Saints Gone Wild: St. Joseph - The Terror of Demons

“With a Father’s Heart” (Patris Corde)

“After Mary, the Mother of God, no saint is mentioned more frequently in the papal magisterium than Joseph, her spouse.”— Pope St. John Paul II

St. Joseph was just a dude. A humble carpenter in a quiet little town on the wrong side of the tracks. Nothing flashy. No titles. No InstaFace. Just a working man doing his thing. From the outside, he wasn’t destined for much.

But like a lot of men who come from small beginnings, he was called to something massive—something eternal. He became the role model for every father who’s ever tried to lead with faith.

Let’s be real—Joseph’s situation was wild. In that time and culture, if the girl you were seeing turned up mysteriously pregnant, you were saying “deuces” and getting back on the scene. But Joseph? He didn’t ghost Mary. He stayed. He chose faith over fear.

An angel appeared and told him the child in Mary’s womb was from God. That he wasn’t just a carpenter—he was now part of the plan to save the world. So Joseph stepped up, married her, and stood by her side as the mystery unfolded. He didn’t have the full picture, but he had trust.

Now imagine this: you’re told by an angel that you’re going to raise the Savior of the world. No pressure, right? On top of that, you're dealing with the judgment of friends and family, your own doubts, and probably a few people telling you to forget this mess and go marry Susie from the next village. But Joseph didn’t run. He protected Mary. He protected Jesus. He moved his family when danger came—first to Bethlehem, then fleeing King Herod to Egypt. He left everything he knew, more than once, to keep them safe. That’s not just a good guy. That’s a warrior spirit dressed in humility.

St. Joseph has a bunch of titles within the Church—Patron of Workers, Protector of the Holy Church—but my favorite? Terror of Demons.

How gangster is that?

When I first heard it, I figured he must’ve been a hidden badass—maybe took down a few Roman guards in his spare time. But nope. He was peaceful, quiet, and obedient. That’s exactly why he’s terrifying to the enemy.

Demons fear purity. They hate humility. They can’t stand obedience. Joseph had all three. That’s why the heavy hitters—like Padre Pio and Fr. Gabriele Amorth—called on him during spiritual warfare. Because evil can’t handle true holiness. Joseph didn’t just fight with swords—he fought with faith.

As a father and husband, I’ve missed the mark more times than the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs (hey-ooohhh). But Joseph gives me hope. He wasn’t deterred by ego or public opinion. He followed and led his family by his faith. He taught Jesus how to swing a hammer, how to pray, how to love his mother; how to be a man. That’s the model.

Now that I’m older, I still train. I still do karate stuff in the garage. I still want to be ready for anything. But I’m realizing more and more that real protection and provision isn’t just physical. It’s spiritual. I want my kids to see a father who can shoot tight groups and walk in holiness. Who can stand up to the bullies of the world and kneel in prayer.

Gentlemen—we only get one shot at this.

So pray for me, as I’m praying for you. And together let’s call on our brother, our role model, our silent warrior:

St. Joseph, Terror of Demons, pray for us.

— Mission Ready Faith