“To some of the Saints power is granted to help us in particular necessities; but to Saint Joseph power is granted to help in all necessities, and to defend all those who, with devotion have recourse to him.” (Saint Bernard of Clairvaux)

Joseph was by birth of the royal family of David (Matthew 1:1-16), but he quietly lived as a humble carpenter unknown to anyone. God raised him to the highest sanctity, and fitted him to be the spouse of His Virgin Mother, and foster-father of the Incarnate Word.

This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being an upright man and wanting to spare her disgrace, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name Him Jesus, because He is the one who is to save His people from their sins.’  (Matthew 1:18-21)

So Scripture tells us that Joseph was a just man - pure and gentle. He was a prudent and silent man, as his conversation was with angels rather than with men.

Above all, he was faithful and obedient to all divine instructions: When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home; he had not had intercourse with her when she gave birth to a son; and he named Him Jesus. (Matthew 1:24-25)

When Herod sought the life of the divine Infant, an angel told Joseph in a dream to flee from Bethlehem to Egypt. God ordered him to fly into a foreign unknown country, yet Joseph at once arose and obeyed (Matthew 2:13-15). This sudden and unexpected flight must have caused many inconveniences and sufferings for Joseph - having to take baby Jesus and the young Blessed Virgin on such a long journey through the desert. Still there is never a word of complaint or despair from Joseph’s lips - he asks not even a single question, but strives to follow God's command to perfection.

It is said that upon their entering Egypt, at the presence of the child Jesus, all the oracles of that superstitious country were struck dumb, and the statues of their gods trembled and in many places fell to the ground. This holy visit to Egypt is also considered the reason for the spiritual benediction poured on that country, which made it for many ages most fruitful in Saints.

After the death of King Herod, of which Joseph was informed in another vision, God ordered him to return with the Child and His Mother into the land of Israel, which our Saint readily obeyed. But when he arrived in Judea, he was directed by God in another dream, and retired to Galilee, his former habitation in Nazareth. (Matthew 2:19-23)

Joseph, being a strict observer of the Mosaic law, traveled to Jerusalem every year to celebrate the Passover. Our Saviour at the age of 12, accompanied His parents on this pilgrimage. After the Passover, they began their journey back to Galilee with many of their neighbours and acquaintances towards Galilee.

Trusting that Jesus was with some of their companions, they travelled on for a whole day's journey before they discovered that Jesus was not with them. When night came, on realising that He was missing, Mary and Joseph hurried back to Jerusalem in deepest affliction. Joseph was indeed worried, knowing that he had been entrusted by God to care for His only begotten Son.

It happened that, three days later, they found Him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions; and all those who heard Him were astounded at His intelligence and His replies. They were overcome when they saw Him, and His mother said to Him, ‘My child, why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.’ He replied, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?’ But they did not understand what He meant. He went down with them then and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority... (Luke 2:46-51)

And so the Son of God lived in obedience to His foster-father, Joseph. As no further mention is made of Joseph in the Bible, it is assumed that he entered his heavenly abode before the wedding at Cana. Joseph would have experienced the joy of Jesus and Mary praying by him on his death-bed, assisting and comforting him in his last moments.

So Saint Joseph is specially invoked for the great grace of a happy death and the spiritual presence of Jesus in that hour. Saint Alphonsus de Liguori advises all to have a special devotion to Saint Joseph, saying, “If in their dying hour they invoke Saint Joseph’s aid, not only will he assist them, but he will obtain for them the assistance of Jesus and Mary.”

Prayer:
Saint Joseph, the shadow of the Eternal Father upon earth,
the protector of Jesus in His home at Nazareth,
and lover of all children for the sake of the Holy Child,
be our guide and protector as we journey to eternal life.