| The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07. |
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| Joseph, Saint |
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| husband of the Virgin Mary, a carpenter, a descendant of the house of David. He was apparently dead at the time of the Passion, for his last appearance in the Gospels is at the finding of the 12-year-old Jesus in the temple (Luke 2.42–50). As the foster father of Jesus and the chaste spouse of Mary, St. Joseph is highly honored by Orthodox and Roman Catholics. The latter regard him as patron of the Church. Feast: Mar. 19; another feast, the Solemnity of St. Joseph: third Wednesday after Easter. |
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| | | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright © 2007 Columbia University Press. |
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