Reader Question: Who Took Care of St. Joseph's Children?
In the comments on "Wordless Wednesday: The Flight Into Egypt," Charles Hodges writes:
What I would like to know is, who took care of Joseph’s former children (whose mother died) when they left Judea for Egypt, and when were they picked up again to live with Joseph, Mary and Jesus?This question will likely surprise most readers, but it's not as shocking as it may at first appear. Charles refers to a tradition, so strong in the Christian East as to be almost canonical among the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics, that St. Joseph was a widower who had other children by his first wife. The tradition is drawn from apocryphal writings, beginning with the Protoevangelium of James, written about A.D. 150.
The Protoevangelium of James is also our sole source of the names of Mary's parents, Joachim and Anna, as well as the tradition that the couple was childless until an angel appeared to Anna and told her that she would conceive. It is thus the main source for the details of the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Other documents, written as late as the sixth century, fill in more details: that Joseph was 40 when he first married; that this first wife was named Salome (though some sources offer different names); that Salome died after 49 years of marriage, having borne Joseph two daughters and four sons. The same sources are the ones from which we draw the tradition that St. Joseph was considerably older than the Blessed Virgin--indeed, he is said to have become espoused to Mary one year after Salome's death, which would mean that he was 90 years old at the time. In this tradition, St. James the Less (”the brother of the Lord”) is believed to be the youngest of St. Joseph’s sons.
In the West, these apocryphal writings were generally less well known, though at times, such as the early Renaissance (when they became a source for artists such as Raphael), they gained some popularity. St. Jerome and St. Augustine, responding to earlier Western interest in this tradition, both argued that St. Joseph was in fact a virgin when he married the Blessed Virgin.
In any case, to answer Charles' question, if the apocryphal writings are to be believed (and no Christian, East or West, is required to believe them), then Joseph’s children by his first wife would have been old enough to care for themselves and would likely never have lived with the Holy Family.
If you have a question that you would like to have featured in our "Reader Questions" series, send me an e-mail at catholicism.guide@about.com. Be sure to put "QUESTION" in the subject line, and please note whether you'd like me to address it privately or on the Catholicism blog.
I am not sure Saint Joseph was that old,cause
the Saint Joseph Chapelet has only 60 Beads,1
for each Year of Saint Josephs’Life I was Taught and have been Told!!!!….
Jeffrey Mark, that’s a very good point illustrating another difference in tradition. The St. Joseph Chaplet is a Western devotion, unknown in the East. I’ll see if I can dig up any information on the traditions that went into the development of the chaplet.
I am a cradle Catholic of 75 years and know my Catholicism, not the washed down religion that you all are getting now. Almost a heresy is being taught.
That said, I was taught 70 years ago that Joseph was a widower and had other children by his wife that died. What is so hard to believe about this? During these years, sanitation and sterility was almost unheard of so, since I am a retired nurse, I have no problem with a woman dying early in life, leaving children. Also knowing that Mary was a virgin, it is not hard to believe that Joseph took a vow of chastity when married to Mary. I was taught that also.
Seventy years of knowledge about my Religion cannot be turned upside down because of some foolish and heretical religious, priests and popes.
There, believe it or not. I am from the old school of Catholicism, the true Faith.. Too bad you all did not have the wonderful education that I had. janet marsh
Speaking of St. Joseph and “Wordless Wednesday.” When my son (Joseph) was born last year, a friend of my mother in Law’s gave us the most wonderful picture of Jesus being cradled by his step father. It’s a scene I have never seen depicted before. Usually the only thing Joseph get to hold is a hammer or a lily — never the baby! It’s a touching image and one I cherish.
BTW – Janet. Unfortunately I was raised in those years when much of the catechism was “watered down” but in many ways it was a blessing. My husband and I have set out on a journey to discover the Truth and I believe that it is a gift. We are working hard to build our understanding of the Faith and to live it in a way that our parents did not…and I believe it makes it more precious.
This is the first time I have heard anything of Joseph being older and previously married before being espoused to the Virgin Mary.
…
Very interesting information. Thanks to the reader for bringing up the question!
I have always liked the views of St Josemaria Escriva who was greatly devoted to St Joseph. In Christ is Passing by 40 he wrote
“I don’t agree with the traditional picture of St Joseph as an old man, even though it may have been prompted by a desire to emphasise the perpetual virginity of Mary. I see him as a strong young man, perhaps a few years older than our Lady, but in the prime of his life and work.
You don’t have to wait to be old or lifeless to practice the virtue of chastity. Purity comes from love; and the strength and gaiety of youth are no obstacle for noble love”
Janet, there’s no doubt that Catholic education has suffered in recent decades and that many young people (myself included) did not receive the depth of instruction in the Faith that previous generations did.
That said, I agree with Maisey. One of the most heartening developments in recent years is the number of younger Catholics–say, my age (40) and younger–who have thrown themselves into the study of Catholic doctrine and tradition with vigor.
I hope that you’ll continue to take part in the discussions here on the guidesite and in the Catholicism forum so that you can share with our readers the benefits of the education that you received.
Maisey, I have a wonderful old picture of St. Joseph with the Child Jesus that my grandmother handed down to me. It hangs in the bedroom of our sons. (Our middle son’s middle name is Joseph.)
Some Wednesday, when a feast of St. Joseph is approaching, I’ll post it here.
AMGP, Archbishop Fulton Sheen also preferred to think of Saint Joseph as a young man, for the same reasons, and there’s certainly spiritual benefit to be gained by meditating on that possibility.
That said, the tradition in both East and West, from the beginning, has portrayed Saint Joseph as an older, and usually considerably older, man. The Protoevangelium of James is considered apocryphal for good reason, but it is a very early (c. 150) extrabiblical document, which adds some weight to its portrayal of Saint Joseph as older–as does the fact that so many of the details of the Protoevangelium were accepted as canonical tradition (the names of Joachim and Anna, for instance).
After reading “who cared for St.Joseph’s Children”. I don’t believe Joseph was 90 when
he married Mary, it doesn’t make any sense.
His journey to register, his travelling to
the stable where Jesus was born, and all the
things he did after and his travels just don’t
make sense that he was that age and could do
those things. Sometimes I think half of this
stuff is just made up, and don’t make any
real sense. By all thing taught to us in school and our readings never indicates the
age difference or that Joseph was married before and I don’t believe he would have been
picked to be Mary’s husband at that age.
Sometimes I believe that things should be
left along and not exaggerated into a story
that the people saying these things think it
would be a more interesting story.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph in my mind are real and were a real holy family and that should
be what is real. thanks,
I know I do go on but sometimes these things
make me angry. Our faith is simple and pure
it doesn’t need all this so called interrig
added to it. Anna Lopes
Me thinks, enough said about Joseph. When we begin to think our faith is being attacked, its time to move on. Besides, Joseph’s age, his children (although they went about with our Lady, Mary) is of no real importance, and has nothing to do with the basic faith. The Bible doesn’t mention it, so that’s good enough. Sometimes, I think out loud, and cause undue stress. The basic fact that the bible does cover David’s House, which was divided, but was united in Joseph and Mary. This oneness, restored, is of importance, and the maintaining of the oneness (unity)is vital in the church.
One thing I am happy about, is the idea of “Sunday School”. I feel all Christian Education, and more so in the Catholic Church, needs to come back to the “basics” of teaching our children and young people that believing into the Lord Jesus Christ is essential to salvation. So, I ask the question, “Who is Jesus to you?”
Thanks for all the excellent comments about Joseph.
I FEEL AND BELIEVE WE NEED TO TEACH THE BATIMORE COURCE OF RELIGIOUS FAITH TEACHING THAT I GREW UP WITH.AND SAINT JOSEPH IS 1 OF MY 4 SPECIAL PARTON SAINTS THIS YEAR!!!WE NEED
TO REMEMBER THAT SAINT JOSEPH IS THE PATRON SAINT OF THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL!!!HE COULD NOT OF BEEN 90 YEARS OLD AT JESUS BIRTH CAUSE OF THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT AND BACK 12 YEARS LATER!
HE MAY OF BEEN MUCH CLOSER TO MARYS AGE BUT NO MORE THAN TEN YEARS OLDER FROM MY RESEACH!!
As an amateur Josephologist, I can tell you that this image of Joseph as a decrepit, old widower with children is not a widely-held belief among serious Josephologists, as it does not hold up to careful study and examination. Using the exact same historical and cultural investigation that has estimated Mary’s age to be around 14-15, Joseph was most likely 16-17 when he wed her. Not a widower, not old.
For more information, I’ve shared quite a few resources on this subject here:
Josephology: On Joseph’s Age at His Betrothal to Mary
Josephology: On Joseph’s Age at His Betrothal to Mary, Part II
I tried leaving a comment, but after clicking “Say It!”, poof! Disappeared. So, attempting to remember what I said the first time …
As an amateur Josephologist, I can tell you that the depiction of an old, decrepit wiodower Joseph is not a widely-held belief among serious Josephologists, nor does it hold up to careful study and consideration. Using the exact same methods of historical and cultural research that place Mary’s age at around 14-15, they’ve determined that Joseph’s was most likely 16-17. Not old, not a widower.
For more detailed information, I’ve compiled a few resources (there’s a huge wealth of material available on Joseph) here:
Josephology: On Joseph’s Age at His Betrothal to Mary
Josephology: On Joseph’s Age at His Betrothal to Mary, Part II
I believe one will agree that Joseph was not Jesus’ paternal father. Certainly Mary was his mother, but to say virginal father is not accurate.
Please explain why you would say:
Previously, I’d talked ’bout my love of Joseph, Holy Husband of Mary and Virginal Father of Jesus, and said I’d be sharin’ more info. about him. So, awaaay we go!
Cordially,
Charles