St. Joseph

[S.J]

I am a lifelong Catholic and have always wondered why Mary is given a lot more honor than Joseph. For example, why is Jospeh not referred to as the Father of God? This is not meant in any way to disparage Mary. But what am I missing?

 

[mommy]

Because Mary was the biological Mother of Jesus. She was called “full of Grace” by an angel, she was with Jesus til the end.

Joseph was Mary’s husband and Jesus’ step father. He was not Jesus’ Biological father, God is.

That is why she is the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

[S.J]

mommy:

Because Mary was the biological Mother of Jesus. She was called “full of Grace” by an angel, she was with Jesus til the end.

This is not meant in any way to be flippant, however, can we really say that Mary was Jesus’ biological mother? I am honestly asking.

We know that Joseph had nothing to do with Jesus’ conception, but has the Church defined whether it was one of Mary’s eggs that was fertilized?

 

[gardenswithkids]

Those who accuse the Church of not valuing women as much as men, consider the point that St. Joseph doesn’t get as much honor as Mary!

Mary is the mother of God because she is the mother of Jesus. St. Joseph isn’t called the father of Jesus because God the Father is the Father of Jesus. St. Joseph is called Jesus’ foster father.

Being the foster father of Jesus was an incredible honor that God gave him. But as you point out, he is often overlooked. He seems to stand silently in the background of the Holy Family, giving Mary and Jesus the spotlight.

The Church honors him as the patron of many things. He is patron of a happy death because it is presumed that Jesus and Mary were with him at the time of his death. He is the protector of the Church as he protected Jesus in his “domestic church”. He is a patron saint of priests because he was the first man to touch the body and blood of Jesus. He is called “most chaste spouse” because he protected Mary’s virginity. The list goes on…

Don’t overlook this wonderful saint!

 

[LSK]

I have always understood that Jesus received His “human form” because Mary was his mother. This would lead me to believe that yes, one of Mary’s eggs were fertilized by the Holy Spirit. Jesus was “conceived by the Holy Spirit” (as per the Apostle’s Creed) not deposited fully developed into Mary’s womb. This would mean the Joseph was His foster father.

Remember, Joseph accepted his role once God outlined it to him, just as Our Lady did. I think that there may be revealed to us - in the future - more ways to honor and respect this incredible man. However, always remember that Mary took the biggest risk in accepting her role as the Virgin Mother of The Lord. It was she who could have been put aside by Joseph, she who could have been stoned to death for being pregnant outside of marriage, she who bore the pain and suffering of pregnancy and childbirth all because God asked her to - with the only promise being one that she too would suffer along with her Son.

To my way of thinking, both of them are incredible - but Our Lady must have had steel for a back bone.

Or maybe I am just easily impressed?

LOLOLOLOL