St Joseph is one of the most mysterious yet important figures in the New Testament. Husband of the Virgin Mary, adoptive father of Jesus, protector of the Holy Family, he alone embodies fidelity, discretion, quiet strength and deep faith. He is often silent in the Gospels, but his role in God's plan is immense. His simple, hidden life inspires whole generations of believers, and his example remains profoundly relevant today.
A just man
The Gospels say little about Joseph, but they use a key word to describe him: "just". This means much more than a good or honest man. To be just, in the biblical tradition, is to be adjusted to God's will, to live according to His law, to walk humbly with Him. Joseph was a man who did not speak much, but who always acted with wisdom, faith and obedience. Whenever God speaks to him, whether through an angel or a dream, Joseph responds with action.
He does not challenge, he does not seek to impose his will, but he puts himself at the service of the divine mission with confidence, even when circumstances are incomprehensible or overwhelming.
Mary's husband
Joseph is engaged to Mary when he discovers that she is pregnant, even though they have not yet lived together. Upset but respectful, he decides to repudiate her in secret, so as not to expose her to shame or stoning, as the law might have required. But an angel appeared to him in a dream and revealed that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, without question, welcomes Mary and becomes the guardian of the mystery of the Incarnation.
In this, he becomes a model of a faithful, respectful and loving husband. He agrees to live a unique mission, in chastity, placing his whole life at the service of Mary and the Christ Child.
The adoptive father of Jesus
Joseph is also called the "adoptive father" or "foster father" of Jesus. He is not the child's biological father, but raises him as his own son. He protected him, fed him, taught him a trade and passed on to him the Jewish faith. Through him, Jesus learns about love, tenderness, work, obedience and prayer.
It is Joseph who is given the task of naming the child: "You shall call his name Jesus", says the angel. This gesture is highly symbolic in Jewish tradition, as giving a name means recognising the child and fully welcoming him into the family.
An attentive protector
In the Gospels, Joseph is the vigilant protector of his family. When he learns that King Herod is trying to have the child killed, he flees by night to Egypt with Mary and Jesus. He experienced exile, precariousness and uprooting. Here again, he acts with faith and discernment, guided by God through dreams.
Later, he returns to settle in Nazareth and raises Jesus there in simplicity. He works as a carpenter, a manual and humble trade, and teaches Jesus his knowledge. He lives in the shadows, but his influence on Jesus' human growth is invaluable.
A saint close to everyone
Joseph is close to everyone: fathers, workers, silent men, migrants, people faced with the unexpected. He is a model for those who, like him, seek to do God's will quietly, in everyday life, in simple gestures, in fidelity to love.
The Church has recognised him as the patron saint of workers (on 1 May, the feast of Saint Joseph the Craftsman), the patron saint of families, the patron saint of a good death (because he is said to have died surrounded by Jesus and Mary), and above all the patron saint of the universal Church, because just as he watched over Jesus, he still watches over the Body of Christ that is the Church today.
Joseph today
Saint Joseph is today being rediscovered as a profoundly modern figure. In a world that values appearance, noise and performance, he reminds us of the value of silence, service and faithfulness in hidden things. In 2020, Pope Francis dedicated an apostolic letter to him entitled Patris Corde ("With a father's heart"), in which he evokes Joseph's tenderness, his creativity in the face of trials, and his discreet courage.
He invites everyone to turn to Joseph in prayer, to entrust to him the difficulties of life, the choices to be made, the doubts, the worries. Joseph is not a distant or inaccessible hero: he is a close father, a brother in humanity, a silent but sure guide.
Conclusion
Saint Joseph is one of those great silent figures of faith whose life speaks louder than words. He left no writings, he performed no visible miracles, but he lived with uprightness, trust and love. By looking at his life, everyone can find a point of reference, support and inspiration.
He teaches us that holiness is not about the spectacular, but about daily faithfulness, welcoming others, listening to God and having the courage to love, even in the shadows. This is the greatness of Saint Joseph.
