The Diocese of Phoenix recently celebrated the feast day of Saint Joseph, who was Jesus' earthly father.

"If God the father entrusted Joseph to protect his only son here on earth, why would we not entrust ourselves under his protection?" the diocese said in a recent Facebook post. "St. Joseph, Foster Father of Jesus, pray for us." 

Joseph, a carpenter, was engaged to Mary when she became pregnant with Jesus, a release on Catholic.org said. Joseph knew the baby wasn't his, but because adulterous women could be stoned to death, he decided to send Mary quietly away. An angel visited him and told him that he should take Mary as his wife, because the child she carried was the son of God. Joseph trusted the angel and married Mary. 

Joseph protected his infant son from King Herod after an angel warned him in a dream that the king was planning a violent plot, a report on Britannica.com said. Joseph took Mary and Jesus and fled to Egypt, where they waited until the danger had passed before returning to Nazareth. 

Since he is not mentioned in the Gospel accounts of Jesus' crucifixion, it is believed that Joseph died before that time. 

St. Joseph is the patron saint of the Universal Church, unborn children, fathers, workers, travelers, immigrants and happy deaths. 

Joseph's life is celebrated on two separate feast days: the Solemnity of Joseph on March 19 and the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1, a release on OfficeHolidays.com said.