Catholic Men’s Lenten Gospel Pilgrimage – Feast of St. Joseph Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Option 1 – Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24A

Prior to Christ’s miraculous conception, Mary (about 15 years old) and Joseph (mid-30’s) are betrothed; in ancient Judaism, couples were formally married but did not live together or consummate their marriage for up to a year. During this period, with Virgin Mary’s fiat, Jesus Christ is conceived by the Holy Spirit in her womb. Joseph, perhaps told by Mary of Christ’s miraculous conception, is likely overwhelmed and feels unworthy to be husband of Mary and earthly father of the Messiah. Joseph initially resolves to break off the marriage but is convinced by an angel (Gabriel) in a dream of God’s glorious plan; Joseph gives his own “fiat” (CCC 497, 1846), takes Mary and the unborn Child into his home and names the infant Jesus (omitted v. 25).

God creates and prepares Joseph, granting absolute human authority over both Mary, the Immaculate Conception and God Himself, Jesus; both Mary and Jesus perfectly submit to Joseph’s just authority. As the head/patriarch of a 1st Century Jewish family, Joseph was bound by Jewish law to provide for the Most Blessed Virgin and to raise Jesus as a first-born son. It is Joseph who: names and circumcises Jesus; redeems his first-born son at the Temple; leads the Holy Family in Sabbath prayer and to annual feasts in Jerusalem; is responsible for teaching the Torah to Jesus; teaches Jesus how to defend the family and swim; teaches Jesus, beginning at the age of 5, to be a carpenter. Jesus is perfectly obedient to Joseph until the age of 30 years old, when Joseph is blessed with a most-happy death in the arms of Mary and Jesus; tradition holds, shortly thereafter, Jesus leaves Mary and begins His public ministry.

As Christ and Mary highly revered Joseph, the Church, particularly in the East, early on cultivated devotion to Joseph. St. Joseph’s feast day was celebrated over a 1000 years ago. Numerous saints had special devotion to St. Joseph (St. Thomas Aquinas, Teresa of Avila) and Joseph was declared the Patron (from Latin patris, meaning father, protector) of the Church in 1847; he is also the patron of fathers, families and the unborn. In contrast to other Saints, and like Jesus and Mary, no relics of Joseph exist, leading some to consider that Joseph was assumed, body and soul, into Heaven.

Option 2 – Lk 2:41-51

After the Infancy Narratives in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1-2:40), the Blessed Virgin Mary recalls (Luke is thought to have received the account of Christ’s childhood directly from Our Lady) the harrowing experience of losing Jesus and finding Him three days later in the Temple. Responding to Mary and Joseph’s anguish, in His first recorded words in the Gospel, Christ confirms His love for the Father and that He “must be in My Father’s house.” Despite knowing the identity of His true Father, Jesus submits to live under Joseph’s headship for 18 more years, growing in stature (v. 52).

God creates and prepares Joseph, granting absolute human authority over both Mary, the Immaculate Conception and God Himself, Jesus; both Mary and Jesus perfectly submit to Joseph’s just authority. As the head/patriarch of a 1st Century Jewish family, Joseph was bound by Jewish law to provide for the Most Blessed Virgin and to raise Jesus as a first-born son. It is Joseph who: names and circumcises Jesus; redeems his first-born son at the Temple; leads the Holy Family in Sabbath prayer and to annual feasts in Jerusalem; is responsible for teaching the Torah to Jesus; teaches Jesus how to defend the family and swim; teaches Jesus, beginning at the age of 5, to be a carpenter. Jesus is perfectly obedient to Joseph until the age of 30 years old, when Joseph is blessed with a most-happy death in the arms of Mary and Jesus; tradition holds, shortly thereafter, Jesus leaves Mary and begins His public ministry.

As Christ and Mary highly revered Joseph, the Church, particularly in the East, early on cultivated devotion to Joseph. St. Joseph’s feast day was celebrated over a 1000 years ago. Numerous saints had special devotion to St. Joseph (St. Thomas Aquinas, Teresa of Avila) and Joseph was declared the Patron (from Latin patris, meaning father, protector) of the Church in 1847; he is also the patron of fathers, families and the unborn. In contrast to other Saints, and like Jesus and Mary, no relics of Joseph exist, leading some to consider that Joseph was assumed, body and soul, into Heaven.

1) Marvel that God the Father gave St. Joseph authority responsibility to raise His Son; Joseph is the only man to ever had authority over God.

2) God the Father confirms patriarchy (rule by fathers/men) for families by giving Joseph headship over the Immaculate Conception and His Son (CCC 532). Reflect upon the Headship of Husbands/Fathers (Gen 3:16; Eph5:24; Col 3:18; 1 Pet 3:1-2; 1 Tim 2:11; Titus 2:4-5) and pray for Christ to help you wisely rule as a sacrificial leader of your family in imitation of St. Joseph.

3) God the Father and the Son of God desired for Jesus to be protected and formed by St. Joseph to grow into the fullness of stature (Luke 2:52). On this Holy Feast Day of St. Joseph (CCC 2177), reflect upon St. Joseph’s Patronage of the Church and Fathers and pray for St. Joseph to intercede so you can receive the graces needed to continue to grow as a father.