The Dreamer. The Leader. The Man by Which the Prophesies of Christ were Fulfilled. Foster Father of the Messiah. Patron of the Universal Church. These titles describe a humble carpenter who speaks not a single word in the New Testament. St. Joseph appears to be a background character, an extra in a mega-million-dollar production starring the most illustrious movie stars in history. But while St. Joseph has no lines of his own, every part he plays in God’s magnificent composition of salvation is intentional and momentous. The gospels show us that St. Joseph earns the title “Patron of the Universal Church” through his dreams, his leadership, his part in the fulfillment of prophecies, and through his fatherhood.

St. Joseph was called in a profound way by God. In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 1, Joseph experienced Divine direction through his dreams. “. . .behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.’” In the second chapter of Matthew, an angel visited Joseph’s dreams two additional times telling him to abscond with his family to Egypt and eventually to return to Israel. St. Joseph was set apart by God and chosen to hear the voice of the Lord in a marked way.

St. Joseph became the leader and protector of his family by continually conforming himself to God’s plan. Leadership is a virtue built by following Christ, and St. Joseph followed Christ as no other man could. Each time St. Joseph received instruction from God, he acted unhesitatingly. In this way, he protected his family from peril and guided them through the storms of life. This resolute compliance with the Holy Spirit earned St. Joseph another title: St. Joseph the Leader.

Each interaction between St. Joseph and the Lord concluded with an assurance that the prophesies concerning the Messiah were fulfilled. “He shall be called a Nazarene” (Matthew 2:23) the prophets declared; “Out of Egypt I have called my son” (Matthew 2:15) it was foretold; and “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son” (Matthew 1:23). St. Matthew used these phrases to highlight the fact that these prophecies were fulfilled through a carpenter and his young wife who walked joyfully with God. St. Joseph is the man by which the prophecies were fulfilled.

When Jesus started his ministry on earth, he is called the “Son of Joseph”. “The spirit of the Lord is upon me. . .” Jesus declared in the fourth chapter of Luke’s Gospel. The Nazoreans marveled at him, expressing their surprise by saying, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” Jesus’ claim that he was the Messiah sounded ridiculous because citizens of Nazareth knew him and his family. The Gospel of John reiterates the people’s disbelief in chapter 6 when Jesus claims to be the Bread of Life. “Is this not Jesus, son of Joseph?” the people murmured. “Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” The title “Son of Joseph” is not only used to identify Jesus, it also is used by those who express disbelief in his divine nature because of Jesus’ seemingly human, humble origins.

Jesus is, indeed, the Christ despite his foster father’s humanity. A similar kind of skepticism is reflected on the Catholic Church. The true Church cannot be home to scandal, numerous flaws, and sullied people, many expostulate. St. Joseph teaches the Church that even the fallen are supplied with grace to carry out their mission. St. Joseph was an imperfect man, yet he was chosen to become the foster-father of the Messiah.

St. Joseph led the Holy Family to safety, and the Church responds by showing her own family the way to spiritual security. Instrumental in the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies, St. Joseph teaches the Church to abide with God and become a worker of His will. In the face of adversity, St. Joseph shows the Church that God fashions unimaginable good out of human weakness. St. Joseph is an exemplary example of obedience, leadership, and fatherhood. And so, the Universal Church looks to St. Joseph as its patron, seeking to emulate this holy man who served the Lord with all his strength.