Solemnity of Saint Joseph | 2021
March 19th Saint Joseph was an ordinary manual laborer although descended from the royal house of David. In the designs of Providence he was destined to become the spouse of the Mother of God. His high privilege is expressed in a single phrase, "Foster-father of Jesus." About him Sacred Scripture has little more to say than that he was a just man-an expression which indicates how faithfully he fulfilled his high trust of protecting and guarding Jesus and Mary. The darkest hours of his life may well have been when he first learned of Mary's pregnancy; but precisely in this time of trial Joseph demonstrated his faithfulness. His suffering, which likewise formed a part of the work of the redemption, was not without great providential import. Joseph was to be, for all times, the trustworthy witness of the Messiah's virgin birth. After this, he modestly retires into the background of Sacred Scripture. Of St. Joseph's death the Bible tells us nothing. There are indicati