Why Every Man Needs St. Joseph

We have Jesus, we have the Blessed Virgin Mary, and numerous saints who intercede on our behalf. Why do we need St. Joseph?

Jesus and Mary are the most compelling examples of faithfulness to God. Jesus was, and is, a son—the Son of God. Mary was, and is, a mother—the Mother of God the Son.

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Yet, as perfect as Jesus is, and as holy as Mary is, neither of them had the human vocation of fatherhood.

Joseph alone was father and husband.

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God appointed St. Joseph to be the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and to be a father to God the Son.
God granted St. Joseph the incredible vocation of being the spiritual father, Custos (Latin for guardian) and leader of his holy family.
This is why St. Joseph is unique, and precisely why we need him.

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St. Joseph is the saint of husbands and fathers. His heroic fulfillment of his vocation shows us how to live our fatherly vocation.

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Not only does he show men how to live their vocation, but he relates to us personally.
He understands the plights and perils that befall the family man who lives in a hostile world.

Yet, there is more.
St. Joseph directs us to Jesus so that we may know Him intimately and be given the grace to become most trusting sons of God.
This is very important.

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You and I cannot be dependable fathers if we do not first become sons who depend on God the Father.
St. Joseph directs us to Jesus, who teaches us how to become holy sons, and Jesus directs us to St. Joseph, who guides us to become holy fathers.

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Our world tends to believe that there is no real difference between the roles and responsibilities of husbands and wives, or fathers and mothers.
St. Joseph helps us to embrace and live that difference.
By learning from St. Joseph, we fathers hope to become like him and follow his pattern of holiness.

Our Lord does not need us to be St. Joseph to Him.
Nor does our Lady need us to be St. Joseph to her.
No other person can be St. Joseph to Jesus and Mary.
However, Jesus and Mary desire that we become faithful sons of God who then become mature men in Christ by being spiritual fathers.

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Though Jesus and Mary do not need us to be St. Joseph for them, God “needs” us to be St. Joseph to our wives and children.

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Yes, we are to become an image of St. Joseph to our family.
“Go home and be Joseph” to your wife and children, friends, and coworkers.