Today is the feast of St. Joseph. I can't decide if that fact makes this posting easy or hard. Hard because there's nothing to on on (except Matthew 1 and 2 and a little of Luke 1 and 2) and no words of his recorded anywhere. You can't argue from absence, so you can't really say he was a man of few words, but the implication is that he was "the patient instrument of God, who does what is required of him with unquestioning faith." Easy because Joseph seems so close to us, so familiar.
Joseph is very pointedly called "a just man." That speaks very clearly of his character. What is "just"? To give to each man his due. Thus we can infer that Joseph gave each customer a good day's work for a day's wage, his wife all his love and protection, his foster son his example and guidance, and God his faith and obedience.
I like to think of him finding the Holy Family a place to live, the basis of his patronage in real estate. Of all the items we sold in the Catholic book- and giftstore, the so-called St. Joseph Home Selling Kit sold the best. These little statues (complete with prayer card and instructions) just flew off the shelves. I don't doubt his patronage, but is it really necessary to bury his statue upside down in the front lawn with his head facing the street? I found I was able to invoke his intercession just as successfully by putting a beautiful statue in a prominent place in my home and praying to him in no uncertain words. Many folks wanted the house we desired (including a nun's mother!) but it worked out that we got it. We really needed a place; we and our 2 babies were being kicked out of our apartment and had no prospects. You can bet we prayed fervently in thanksgiving, too. (The nun's mother found a more suitable single-story apartment.)
I like to think of his holy death (never stated explicitly but implied in the Scriptures) surrounded by Mary and Jesus, thus his patronage of the dying. I like to think of his raising Jesus all those years, thus his patronage of fathers and stepfathers. "If his fatherhood was virginal it was not thereby something less than physical fatherhood; by its spiritual nature it was an earthly reflection of the paternity of God Himself."- Angelus Book of Saints.
I also like to think he wasn't above the normal age of 20 to 24 when he married Mary; there's no reason to think he wasn't. I know there is an old tradition that has him an old man, a widower even. But I think that's partially because people just can't imagine a young, virile man foregoing sex like that, especially in such close quarters with a beautiful wife like Mary. I don't think they give him enough credit! The legend is also partially to explain (or explain away) "the brothers and sisters of Jesus." But we know there are other (more probable) explanations for this term (which only means "kinsmen" in our language, anyway.)
There are many stories of his patronage. St. Teresa of Ávila was certainly devoted to him and prayed to him, she counseled her sisters to do the same. "Go to Joseph," she always said. Blessed André Bessette was another one who readily invoked him. Average joes have experienced his help, too. This story is my favorite. I read it in Catholic Digest years ago and I may get some of the facts wrong; it is certain I will get the style wrong.
A woman had recently given birth and fell ill. Her husband was working in another town in India and couldn't be reached except in person. The woman had a slightly older son and daughter. They took the baby and started off down the road. This being the monsoon season, they suffered in the downpour and the mud. Even trading off carrying the baby, they soon tired and prayed to St. Joseph, "Please don't let us drop the baby." Suddenly in the pouring rain a man appeared. He was tall, bearded and gentle and offered to carry the baby himself. He walked with them as far as their father's town, at which point he disappeared and they never saw him again. You can say he was just some random guy, but I say he was St. Joseph!
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