The Festival of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Guardian of our Lord
Posted on March 19, 2026 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 1:18-21 (NKJV)
1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Devotion
These verses teach how it is possible that Jesus’ flesh is “living bread which came down from heaven” (John 6:51), as we learned yesterday. Joseph was not His natural father, as the Jews in Capernaum thought. Jesus had been conceived by the Holy Ghost in the Virgin Mary. Therefore He is simultaneously God and man, having true flesh, yet being from heaven.
When this wonderful truth was revealed to Joseph, he, unlike the Jews in Capernaum, did not complain about it at all. He had much more reason to complain than they did, for it appeared as though his betrothed had been unfaithful to him, and now he was being told that he should go ahead and take her as his wife! But Joseph did not heed human reasoning. He obeyed the Word of God and believed that the Child in Mary’s womb was indeed from heaven. Moreover, he believed the prophecy of the angel, that Jesus would “save His people from their sins” (verse 21).
Let Joseph be your example. God’s Word is hard for our reason to swallow, and obedience to it brings many trials into our lives; yet do not let this be an excuse to complain. Rather, submit to Christ’s teachings with humble faith, knowing that whoever believes His words is saved from sin and has everlasting life.
Collect: O Lord, by the working of the Holy Spirit, Thou didst inspire in St. Joseph a quiet obedience to the Word: Guide and direct us to emulate such virtue in our life and conversation as shall glorify Thee in faithfulness day and night; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for Laetare Sunday
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of Thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
