St. Joseph: Quiet Giant of Faith

I would be remiss if I let the month of March slip by without giving a heartfelt shoutout to my main man — St. Joseph! 💙

I mean, he was the foster father of Jesus Christ, the very Son of God. What a job description, right?!? Imagine being tasked with raising the Savior of the world. No pressure, Joseph. No pressure.

But seriously, let’s pause and reflect on the profound beauty of this humble, holy man. St. Joseph was the only person on earth whom Jesus called “Father.” Let that sink in. The Word made flesh, the King of Kings, looked up to this quiet, hardworking carpenter with the tender eyes of a son. How cool is that? And let’s not forget — just as Jesus obeyed His Blessed Mother, He also obeyed His earthly father. Imagine the Son of God learning to walk by holding Joseph’s hand or watching intently as Joseph showed Him how to plane a piece of wood. God Himself chose Joseph to be the perfect model of fatherhood. No small honor.

And while Joseph lived in the simplicity of a carpenter’s life, he belonged to the royal line of David. Talk about a man of both humble labor and noble lineage. Yet, his true greatness lay not in his bloodline but in his unwavering faithfulness. The Bible calls him a “just man” — and that phrase carries far more weight than simply being honest or paying his debts on time. It means Joseph was completely open to all that God desired of him. He was holy because he let God shape him.

Joseph listened to God in everything. When the angel came to him in a dream, telling him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, he didn’t hesitate. When he was told to flee to Egypt with his precious wife and child to escape Herod’s wrath, he left in the middle of the night. No excuses. No delay. Just simple, joyful, wholehearted obedience. Joseph’s quiet courage speaks volumes.

And let’s not overlook his profound love for Mary. Can you imagine the tenderness and reverence he had for his young bride? She was not only his wife but also the Mother of God. Theirs was a marriage of extraordinary love — a bond strengthened by shared faith, sacrifice, and a mutual “yes” to God’s will. Though Joseph never experienced the singular privileges of the Blessed Virgin, his soul was adorned with immense holiness and virtue. He was chosen by God as the perfect guardian for the Holy Family — and he still guards and intercedes for us today.

Now, here’s an awesome fact: after the names of Jesus and Mary, the devil most fears the name of St. Joseph. That’s right — he is the Terror of Demons! When spiritual battles arise, I call on St. Joseph. And he shows up!

He is the patron saint of fathers, workers, families, the Universal Church, and a happy death. (Who wouldn’t be happy taking his last breath with Jesus and Mary by his side?) And though the Bible tells us so little about him, his silent strength speaks louder than words.

Personally, I feel a special connection to St. Joseph because my middle name is Josephine. 💙 I’ve even consecrated myself to him — along with Mary and Jesus. I turn to him often in prayer, trusting his protection and guidance. He has the quiet strength of a righteous man whose intercession is mighty before God.

One of my favorite prayers, an ancient prayer to St. Joseph, beautifully captures his gentle, fatherly love. My husband and I pray this prayer every night before bed. Here is an excerpt:

“Oh St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires...Oh St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name, and kiss His fine head for me. And ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath.” 

Finally, St. Patrick tends to steal the show in March with all his shamrocks and celebrations, right?!? But don’t let the month pass without honoring St. Joseph, whose feast day is March 19. And remember to wear red in his honor. His intercession isn’t just for March — we would be wise to call on him daily throughout the entire year.

St. Joseph, pray for us! 🙏💙