St. Joseph, a carpenter, was the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus Christ. A descendant of David, St. Joseph did whatever God asked of him without question or hesitation – he took Mary as his wife, he fled to Egypt for the safety of his wife and child, and he took his family to Nazareth when the angel said it was safe. St. Joseph treated Jesus as his own child. He was not a rich man, but he did everything he could for his family. It is believed he died before Jesus began his public life because he is not mentioned in the Scriptures during that time in the life of Jesus. St. Joseph is patron saint of the universal church and of fathers.