St. Joseph, Spouse 

Gospel writers provide little information about Joseph.  We know he of the House of David, ) a carpenter, and, (3) lived in Nazareth.   Described as a “righteous man” (Matthew 1:19), he took great care to protect his betrothed wife’s reputation.  A man of faith, he understood God acting in his life as he experiences the angel speaking through his dreams.  He accepted the responsibility of a father and kept his family safe from Herod (Matthew 2:12-15) and raised Jesus as a faithful Jew.   We know nothing of him after the family’s journey to Jerusalem when Jesus remained behind and forced Mary and Joseph to search for him.  We infer that he died before Jesus’ public ministry.
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Over the centuries, the Church has recognized him as a model of faith and work.  Joseph is the patron of everyone who works with their hands.

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