SAINT JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Lectionary #543
Here’s what we think we know historically about Joseph: He was an observant Jew, possibly an ardent nationalist, a distant descendant of King David, and a “tekton”—the Greek word that we usually translate as “carpenter” but which generally means someone in the building trades. Matthew portrays him as a man of deep faith, open to the mystical interpretation of dreams, marked by great compassion, and dedicated to God’s will for him. All of this, coming in the middle of Lent, serves as a reminder that the Jesus who became Christ was a historical person living in a particular place at a particular time. That history is part of the truth of the salvation that we celebrate

2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16. God’s prophetic promise to David that his house will continue “forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.”

Psalm of the Day: Ps (88) 89

The Son of David (Black) CBW 215
The Son of David (Currie) RS 119/WOR 1027

or

Cantaré Eternamente (Martínez)  FYC 228
Cantaré Eternamente/For Ever I Will Sing (Reza)  FYC 229
For Ever I Will Sing (Haugen) CBW 448/GC 82/RS 118
For Ever I Will Sing (Kreutz) WC 417
Forever I Will Sing (Ridge) GP 226
Forever I Will Sing (Schoenbachler) GP 227
Forever Will I Sing (Bolduc)  WC 418

Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22. In his defense of faith as primary even over the Torah, Paul evokes the example of Abraham, “father of all of us” who believed in God’s promise. It was this act of faith, Paul says, that “was credited to him as righteousness.”

Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a. Joseph’s willingness to believe his dream makes possible his marriage to Mary and the provision of a home for the one who “will save his people from their sins.”
or
Luke 2:41-51a. The story of the finding in the Temple with a play on the title “father” applied to Joseph (by Mary) and to God (by Jesus).

Other Songs for the Liturgy

As Joseph Lay Uneasy CH 172
By All Your Saints Still Striving WC 954/RS 887/WOR 706
By Name I Have Called You GP 582
Come Now, and Praise the Humble Saint GP 440/RS 875/WOR 694
Come, Sing a Home and Family WC 962
God of Adam, God of Joseph GC 893/RS 960
Happy Are They (Coller) CH 476
Happy Are They (Schoenbachler) JS 357
Holy Patron, Thee Saluting JS 258
Joseph, Be Our Guide and Pattern CBW 456/WOR 693
Joseph, Son of David BFW 316
O Blessed Saint Joseph CH 341
O Joseph, Mighty Patron WC 959
Our Father, by Whose Name CH 621/RS 961/WOR 570
Psalm 1: Happy Are They (Haas) GC 18
Psalm 1: Happy Are They (Thompson/Kennedy or Gelineau) RS 28
Psalm 1: Happy Are They Who Hope (Dufford) GC 167
Psalm 1: Jesus Went Down BFW 318-319
Saint Joseph, Great Protector JS 257
Saint Joseph Was a Just Man WC 960
Saint Joseph Was a Quiet Man CH 342
The Hands That First Held Mary’s Child WC 963
The Servant Song GC 669/RS 788/WC 800
We Sing of the Saints WC 955