Despite his humble work and means, Joseph came from a royal lineage. Luke and Matthew mark his descent from David, the greatest king of Israel. Indeed the angel who first tells Joseph about Jesus greets him as "son of David," a royal title used also for Jesus.

We know Joseph was a compassionate, caring man. When he discovered Mary was pregnant after they had been betrothed, he knew the child was not his but was as yet unaware that she was carrying the Son of God. He planned to divorce Mary according to the law but he was concerned for her suffering and safety. He knew that women accused to adultery could be stoned to death, so he decided to divorce her quietly and not expose her to shame or cruelty. Joseph was man of faith, obedient to whatever God asked of him without knowing the outcome. (Matthew 2:13-23).  Joseph loved Jesus. His one concern was for the safety of this child entrusted to him (Luke 2:48). Since Joseph does not appear in Jesus' public life, at his death, or resurrection, many historians believe Joseph probably had died before Jesus entered public ministry. Joseph is the patron of the dying because, assuming he died before Jesus' public life, he died with Jesus and Mary close to him, the way we all would like to leave this earth.