St. Joseph, husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus, was a decendant of King David, according to the genealogy presented by the Gospel. Betrothed to Mary, he decided to divorce her quietly when he found she was with child, but an angel of the Lord told Joseph in a dream to take her as his wife, since the child to be born was the "Holy One of God."

Joseph fled with Jesus and Mary into Egypt after being told by an angel that King Herod wanted to kill the infant Jesus. Once again, Joseph was obedient and did as he was told in his dream.

In the Bible, the last mention of Joseph is with Mary when the boy Jesus was lost in the temple in Jerusalem. It is assumed Joseph died in the company of Jesus and Mary, which we would all like to have in passing from this world to the next. God entrusted this silent, humble man with the unique privilege of raising his only son as a growing child.

A saint close to God, he is honored as the patron of the universal Church, fathers, carpenters, the dying and social justice.

His feast days are March 19 (St. Joseph, the husband of Mary) and May 1 (St. Joseph, the worker).

St. Joseph, pray for us!