Joseph was a good Jewish man in the family of the great King David. His family was originally from Bethlehem in Judea, but Joseph was a poor carpenter living in Nazareth. Joseph was Mary's husband and Jesus' foster father. It was his great privilege and joy to take care of God's own Son, Jesus, and his mother, Mary.

Whatever the Lord wanted him to do, St. Joseph did it at once no matter how difficult it was. He was humble and pure, gentle and wise. Jesus and Mary loved him and obeyed him because God had placed him as the head of their family.

Joseph is not mentioned in the Gospel once Jesus began his ministry. This probably because he had died by this time. St Joseph is prayed to as the protector of the dying.

St. Teresa of Avila chose St.Joseph as the protector of her Carmelite Order. She had great trust in his prayers. "Every time I ask St. Joseph for something, " she said, "he always obtains it for me."

Pope Pius IX proclaimed St. Joseph the patron of the Universal church. Pope Leo XIII named hims as a model for fathers of families.

Let's try to obey our parents and willingly help them with the work to be done at home, just as Jesus obeyed, loved and helped Mary and St. Joseph.