Joseph, says the Holy Scripture, was a just man; he was innocent and pure; he was gentle and tender; he was prudent and a lover of silence; above all he was faithful and obedient to divine calls. Devotion to St. Joseph has developed amongst Christian people in so marvelous a manner, following such wonderful laws, that it is impossible not to recognize there in the working of Divine Providence. In the early Church the festivals were such as referred to the mystery of the salvation of the world. The golden period of devotion to Mary began with the Council of Ephesus. Second only to Mary comes Joseph who although not the Father of Jesus, had a father’s authority over Him. He was invested with this authority by the Eternal Father. The commands of God to the Holy Family were delivered by an angel to Joseph. During the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries devotion to him grew rapidly fostered by St. Bridget of Sweden and St. Bernardine of Sienna. Pius IX declared Joseph “Patron of the Universal Church.”

(Source: Fr. Lasance, The New Roman Missal)