Terror Of Demons
St Joseph is the foster father of Jesus Christ and, like Mary, has several titles, which can be found in the Litany of St. Joseph. The Bible says little about St. Joseph and much of what we do know is extra biblical and is taken from church tradition, particularly from the apocryphal but historical work, The Protovangelium of Saint James.
Biblically, what do know is that Joseph was from the lineage of David (Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23) and that he was between the ages of 28-49 as described in the Greek (man": Andri (ἀνδρὶ)) in Luke 1:26-27.
Douay-Rheims-Challoner Revision 1899 American Edition
26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
Matthew 1:18-25 tells us of Joseph's reaction to Mary's pregnancy and his plan to divorce her quietly so as to protect her from being put to death like the woman found in adultery. Initially, the Bible seems to imply Joseph suspected infidelity on the part of Mary. However, some Fathers of the Church interpreted that this was not the case, believing instead that Joseph decided to put his wife away because he believed in the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 and did not deem himself worthy to be married to the Theotokos or to foster the Messiah. But in any case, whatever the truth, even if Joseph had suspected adultery, this does not diminish the holiness of St. Joseph.
Despite what some people may believe, Mary and Joseph had no marital relations or children. What the Bible describes as "brothers and sisters" (Matthew 13:55-56) were the cousins or children of St. Joseph from a first marriage he was widowed from, according to some pious traditions. But in either case, Joseph "did not know Mary in the carnal sense of the word" (Matthew 1:25).
Bishop Challoner footnotes state the following:
"[25] "Till she brought forth her firstborn son": From these words Helvidius and other heretics most impiously inferred that the blessed Virgin Mary had other children besides Christ; but St. Jerome shews, by divers examples, that this expression of the Evangelist was a manner of speaking usual among the Hebrews, to denote by the word until, only what is done, without any regard to the future. Thus it is said, Genesis 8. 6 and 7, that Noe sent forth a raven, which went forth, and did not return till the waters were dried up on the earth. That is, did not return any more. Also Isaias 46. 4, God says: I am till you grow old. Who dare infer that God should then cease to be: Also in the first book of Machabees 5. 54, And they went up to mount Sion with joy and gladness, and offered holocausts, because not one of them was slain till they had returned in peace. That is, not one was slain before or after they had returned. God saith to his divine Son: Sit on my right hand till I make thy enemies thy footstool. Shall he sit no longer after his enemies are subdued? Yea and for all eternity. St. Jerome also proves by Scripture examples, that an only begotten son, was also called firstborn, or first begotten: because according to the law, the firstborn males were to be consecrated to God; Sanctify unto me, saith the Lord, every firstborn that openeth the womb among the children of Israel, etc. Ex. 13. 2."
"[55] "His brethren": These were the children of Mary the wife of Cleophas, sister to our Blessed Lady, ([Matt 27:56], [John 19:25]) and therefore, according to the usual style of the Scripture, they were called brethren, that is, near relations to our Saviour.
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence therefore hath he all these things? 57 And they were scandalized in his regard. But Jesus said to them: A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58 And he wrought not many miracles there, because of their unbelief."
Matthew 13:55 tells us that the profession of St. Joseph was that of a carpenter, and Luke 2:41-52 tells us of Joseph's love and concern for Jesus and Jesus's obedience to his parents, but specifically St. Joseph, who was the head of the Holy Family as the patriarch, provider, and protector of Christ and His Blessed Mother.
We see that Joseph is with Jesus throughout his life, from the time of conception, birth, and childhood (Matthew 1:18-2:23, Luke 2:1-20, and Luke 2:22-38), and likely adulthood, passing away sometime before Jesus's earthly ministry. Some even interpret that Joseph was present at the Visitation, as it was highly unlikely Mary would have traveled to the hill country of Judea alone (Luke 1:39-56). At the very least, if not present the entire six months, he must have walked her to the front door and been present for the Magnificat of Mary, confirming to St. Joseph the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23.
Joseph passed away before Jesus's ministry so that there would be no confusion between Jesus's earthly father and his heavenly Father, God the Father. According to tradition, Jesus and Mary were present with Joseph as he passed, and he died in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
Like the the Joseph of the Old Testament St. Joseph received dreams. And like the Joseph of Egypt (Genesis 37-50), he was put in charge of the house of the King and given charge over his graineries (Christ the Bread of Life) Matthew 1:20-21.
Lastly, we can see St. Joseph as the protector. He was given dreams to protect his family and the Christ Child, as seen in Matthew 2. Joseph protected Jesus and the Holy Family from the threat of Herod, but also Satan, and this is where he receives the title "Terror of Demons." According to tradition, the reason St. Joseph is called the Terror of Demons is because even while asleep, Joseph obeyed God, and the Devil feared him because he cloaked the Holy Family and hid their true purpose and identity from Satan.
How can we know this? St. Paul tells us (1 Corinthians 2:6-8) that Christ's identity was concealed to Satan; and had the Devils known that Jesus was the Christ, they would not have tempted His persecutors to crucify him.
Origen 185-253 AD in his Homilies on Luke states the following:
"I found an elegant statement in the letter of a martyr—I mean Ignatius … He stated, "Mary's virginity escaped the notice of the ruler of this age." It escaped [Satan’s] notice because of Joseph, and because of their wedding, and because Mary was thought to have a husband. If she had not been betrothed or not had (as people thought) a husband, her virginity could never have been concealed from the ‘ruler of this age.’ Immediately, a silent thought would have occurred to the devil: ‘How can this woman, who has not slept with a man, be pregnant? This conception must be divine. It must be something more sublime than human nature.’ But the Savior had so arranged his plan that the devil did not know that he had taken on a body. When he was conceived, he escaped the devil's notice. Later he commanded his disciples ‘not to make him known."
"When the Savior was tempted by the devil himself, he never admitted that he was the Son of God. He merely said, "It is not right for me to adore you or to turn these stones into loaves of bread or to throw myself down from a high place."
St Jerome 342–347 – 30 September 420 AD writes in The Perpetual Virginity of Mary the following:
"Joseph, knowing Mary's chastity and wondering at what had occurred, concealed in silence the mystery which he did not fathom."
"As the Blessed Joseph ministered to all the needs of the family at Nazareth and girt it about with his protection, he should now cover with the cloak of his heavenly patronage and defend the Church of Jesus Christ."
The Saint Joseph Terror of Demons prayer like the St Michael Prayer was composed by Blessed Pope Leo XIII.
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