This Glorious Saint: How St. Joseph Intercedes for Us
In her autobiography, St. Teresa of Avila wrote of St. Joseph, “Would that I could persuade all men to be devout to this glorious saint, by reason of the great experience I have had of the blessings he obtains from God! … I know not how anyone can think of the Queen of Angels, who suffered so much on account of the Child Jesus, and not give thanks to Saint Joseph for the assistance he gave them.”
St. Joseph is a seeming contradiction. On the one hand, as St. Teresa points out, he played a pivotal role in salvation history as the husband of Mary and the foster father of the Lord. On the other hand, we know very little about his life. We bury his statue in our yards when we want to sell our house, but how many of us have any other forms of devotion to this “just man” (Matthew 1:19)?
I didn’t until I was an adult. My devotion to St. Joseph actually began with the somewhat controversial film “The Nativity Story.” When I saw this movie, I was struck by Joseph’s devotion to God, which fed his devotion to his wife and her unborn child. Joseph was a quiet, humble, and self-sacrificing leader — an exemplar of masculinity. I started praying for St. Joseph’s intercession in small ways, and my prayer reaped great fruits.
Here are just a few ways St. Joseph intercedes for us with his foster son.
For Our Relationships
St. Joseph is the patron saint of families and fathers and might be considered the ultimate husband. I started praying for his intercession years ago, asking that I might meet a good man like him. It took a long time, including a couple years of therapy, for me to be ready to meet that man. Once I was ready, I met him right away. After a few years of dating, we’re getting married this September.
Praying to St. Joseph is not a magical cure for chronic singleness, nor is St. Joseph some kind of divine matchmaker. But the simple act of prayer can help you reflect on what you want in a potential spouse and prepare yourself for a romantic relationship. Then, if your prayer is answered, you’ll be ready.
St. Joseph is also a model for chastity in relationships. Mary had already taken a vow of virginity even before she became the mother of God. Joseph protected that vow and committed himself to a celibate marriage. As a fallen human being, that celibacy must have been difficult for him at times! If you are struggling with chastity in your relationship, try meditating on Mary and Joseph’s marriage and praying for St. Joseph’s intercession.
For Our Work
Several years ago, a loved one was going through an incredibly stressful and difficult time at work. She asked me to pray for St. Joseph’s intercession, and my prayers were answered. At the time, it hadn’t even occurred to me that St. Joseph was the patron saint of workers; he was just a saint that I loved and prayed to, so I asked for his intercession in this situation as well.
We know from Scripture that St. Joseph was a hardworking carpenter and that he taught Jesus his trade, too. In fact, St. Joseph is popularly known as St. Joseph the Worker. In “Redemptoris Custos,” an apostolic exhortation on the life and mission of St. Joseph, Pope St. John Paull II wrote, “Work was the daily expression of love in the life of the Family of Nazareth. St. Joseph’s example and intercession can help us with “the sanctification of daily life” and make our work “an expression of love.”
For Our Death
“What deathbed was ever as beautiful as his must have been?” asks Fr. Maurice Meschler, S.J., in his book “The Truth About Saint Joseph: Encountering the Most Hidden of Saints.” Most likely, St. Joseph “died in the arms of Jesus, his Son and God, and in the arms of Mary; both, especially at that moment, compensated all his endeavors for them with unheard of graces.”
St. Joseph is the patron saint of a happy death, and Fr. Meschler writes that we can learn how to make our own death a good death in three ways: first, by maintaining our hope in Christ and the life everlasting; second, by living a holy life that will help us reach Heaven; and finally, by helping us have “a happy, trustful, consoling death” when we ask for his intercession.
What better time than Lent to “memento mori” and pray for a good death — whether it comes tomorrow or decades from now?
One of the joys of being Catholic is the communion of saints we have to learn from and pray with. As the husband of the Mother of God and the foster father of God Himself, St. Joseph is a shining example of a holy man who prays for us with diligence and love.
Meet Taryn Oesch
Taryn Oesch is the owner of Everyday Roses Editorial, an agency specializing in content for Catholic women. She is the managing editor of Catholic Women in Business, a contributing writer and assistant editor at FemCatholic.com, and an active member of the Raleigh, NC Catholic Young Adults group. When not writing or editing, Taryn is typically reading Jane Austen, drinking Earl Grey, and spending time with her fiancé and their families and friends. You can find Taryn on Instagram @everydayroseseditorial.