Joseph's Way

St. Joseph is so important in God’s plan of salvation at the beginning of the church in Jesus and in the ongoing life of Jesus’ Church. That’s why the church interrupts Lent to celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph each March 19th.

Devotion and celebration of the Feastday developed for centuries. Pope Sixtus IV (+1484) set the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19 for the universal church in 1481. Gregory XV (+1623) made it a Holyday of Obligation in 1621.

In the eleventh year of his pontificate, John Paul II gifted the church with profound and practical insights about St. Joseph. On August 15, 1989, his Apostolic Exhortation was published. He titled it: ‘Guardian of the Redeemer’. In this reflection the Pope frequently refers to ‘Joseph’s Way’. He also stressed how Joseph is the first to be on the way of Mary’s journey of faith. Joseph united his faith to Mary’s faith. Joseph united his way to Mary’s way.


John Paul describes the Way in #187: “In the course of the journey of faith which was his life, Joseph, like Mary, remained faithful to God’s call to the end.” While Mary’s life brought to fullness her first yes spoken at the Annunciation, at the moment of Joseph’s ‘annunciation’ he said nothing. He simply “did as the angel of the Lord commanded”. Joseph’s first ‘DOING’ was the beginning of Joseph’s Way. What Joseph did united him in a special way to the faith of Mary. The pope calls this ‘obedience of faith’!

All of Jesus’ saints are like their Lord and Savior in one in a dispensable way. All holiness and happiness in their lives flow from it. It is the way of Jesus and the way of his saint. It is the central and vital theme of the Bible. What is this only WAY?

The Liturgy of the Eucharist expresses it in neat and simple words. During the Eucharistic Prayer of every Mass, the assembled church remembers the saints. In Eucharistic Prayer II, we pray to our Father: “Make us worthy to share eternal life with Mary, the virgin Mother of God, with the apostles and with all the saints who have done your will throughout the ages.” Doing God’s will in obedience is the WAY of Jesus and all the saints.

It is the Way of Joseph. It is the foundation of the titles proclaimed in the Preface for his Solemnity on March 19: “Father, we give you thanks as we honor St. Joseph. He is that just man, that wise and loyal servant whom you placed at the head of your family. With a husband’s love he cherished Mary, the Virgin Mother of God with fatherly care he watched over Jesus Christ your Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit”.

Joseph’s Way reveals a Man of Humble, selfless service, a disciplined and simple fidelity. Fidelity to the ordinary is extraordinary. Man of Righteousness, called the ‘Just Man’ who obeyed the Covenant and God’s call, Man of Faith. Three times he ‘did’ what God commanded and did so always.

Thus he could care for the precious possessions God placed in his care - Jesus and Mary and the Church for which he bears the title ‘Protector’.