Saint Joseph is the husband of the Virgin Mary and the adoptive father of Jesus. A descendant of King David, he is a carpenter in Nazareth. When Mary becomes pregnant by the Holy Spirit, an angel appears to her in a dream to reveal the divine mission of the child. He protects Jesus and Mary, notably by fleeing to Egypt to escape King Herod. A just and hard-working man, he raises Jesus and passes on his knowledge to him. He dies before the start of Christ's public mission. He is the patron saint of workers, families and the universal Church. His cult is particularly strong in Lorraine and Alsace.





