How old was Joseph when he married Mary?
How old was Joseph when he married Mary?
Question: St. Joseph he couldn’t have been that aged at the time of Christ’s crucifixion. He was 20-25 when he wed Mary. What was St. Joseph’s whereabouts during Christ’s crucifixion? At what age did St. Joseph pass away?
— Joseph Ricciardi, via email
Answer: It is unclear if Joseph wedded the Blessed Mother during his youth. Although typically men married around the age of 16 during that period, there exists a tradition suggesting that Joseph was older and a widower when he accepted Mary as his spouse. An old text from the second century known as the Protoevangelium of James, while not part of Scripture, provides us with some background on Mary’s formative years that circulated within the early Church, either as folklore or narratives. It notes that she was involved with the Temple from the age of 3 until she turned 12. The text states that certain selected young girls participated in this, tending to the sacred linens and other requirements of the Temple. When she reached 12, the high priest received a divine vision indicating that Mary should marry and be entrusted to an elder widower whom God would designate. The high priest assembled several widowers from that region, and from one of them, Joseph, a dove emerged as a sign. Joseph is depicted as an “old man” with children. If this account is true, although not all scholars agree, it provides insight into Joseph’s early passing and the reference to Jesus’ siblings. They are either Jesus’ cousins or Mary’s stepchildren from Joseph.
While the passing of Joseph is not recorded in the Scriptures, it appears evident he must have passed away before Jesus began his public ministry, likely after Jesus had reached an age capable of looking after his mother. During those three years, Mary accompanied Jesus and seems to have had no other responsibilities at home in Nazareth. Historically, this is the most we can ascertain, and the authenticity or accuracy of the Protoevangelium of James remains uncertain. Still, it probably mirrors the accounts that were shared among early followers.
