St. Joseph – Feast Day March 19

We know very little about St. Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus, but what we do know is important. He was a holy man who was entrusted with the care of Mary and Jesus. He listened and obeyed the word of God. When an angel came to him to tell him he should take Mary into his home as his wife, he did not hesitate (Matthew 1:19-24). When another angel told him to take his family into Egypt, he obeyed once again (Matthew 2:13). A third time, he was directed by an angel to take Mary and Jesus and settle in Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23).

We know little of St. Joseph’s life with the Holy Family in Nazareth, only that he shared Mary’s fear as they hunted for Jesus for three days when he was lost in the temple (Luke 2:48). However, he is often depicted in his carpentry shop, working with Jesus when he was young. It is reasonable to presume he taught Jesus his trade and that they spent much time working together side by side.

The finding of the child Jesus in the temple is the last mention of St. Joseph in Scripture, and it is presumed that he died before Jesus began his public ministry. He is a patron saint of the Universal Church, fathers, families, and workers.

What Homeschoolers Can Learn from St. Joseph

St. Joseph was always willing to do the will of God. He never says a word in Scripture, but he listened to God and did as he was directed. From his example, we can learn to take our needs to God in prayer and to listen to His direction. If we believe that God has called us to homeschool, then we have the duty to obey that call. The call may only be for a season of life or it may be for years, but we need to listen and trust God to direct our educational decisions.

St. Joseph also demonstrates the value of practical education. He is depicted teaching Jesus how to work with tools in his carpentry shop. As homeschoolers, we have the time to teach our children the practical skills of caring for a home, whether that be cooking, cleaning, or home repair. They are often by our side as we do our daily work and we can spend quality time with them as they learn through our example and by sharing the chores with us. We can also encourage our children to pursue a trade, such as carpentry, if that is what God is calling them to do.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

Image Source: Joseph the Carpenter by Georges de La Tour – https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1170244, Public Domain