For over a thousand years, the Feast of St Joseph has been celebrated on March 19. This feast usually falls in Lent just six days before the Feast of the Annunciation and we may seek to draw some thoughts for prayer from that fact. During Lent, the Church prepares for Easter. Though obvious, it bears repeating that Easter occurs because the Annunciation occurred and Mary, by the grace and mercy of God, accepted the invitation to be the Mother of the Messiah. Though he did not have the consolation of being the earthly biological father of Jesus, Joseph was very much a part of the Annunciation story and therefore, through God's choice, had a significant part to play in the work of our redemption.

Before the liturgical reforms of Vatican II, Pope John XXIII inserted St Joseph's name into the Roman Canon [our First Eucharistic Prayer] after Mary's. A very important insight inspired this decision, for Joseph's role tends to be forgotten since, it seems that Joseph had died before Jesus left home and was not present during Jesus' public life. Joseph's role is one that many of us can imitate as we protect Mary's honour and care about Jesus and His work.