Pope Pius IX proclaimed St. Joseph patron of the Universal Church on December 8, 1870. “The Church is beset by enemies on every side and is weighed down by calamities so heavy that ungodly men assert that the gates of hell have at length prevailed against her” (Pope Pius IX, Encyclical Le,er Quemadmodum Deus). Pope Pius placed the Church in the hands of St. Joseph because he was the spouse of the Virgin Mary, and the guardian and reputed father of Christ.

Joseph’s dignity, holiness, and glory spring from his attachments to Mary and Jesus. Joseph was united to Mary by the ties of marriage, and through this unity, he approached closer than any other person, the dignity and purity of Our Lady. By appointing Joseph as the spouse of Our Lady, God made him not only the protector of her honor, and maidenhood, but also a participant in her sublime dignity through the virtue of the conjugal tie.

Joseph shines above all mankind because he was chosen to be the guardian of the Son of God and Our Lady. God appointed Joseph, the Son of Jacob, over all of Egypt to protect the people. When the fullness of time came, God appointed a new Joseph to be the protector and guardian of His greatest treasures. Joseph was chosen to be the head of the divine household, and he was the guardian, administrator, and legal defender of Our Lady and Christ. During his life, Joseph fulfilled these duties and obligations to protect and provide for the Divine Infant and Our Lady.

This divine house that Joseph guarded, held in it the head of the future Church. Just as Our Lady is the mother of all Christians, the title given to her on Mount Calvary; Jesus is, in a way, the first-born of Christians, and the adopted brother of all Christians. This makes Joseph, the Blessed Patriarch, the protector, and father of all Christians. He held paternal authority and guardianship over Christ, and through Our Lady and Christ, he holds this same authority over all Christians, who are the adopted brothers of Christ.

Joseph is an example to all fathers. He was the earthly father of the Son of God, and in a human aspect, Christ was formed by the virtues and teachings of Joseph. There are many virtues that can be learned from Joseph. His obedience, humility, charity, and patience are very easily seen throughout his life. Joseph obediently suffered for love of his family; from the moment he was betrothed to Our Lady, all the way to his holy death. God appointed Joseph as the patriarch of the Holy Family, and Joseph shines as an example of the many ways in which a loving father can protect and provide for his family.

St. Joseph is rightfully named the Patriarch of the Patriarchal Church. Through his marriage, he received a share in Our Lady’s virtues, and he was appointed the earthly protector of Christ. He lovingly guarded his divine family, and he continues to guard his adopted family of Christians today. Joseph shows us not only the perfect example of a good Christian father, but of man full of obedience and love. May St. Joseph continue to protect the Church through the many troubling time ahead, and may all Christians seek a devotion to him. St. Joseph, pray for us.

Bibliography

Pope Leo XIII. “Quamquam Pluries, Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII on Devotion to Saint Joseph.” Liberia Editrice Vaticana. 2021. Web. Viewed 11/29/2021. https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15081889_quamquam- pluries.html

Pope Pius IX. “Quemadmodum Deus.” Oblates of St. Joseph. 2020. Web. Viewed 11/29/21. https://osjusa.org/st-joseph/magisterium/quemadmodum-deus/