SAINT JOSEPH

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From the time of early Christianity, Saint Joseph, or, as he is also called – Joseph the Betrothed, Joseph the Carpenter, Joseph the Worker, has enjoyed deep love and reverence. The silent and mysterious carpenter from Nazareth is still a great inspiration to us, who often and generously helps us.

However, little is known about his life, except for the circumstances of the birth of Jesus, although apocryphal literature has tried to fill this gap.

Why was he called the Betrothed? – Because Joseph, after the death of his first wife (some apocryphal sources report that he had six children from his first marriage: four sons and two daughters), already at an advanced age, became engaged to the Virgin Mary, the future Mother of Jesus. However, after their betrothal, according to the New Testament, Joseph found out that She was pregnant and so wanted to “secretly release Her.” But in a dream, the archangel Gabriel appeared to him and reassured him, saying: “Do not be afraid to accept Mary, your wife, for what was born in Her is from the Holy Spirit; She will give birth to a Son, and you will give Him the name of Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” After that, “Joseph took his wife, and did not know her, until finally she gave birth to her firstborn son, and he gave Him the name: Jesus.”

Therefore, being betrothed to the Virgin Mary, Joseph abstained from marital relations, keeping her purity and chastity. That is why it has become a tradition to call him not a husband, but only the Betrothed of the Mother of God. Yes, it was to his lot that the great honor fell to keep and protect Jesus Christ in his early years. That is why Saint Joseph was often depicted on icons holding the Infant Jesus in his arms.

It is also known from the pages in the Gospel of Matthew that God sent two more Revelations to Joseph the Betrothed. From the first, he learned about the danger that threatened the baby from King Herod, and hastened to take refuge in Egypt with his family. In another, he was informed of the death of the hated king and the possibility of returning to his homeland. Thus, having fulfilled God’s command, he returned to the Land of Israel and settled again in Nazareth.

Joseph was called The Carpenter because, according to the gospel story, although he was descended in a straight line from the family of King David (“Joseph undoubtedly inherited the virtues of his ancestors: courage, generosity and something of pride and loneliness, which complemented the greatness of his soul. The heart of the king, “intoxicated with God,” was found and grew in the breast of his descendant”), but was in poverty and, living in the remote town of Nazareth, was engaged in carpentry.

The Worker he was called because, as you know, a worker is the one who lives by earning from his labor, who is distinguished by diligence, who works professionally and responsibly… In those distant times, carpentry included all of the above mentioned… Moreover, the carpenter was not only engaged in the processing of forest materials, the construction of wooden buildings, and the manufacture of wooden parts of structures or simple wooden furniture. Sometimes he even prepared the necessary project, and therefore in his workshop one could find not only a planer or hammer, but also measuring ropes, special measuring tools and dividers. Moreover, the carpenter could even plant trees himself, look after them until they grow, and then he himself was engaged in logging, that is, he cut down trees and prepared the wood necessarily to fulfill the order. The carpenter determined the fate of the tree, helping it find its destiny…

By the way, when Moses brought the Jewish people through the Sinai desert to the Promised Land, he saw hills untouched by the human hand, covered with forests, which the Romans later destroyed… Today, Israel is a country of man-made forests, which vegetation is treated with unusual care and reverence, where even children never pick flowers and where no one would think of uprooting a tree. The reason is that only 30% of Israel’s forests are natural, and the rest are artificial plantations. Israelis plant trees in honor of the children born and in honor of the fallen soldiers. There is even a Forest of Six Millions… It was planted as a memorial to those who died in the Holocaust and contains six million trees, symbolizing the six million Jews who perished at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators in World War II.

By the way, if you happened to visit modern Nazareth (a city in the Galilee, in the north of Israel), then most likely you also visited the Church of Saint Joseph, built on the site where, according to legend, his house and his workshop used to be. Pay attention – a workshop…But he was The Carpenter! Why not a carpentry? A carpenter and a joiner are two different professions… Of course, there is a lot in common between them, in particular, they are both directly related to construction and woodworking, and someone even calls people of these professions representatives of the same craft, not seeing any difference between a joiner and a carpenter. But there is, and quite significant, difference: the work of a joiner is to create household items and furniture from various types of wood and wood materials, while a carpenter is responsible for creating larger wooden structures, bringing to life large-scale projects such as houses, ships… though, however, often, and their elements.

Moreover, if you have been to the Tate Gallery in London and seen the painting “Christ in the House of His Parents” by John Everett Millais, depicting the Holy Family in the joiner’s workshop of Saint Joseph, then you have clearly noticed that young Jesus helps Joseph to make a door, which is placed on a joiner‘s workbench…

However, such a division exists now, but in ancient times, everything was different… However, in those days and now, the profession of a joiner-carpenter cannot be called simple. Its representative should have always satisfied special requirements: firstly, he must possess physical strength, without which it is simply impossible to assemble massive wooden objects; secondly, he is required to have an excellent eye and the ability to concentrate on details; and thirdly, he needs virtuoso manual dexterity… Moreover, he must also have a natural flair that allows him to process the material in the best possible way.

In other words, in biblical times, the profession of a joiner-carpenter was in high demand and was one of the most prestigious, requiring proper training, knowledge and abilities that is, it was associated with an appropriate education, which, of course, was not so easy to obtain, and therefore most often passed down from father to son. Therefore, in accordance with the established customs, Jesus had to become a carpenter, which is mentioned in the Gospel of Mark.

That is, by the will of the Almighty, Joseph was not only the guardian of the Savior of the world, but also His mentor.

The last mention of Saint Joseph refers to the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where he went with his family to celebrate Easter. This episode is mentioned in the 2-nd chapter of the Gospel of Luke, when the twelve-year-old Jesus, lagging behind his parents, took part in a theological discussion arranged in the temple by the Jewish sages.

It is believed that shortly after this event, when Joseph heard the speech of “not a boy, but a husband” and realized that his ward had grown up and the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ began, he passed away… at the age of 111.

The place of his burial was the Gethsemane cave, in which by that time the bodies of Saints Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, had already rested.

Everyone knows the aphorism by Ralph Waldo Emerson “sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny”…

It is clear that the thoughts, habits and actions of Saint Joseph were beyond all praise… His Destiny was very much like!

What about His character? – Pious (and not only His karma gives the evidence, but His contemporaries also testified to this!), that is, orthodox, charitable, humble, as already mentioned… The virtues of this person were – hard work, compassion, responsibility, generosity and accuracy, a sharp mind and an increased sense of justice… In addition, those around Him noted His diligence and dedication, the ability to implement tasks and achieve success, His penchant for an asceticism – He needed financial benefits only as a means of subsistence, but no more…

Thus it is not at all surprising that Saint Joseph became a model of patience, endurance and diligence; a model of a man, patron and guardian!

In this way, it becomes completely clear to us why Saint Joseph is not only the Betrothed, the Worker and the Carpenter, but also the Saint, who controls human karma, that is, universal causal relationships; that is, a person’s destiny – the entire set of events, circumstances and actions that are predetermined and influence a person’s life… Lord of Destinies…

Therefore, when you feel bad: you do not know what to do, what choice to make… – His voice sounds in you, when you hear, “Your choice is right!” No matter which… “it’s a mystery… “

It is Saint Joseph who warns us, “Be worthy of your Calling!” – Well, yeah… “Many are called, but few are chosen”…

Joseph the Worker strongly recommends us, “Are you feeling bad? Find something to do, work hard… Work hard and everything will be fine!”

So, Saint Joseph patronizes:

• husbands, fathers and in general many who bear the burden of responsibility for others;

We apply to Saint Joseph with prayers to:

• • successfully start and finish some business;
• • overcome the temptations that a person encounters on his life path;
• • find love for one’s neighbor;
• • gain humility and meekness;
• • find mercy;
• • help find a good husband or wife;
• • create a strong and happy family.

• The Roman Catholic church of Saint Joseph in Surgut, etc. … – Yes, for some reason in harsh lands one really wants to rely on a trusted Patron, just in case!

In the Western tradition, the memory of Saint Joseph as the Patron Saint of the Holy Family had long been celebrated on March 19. However, in 1955, Pope Pius XII decided to give the holiday of labor celebrated on May 1 a religious connotation, and for this purpose, he connected it with the name of Joseph the Worker, declaring him the Patron Saint of all who earn their bread by the sweat of their brow. Thus, Catholics celebrate two holidays in honor of Saint Joseph:

• March 19 – the day of Joseph the Betrothed as the head and Patron of the Holy Family;

• May 1 – the day of Joseph the Worker as the Patron Saint of all workers.

In the Orthodox Church, St. Joseph’s Day is celebrated annually on January 8, that is, immediately after the birth of Jesus Christ.