St. Joseph – A Symbol of Authentic Manhood

In a culture that seems to only ridicule and degrade traditional masculinity and its virtues, the Christmas holiday provides a welcome opportunity to reflect on one of the greatest symbols of authentic manhood in human history – St. Joseph, husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.

In the story of Christ’s arrival on Earth, the role of Joseph is often overlooked. Astonishingly, despite his central place in the birth and life of Jesus, Joseph was not proclaimed a saint until 1870, nearly 2,000 years after the events of the Bible took place. Eventually St. Joseph became the patron saint of the fight against atheistic communism, and after World War II the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker was established.

The relative obscurity of Joseph in Scripture and most of Christian history speaks to his profound humility and submission to God’s will for him. Despite the enormous difficulty of what the Lord asked of Joseph, he obeyed without question and shouldered this burden with a quiet determination that should be an inspiration to all of us today, men and women alike. His exemplary posture was essential for fulfilling God’s plan.

We know little about Joseph’s upbringing other than his lineage, descending from Abraham and King David. Some Biblical scholars believe that Joseph’s father died early and that his stepfather raised him, explaining why there are two paternal names in Joseph’s genealogy found in the Gospels. Other church leaders have suggested that it was the paternal love offered by Joseph’s stepfather that ingrained in him the character traits he would need to raise Jesus.

When an angel told Joseph that God planned for Mary to miraculously conceive and give birth to a child, Joseph humbly accepted this immense responsibility. He found a safe place for his wife to give birth and traveled abroad to protect the infant Jesus. He quietly fulfilled his role as breadwinner and protector of his family. “This fatherhood was concerned not with the physical act of generation but with the reception of Jesus and His rearing,” remarked St. Irenaeus.

Joseph’s deep love for Mary, shown with great discretion and humility, validated his moral parenthood of Jesus. As early Christian theologians noted, Joseph was raised in an environment of hard work and reticence, lacking luxuries and privileges. The humility Joseph showed mirrored that of Christ as he took on the sins of the world, submitting himself to God’s will.

Early church fathers, including St. Irenaeus, St. Augustine, and St. Athanasius, taught that four of Joseph’s critical character traits demonstrate his true manhood: discretion, dignity, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit. St. Irenaeus believed these qualities and personal integrity contributed to Joseph’s “spiritual maturity.”

Joseph showed discretion early on, before the angel visited him, when he believed Mary had become pregnant by another man. In Old Testament times, it was common for a woman who committed adultery to be subject to severe punishment, even death. But the Gospel of Matthew tells us that Joseph planned to “divorce Mary quietly” because he was a “righteous man” who did not want to shame her publicly. As Hebrew philosopher Dr. Shimon Bakon told me in an interview in the early 1990s, Joseph treated Mary with “chivalry and respect” – two virtues that were then “not common.”

Joseph and Mary in many ways exemplified God’s intention for marital union, Dr. Bakon explained. Their codependent relationship “was God’s expression of moral and intellectual equality between man and woman, advising them to rely on joint wisdom and consider each other’s perspectives.”

This lesson seems to all too often be forgotten today. In her recent book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes, theologian and scholar Nancy Pearcey quotes psychological research which finds that most American husbands, 65 percent, disregard their wives’ opinions, feelings, and concerns, resulting in a higher likelihood of a failed marriage.

But, Pearcey contends, masculinity is not inherently toxic. Manhood, she writes, is “fulfilled in the opportunity to serve and protect.” Joseph’s life powerfully demonstrates these two virtues, providing an example for American men today.

Theology professor Jürgen Moltmann also shared with me in an interview that men today can learn from Joseph’s willingness to find a sense of purpose in external duty and service. “Today, men often fall into the trap of sense-searching within themselves, ultimately leading to failure,” he said. Instead, men should search for some external goal or purpose that is in alignment with God’s will for their life.

Joseph’s quiet yet profound witness reminds us that true strength lies not in dominance but in devotion, not in seeking personal glory but in embracing selfless service. In an era that often confuses assertiveness with virtue, his example of humility, discretion, and unwavering commitment challenges us to see manhood in the light of sacrifice and love.

If we, too, seek to live with such purpose and integrity, perhaps we can rekindle a culture where both men and women flourish in mutual respect and shared wisdom.

Ben Solis is the pen name of an international affairs journalist, historian, and researcher.