both God and Joseph.[39]
The Protoevangelium of James was the first to offer a solution.The author presents Joseph as an old man who was chosen by God to watch over the Virgin.Jesus' brothers are presented as Joseph's children by an earlier marriage and he has not yet had sex with his wife.[40]
Joseph might have had a relationship with Mary after the birth of Jesus, if the Protoevangelium is to be believed.The doctrine that Mary was a virgin throughout her life meant that this possibility had to be excluded.
The apocryphal History of Joseph the Carpenter, written in the 5th century and framed as a biography ofJoseph dictated by Jesus, describes how Joseph, aged 90, a widower with four sons and two daughters, is given charge of the twelve-year-old Mary, who then lives inJoseph's death at the age of 112 was attended by angels and he claimed the virginity of Mary.[41]
According to Epiphanius, Joseph was the father of James and his three brothers and two sisters.Joseph's children from a previous marriage were James and his siblings.After Joseph's first wife died, he took Mary, the mother of Jesus.There are 44 and 45 words.
The Church History of Eusebius of Caesarea is in Book III.According to Hegesippus, Clopas was a brother of Joseph and an uncle of Jesus.Epiphanius says that Joseph and Cleopas were brothers.[47]
Mary was turned out of doors by the carpenter to whom she had been betroth when she found out she was pregnant.The virginal birth story was explained away by early non-Christians, according to Origen.[49]
The earliest records of a formal devotional following for Saint Joseph can be dated to the year 800 and references to him as the guardian of the Lord began to appear in the 9th century.If Mary had not been married, the Jews would have stoned her, and Jesus needed the care and protection of a human father.There are 53 and 54 words.
Major steps were taken by Bernardine of Siena in the 15th century.Consideration sur Saint Joseph was written and preached on by Gerson.In 1889 Pope Leo XIII urged Catholics to pray to Saint Joseph as the patron of the church in order to deal with the challenges facing it.[56]
The study of Saint Joseph is one of the most recent theological disciplines.Saint Joseph's role in the plan of redemption was presented as part of the "redemption documents" issued by Pope John Paul II in 1989.58 to 59 and 60 to 61.
Since he only appears in the birth narratives of the Gospels, Jesus is depicted as a child when with Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary.The formal veneration of the Holy Family began in the 17th century.
After the Blessed Virgin Mary, the name of Joseph was added to the Canon of the Mass.Pope Francis' name was added to the three other Eucharistic Prayers.[62]
Since the 10th century, Saint Joseph's Day has been celebrated by Catholics, Anglicans, many Lutherans and other denominations.On the first Sunday after the Nativity of Christ, the feast day of Saint Joseph is celebrated in Eastern Orthodoxy.If the Feast of Saint Joseph falls on a Sunday or in Holy Week, it will be moved to another date.There is a citation needed.
Many Christians observe Saint Joseph's Day by wearing red clothing, carrying dried fava beans that have been blessed, and assembling home altars dedicated to the saint.66
In Sicily, where Saint Joseph is regarded by many as their patron saint, and in many Italian-American communities, thanks are given to San Giuseppe for preventing a famine in Sicily during the Middle Ages.The people prayed for their patron saint to bring rain when there was a severe shortage.If God answered their prayers, they would prepare a large feast to honor him.The people of Sicily prepared a large banquet when the rain came.The crop which saved the population from famine was the fava bean.It is a custom on Saint Joseph's Day to give food to the needy.On Saint Joseph's Day, some communities wear red clothing and eat a Neapolitan pastry known as a zeppola.Maccu di San Giuseppe is a traditional Sicilian dish that consists of various ingredients and maccu that is prepared on this day.Maccu is a soup that dates back to ancient times and is made with fava beans.[68]
A typical Saint Joseph's Day altar has flowers, limes, candles, wine, fava beans, specially prepared cakes, breads, cookies, and other meatless dishes.Since Joseph was a carpenter, bread crumbs are used to represent sawdust.During Lent, no meat was allowed on the celebration table.The altar has three tiers to represent the Trinity.69
A solemnity with an octave was instituted in the second week after Easter to honor Joseph, who was declared the patron of the Universal Church in 1870.The 1955 General Roman Calendar states that the Feast of "Saint Joseph the Worker" will be celebrated on 1 May.This date coincides with the secular International Workers' Day promoted by the labour movement and left-wing parties since the 1890s, and reflects Joseph's status as patron saint of workers.Catholic and other Christian teachings stress patience, persistence, courage, and hard work for Joseph and the Holy Family.Unless the day is raised to a higher rank, the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker is not an optional memorial.Saint Joseph the Worker was celebrated on 2 May 2008 because 1 May was Ascension Thursday and in the year 2011 because it was Easter.citation needed
The Year of Saint Joseph was declared by Pope Francis on December 8, 2020 to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the declaration by Pius IX that the Universal Church was founded.71 and 72.
Saint Joseph was the patron of the Universal Church.He was the patron of a happy death because he died in the "arms of Jesus and Mary" according to Catholic tradition.73
Saint Joseph is the patron saint of many cities, regions and countries, including the Americas, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Croatia, Indonesia, Mexico, Korea, Peru, the Philippines, and Vietnam.There is a citation needed.
Many towns and cities are named after Saint Joseph.San Jose is the most common place name in the world.San José, Costa Rica, and San Jose, California, the United States, are probably the most-recognizedSan Joses.Joseph is the patron saint of the New World, as well as the regions of Carinthia, Styria, Tyrol, and Sicily.There is a citation needed.
Many institutions are dedicated to Saint Joseph.The largest church in Canada is Saint Joseph's Oratory, which has the largest dome of its kind in the world.In other parts of the world, churches named after the saint may be known as San Giuseppe.San Giuseppe dei Teatini is in San José.The Metropolitan Cathedral of San José is also known as So José.There is a place in Porto Alegre, Brazil.There is a citation needed.
The Sisters of St. Joseph have 14,013 members worldwide.The Josephite Fathers of the Catholic Church were created in 1871 to help the poor.The first Josephites in America re-devoted their part of the Order to ministry in the African American community.Joseph Marello founded the Oblates of St. Joseph.The Shrine of Saint Joseph was named after the guardian of the redeemer.[74]
Joseph saw clearly in his old age that the Prophets had been fulfilled openly, for he was given an odd earnest, receiving inspiration from the angels, who cried Glory to God.
There are also prayers for the seven joys and seven sorrows of Saint Joseph in the Catholic tradition.Saint Joseph is often used for employment, daily protection, vocation, happy marriage, and a happy death.There are 75 and 76 words.
Many venerated Catholics describe their devotion to Saint Joseph.Saint Joseph and Virgin Mary were included in the 1609 book by Francis de Sales.Teresa recommended Saint Joseph as an advocate after her recovery of health.As a result of praying daily to "Saint Joseph, Father and Protector of Virgins...", Therese felt protected from danger.Pope Pius X wrote a prayer to Saint Joseph.
In order to atone for my many sins, I need the grace to toil of all who are devoted to it.
There is a belief that a statue of Saint Joseph will help sell a house.81
Up to about the 17th century, Joseph was depicted as a man advanced in years, with grey hair, balding, occasionally frail, a relatively marginal figure alongside Mary and Jesus if not entirely in the background, passive other than when leading them on their flight to Egypt.Joseph is shown mostly with a beard, not only in keeping with Jewish custom, but also because later literature tends to present him as an old man at the time of his wedding to Mary.Concerns about the sexual continence of the newly married couple were allayed by this depiction.[83]
In recent centuries, he himself has become a focal figure in representations of the Holy Family due to a growing interest in Joseph's role in exegesis.He is often depicted as a younger or even youthful man in depictions of him, whether he is a carpenter or participating in the daily life of Mary and Jesus as an equal and openly affectionate member.Waldemar Januszczak believes that the representation of Joseph as an old man is necessary to explain away his weakness.Mary is 15 years old and the one between the Virgin Mary and us is 70.She is young.She is perfect.Joseph's task is to let us desire her, religiously, because she is virginal.It takes a particularly old, grey, and feeble man to do that.Banned in vast numbers to the background of all those gloomy stables in Bethlehem, his complex iconographic task is to stand aside and let his wife be worshiped by the rest of us.Carolyn Wilson challenges the view that pre-Tridentine images were intended to demean him.The 17th-century Spanish and Mexican artists reconceptualized Joseph as the youthful, physically robust head of the Holy Family.Saint Joseph is given the same prominence as the Virgin in Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's The Two Trinities.There is a citation needed.
The scenes from the Life of the Virgin or life of Christ where he is present are more often seen in the Middle Ages.The Mérode Altarpiece, where he has a panel to himself, working as a carpenter, is an early example of what remained relatively rare depictions of him pursuing his métier.There is a citation needed.
The non-canonical Protoevangelion had an account of how Mary's spouse was chosen by collecting the walking sticks of widowers in Palestine, and the statues of Joseph depict him bursting into flower.The Golden Legend states that all Davidic men were ordered by the High Priest to present their rods at the Temple, although it notes that widowers were also ordered to do so.Joseph was tempted by the Devil to break off his betrothal, but he resists that temptation.There are paintings of him wearing a hat.There is a citation needed.
He was reassured by an angel after discovering his wife was pregnant.