7 Spiritual Lessons from St. Joseph: A Model for Faith and Holiness

Introduction

We are approaching March 19th, the feast of St Joseph (some call it St Joseph’s day) and this prompted me to meditate on his life and how he can inspire my spiritual growth. There are three main connections that I have had with St Joseph. My grandfather’s name was Jose (Joseph in English). When I was little, I would hear people tell him “Congratulations on the day of your saint” every March 19th. In Puerto Rico people were very aware of the feast dates of saints and would call each other and congratulate people on those dates. This made an impression on me as a young child. I had never connected the fact that my grandfather was named after the earthly father of Jesus and that he and others would honor that connection. One of my most favorite saints is St Teresa of Avila. She was very devoted to St Joseph and prayed for his intercession for protection often. Many years ago, our son and I visited her convent in Avila, Spain, and saw the statue of St Joseph that she used to focus her prayers. We also attend our beloved St Joseph parish and think of him often.

When we read the Gospels, we can’t find a single word spoken by St Joseph, yet his life speaks volumes about faith, obedience, humility, and trust in God. As the earthly father of Jesus and the Mary’s husband, Joseph played an important role in God’s plan, offering a model of holiness that is as relevant for us today as it was in biblical times.

What do we truly know about St. Joseph? Scripture provides some key details, and tradition, along with historical sources, offers additional insights. Through his actions, I see seven key spiritual lessons that can guide us toward a deeper faith and a closer relationship with God.

Who is St Joseph?

St. Joseph appears in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The Gospel of Matthew (1:18–25) describes Joseph as a “just man” who, upon discovering that Mary was pregnant, resolved to divorce her quietly to protect her dignity. However, an angel appeared to him in a dream, telling him that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Joseph immediately obeyed and took Mary as his wife.

Matthew 2 records Joseph’s obedience to divine revelation: he leads his family to Egypt to escape Herod’s massacre of infants and later brings them to Nazareth after another angelic message. In Luke 2, Joseph is present at the Nativity, the Presentation in the Temple, and the episode of the Finding of Jesus in the Temple when Jesus was twelve.

Although the Bible doesn’t say anything Joseph’s later years, the tradition is that he was older than Mary and died before Jesus’ public ministry. The Protoevangelium of James (a 2nd-century apocryphal text) describes Joseph as a righteous and devout man, chosen by God to be Mary’s spouse.

The Church Fathers, including St. Augustine and St. Jerome, praised Joseph’s virtue, calling him the “Guardian of the Virgin” and the “Foster Father of the Son of God.” Pope Pius IX declared him the “Patron of the Universal Church” in 1870. Devotion to St. Joseph grew steadily, and in 2021, Pope Francis established the Year of St. Joseph to highlight his role as a spiritual model for all believers.

St. Joseph is the patron saint of the Universal Church, families, fathers, unborn children, workers, especially carpenters, expectant mothers, travelers, immigrants, and those seeking a happy death, among other causes. 

What does it mean that Mary was betrothed to Joseph?

In Matthew 1:18 we read, "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." “Betrothed” is not a word that we are used to in modern times in the Western world, so let me explain.

In the time of Jesus, Jewish marriage customs followed a two-stage process: betrothal (kiddushin) and full marriage (nissuin). Understanding this practice helps us appreciate the situation of Mary and Joseph, particularly Joseph’s response to Mary’s pregnancy.

The betrothal was a legally binding commitment. It was a formal and legal marriage contract, even though the couple did not live together. It was done in a ceremony before witnesses and the groom would give a symbolic gift such as a ring or money. For about a year the bride would live at her father’s house while the groom prepared a house. During this time, they were considered husband and wife. A divorce was required to dissolve this relationship. After the betrothal period, the groom would go in a grand procession to the bride’s home and bring her to his house. The wedding celebration would last for several days. Once the bride entered the groom’s home, they were fully married, and physical intimacy was permitted.

When Mary conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit, she and Joseph were betrothed but not yet living together. This made her pregnancy a challenging situation, as it could have led to public scandal. They lived in the small village of Nazareth, which likely had less than 1,000 people at the time. Joseph initially planned to divorce her quietly to avoid exposing her to shame (Matthew 1:19), showing his righteousness and mercy. After the angel’s message, Joseph accepted Mary as his wife and took her into his home (Matthew 1:24).

7 Spiritual Lessons from St. Joseph

As I meditate on St Joseph actions and how he is described in Scripture and tradition, I identified 7 lessons from St Joseph’s life that inspire my spiritual growth.

1. Trust in God’s Plan, Even When It’s Unclear

Joseph faced immense uncertainty when he learned of Mary’s pregnancy. His initial reaction was natural—he considered stepping away. Yet, when God revealed his plan, Joseph fully embraced it without hesitation (Matthew 1:24).

Lesson for Us: Faith often requires trusting God in the unknown. We may not understand why certain things happen, but like Joseph, we are called to surrender our fears and trust in God’s divine providence.

When faced with uncertainty, pray for trust and reflect on Joseph’s example. Ask for his intercession when making difficult decisions.

2. Obedience to God’s Will

Joseph’s life was marked by total obedience. Each time God spoke to him—whether through the angel’s message about Mary, the warning to flee to Egypt, or the call to return—Joseph obeyed immediately (Matthew 2:13-14, 19-23).

Lesson for Us: Obedience to God requires listening with an open heart and acting without delay. Even when God’s will seem difficult or inconvenient, trusting in his wisdom leads to peace. This is difficult because we are always gravitating towards accomplishing our will, not God’s will.

Reflect on areas in your life where you resist God’s will. Ask for the grace to respond with obedience, just as Joseph did.

3. Humility in Service

Joseph was given a unique role—to be the earthly father of the Son of God—but he never sought recognition. He worked quietly in the background, ensuring the safety and well-being of Mary and Jesus. The Gospels never record him seeking honor, proving his humility.

Lesson for Us: True greatness comes from serving God and others selflessly. We don’t need to seek praise; rather, we should find joy in fulfilling our God-given duties with humility. There are times when I seek recognition for good things that I’m doing, and then I remember Jesus’ words about doing good deeds in public, “They have received their reward.” I would rather earn God’s reward.

Practice humility by serving in hidden ways. Perform acts of kindness without expecting recognition, and remember that holiness is found in ordinary, faithful service.

4. Work as a Path to Holiness

As a carpenter (Matthew 13:55), Joseph provided for his family through hard work. His work was not glamorous, but it was meaningful. By sanctifying his daily duties, Joseph reminds us that work—when done with love—becomes a means of glorifying God.

Lesson for Us: Whatever our profession, we can turn our work into an offering to God. Holiness is found not only in extraordinary actions but also in daily responsibilities performed with love and diligence. St Therese of Lisieux used to say “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.” 

Offer your work to God each morning. Find meaning in your tasks, whether at home or in the workplace, and do them with excellence and integrity.

5. Silence and Contemplation

Joseph’s silence in Scripture is striking. Unlike other biblical figures who we read about their prayers and struggles; Joseph’s holiness is shown in his actions rather than words. His quiet trust in God and his reflective nature makes him a model of contemplative faith.

Lesson for Us: In a noisy world, silence helps us hear God’s voice. Contemplation deepens our spiritual life and strengthens our faith. I do what I can to go on a silent retreat once a year and it helps me tremendously. The modern worlds make too many demands for our time. One of my Lent sacrifices is to disconnect from social media, and it has helped me.

Spend time in silent prayer each day. Turn off distractions and listen for God’s guidance in your heart, just as Joseph did.

6. Protecting and Leading the Family in Faith

Joseph was entrusted with the care of Jesus and Mary, a task he fulfilled with devotion. He shielded them from Herod’s threat, guided them through difficult times, and ensured they were raised in a faithful Jewish home (Luke 2:39-40).

Lesson for Us: Spiritual leadership is essential, especially within families. Whether as parents, mentors, or spiritual guides, we are called to protect, nurture, and lead others in the faith. Even as young single people, this could be exercised through leadership roles in church or other volunteer activities.

Take an active role in the spiritual formation of your family and community. Pray for those under your care and be an example of faith and integrity.

7. Embracing God’s Timing

Joseph experienced moments of waiting—waiting for God’s direction, waiting for the right time to return from Egypt, waiting as Jesus grew into his mission. He teaches us patience and trust in divine timing.

Lesson for Us: God’s plan unfolds in his perfect time, not ours. Patience is a sign of trust in God’s wisdom and love. This is a difficult lesson for us. God works outside of time and place, and we measure progress by days and hours. We want God’s action now.

When struggling with impatience, remember Joseph’s example. Trust that God is working in your life, even when things seem delayed or unclear.

Conclusion

St. Joseph’s life may have been quiet, but his example speaks profoundly to those seeking a deeper relationship with God. His trust, obedience, humility, hard work, silence, leadership, and patience offer timeless lessons for anyone seeking to grow in holiness.

As we reflect on these seven spiritual lessons, let us ask St. Joseph to guide us in our faith journey. Through his intercession, may we learn to trust God’s plan, obey his will, and serve with humility, knowing that true holiness is found in loving God and others in the simple, faithful moments of life.

St. Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family and our spiritual father, pray for us!

“I only beg, for the love of God, that anyone who does not believe me will try, and he will see by experience the great good that comes from commending oneself to this glorious patriarch and having devotion to him.” St Teresa of Avila

All for the greater glory of God