Calling St Joseph Lord

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jragzz123
  • Start date Start date
J

Jragzz123

Guest
I’m doing the new Joseph consecration and there’s a part where he talks about Joseph being the king of the household. He then goes on about how saints call him Lord. I obviously think St Joseph is a wonderful saint but I guess to me calling him Lord is a little bit of a stretch. Is there anything in the Bible about calling someone other than God “lord”?
 
Lord was a term of respect in Bible times, especially in relation to a king or a master, but even if a wife to her husband.

Here are a few examples.
2 Samuel 1:10
Genesis 18:12
Genesis 23:6
Genesis 24:18

But there are plenty more.

These should be distinguished from the use of LORD (capitalised) which represents the name of God (Yahweh/Jehovah) and is only used of God

In English Lord is used, especially in Great Britain, of someone of noble birth who inherits the title, and was used a lot more in the past.

As a non Catholic I’m not in any way scandalised by the use of Lord to refer to Joseph, it is much the same as Lady used in reference to Mary.
 
Last edited:
In Greek and in the romance languages, the word for “Lord” is interchangeable with the word for “sir” or “mister.” It’s a title of respect.
 
I’m doing the new Joseph consecration and there’s a part where he talks about Joseph being the king of the household. He then goes on about how saints call him Lord. I obviously think St Joseph is a wonderful saint but I guess to me calling him Lord is a little bit of a stretch. Is there anything in the Bible about calling someone other than God “lord”?
In the Old Testament, kings are often called “My lord the king” and in England, male peers may be addressed as ‘milord’.

In the UK a male peer called John Smith, Baron Smith of Exampletown may usually be called Lord John Smith, as an example.
 
Last edited:
Lord in Hebrew can be translated to head of house, king, leader, God.
 
I’m doing the new Joseph consecration and there’s a part where he talks about Joseph being the king of the household. He then goes on about how saints call him Lord. I obviously think St Joseph is a wonderful saint but I guess to me calling him Lord is a little bit of a stretch. Is there anything in the Bible about calling someone other than God “lord”?
All over the place.

The traditional Hebrew title is adoni ha’melech: my lord the king.

As a matter of fact, using the title “LORD” for God is a demotion of sorts. The Jews pronounced the word “Adonai” whenever the Divine Name YHWH appeared, then considered too sacred to pronounce. This practice carried over into the Greek (kurios) and into Latin (dominus) and English (lord). But adonai has been a human title, not a divine one.

Cardinals are announced as “lord”, especially when one is elected Pope. He is “lord” in his capacity as Cardinal.

St. Joseph is lord, because he is husband of the Lady, and father of the LORD. I would gladly have St. Joseph lord it over me.
 
Ever blessed and glorious Joseph, kind and loving father, and helpful friend of all in sorrow! You are the good father and protector of orphans, the defender of the defenseless, the patron of those in need and sorrow.
 
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

I am really enjoying this consecration. The theology and references are all rock solid
 
Last edited:
Do not call anyone on earth your fathe
Fathers : Call no man Father : Catholic Response

https://www.defendingthebride.com/ch/call.html

Ephesians 3:14-15
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [Greek ‘pater’ ] from whom every family [Greek ‘patria’ ] in heaven and on earth is named … …”
RSV [ Original Greek words identified in brackets.]

The original Greek word for “Father” is “pater.” The original Greek word that is translated as “family” above is “patria.” This Greek word “patria” is actually based on the word “pater” from which it comes. Although the word “patria” is sometimes translated as “family” the word “fatherhood” would be a better translation since that would show the actual relationship with the original Greek word for “Father.”

God is the ultimate “Father” in heaven.

Yet, in a secondary sense God’s fatherhood is manifested in others.

St. Paul is a father in Christ and he calls Timothy his son.

John
 
In addition to people in authority, it is also okay to refer to angels or your guardian angel as ‘lord’.
 
Maybe it’s similar to how some noblemen and noblewoman are called “my lord” and “my lady” in old english times.
 
Ok, “lord” was a title used in the days of old to render respect to one in authority, such as a king, emperor or ruler of an estate. Now, being Christians, we reserve that title for the Lord our God and to His Christ, through whom everything was created. Now people referred joseph as such as a means of great reverence and respect, whether him or as the old testament says, “man of God” being the prophets. To answer your question, call no one or nothing Lord, except God and Jesus Christ. Now if you get an invitation to meet the queen of Englad or a monarchy of any kind, refer to them as “Sire” or “your majesty”
 
call no one or nothing Lord, except God and Jesus Christ
It’s quite common for others apart from God and Jesus to be referred to as lord in the Scriptures. In the NT it sometimes has the general meaning of ‘owner’. As examples, in Gen 18:3 Sarah refers to Abraham as ‘my lord’ (אַדֹנָי adonay) and in the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matt 20), the vineyard owner is referred to as ‘the lord’ (κύριος kurios).

As others elsewhere in this has mentioned, in many languages both ‘lord’ and ‘mister’ (the polite address for a man) are denoted by the same word. This is the case for signore in Italian and κύριος kurios in (modern) Greek.
 
Back
Top