CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA

Joseph of Arimathea

All that is known for certain concerning him is derived from the canonical Gospels. He
was born at Arimathea - hence his surname - "a city of Judea" (Luke, xxiii, 51), which is
very likely identical with Ramatha, the birthplace of the Prophet Samuel, although
several scholars prefer to identify it with the town of Ramleh. He was a wealthy
Israelite (Matt., xxvii, 57), "a good and a just man" (Luke, xxiii, 50), "who was also
himself looking for the kingdom of God" (Mark, xv, 43). He is also called by St. Mark
and by St. Luke a <bouleutes>, literally, "a senator", whereby is meant a member of the
Sanhedrin or supreme council of the Jews. He was a disciple of Jesus, probably ever
since Christ's first preaching in Judea (John, ii, 23), but he did not declare himself as
such "for fear of the Jews" (John, xix, 38). On account of this secret allegiance to Jesus,
he did not consent to His condemnation by the Sanhedrin (Luke, xxiii, 51), and was
most likely absent from the meeting which sentenced Jesus to death (cf. Mark, xiv, 64).
The Crucifixion of the Master quickened Joseph's faith and love, and suggested to him
that he should provide for Christ's burial before the Sabbath began. Unmindful
therefore of all personal danger, a danger which was indeed considerable under the
circumstances, he boldly requested from Pilate the Body of Jesus, and was successful in
his request (Mark, xv, 43-45). Once in possession of this sacred treasure, he -- together
with Nicodemus, whom his courage had likewise emboldened, and who brought
abundant spices -- wrapped up Christ's Body in fine linen and grave bands, laid it in
his own tomb, new and yet unused, and hewn out of a rock in a neighbouring garden,
and withdrew after rolling a great stone to the opening of the sepulchre (Matt., xxvii,
59, 60; Mark, xv, 46; Luke, xxiii, 53; John, xix, 38-42). Thus was fulfilled Isaiah's
prediction that the grave of the Messias would be with a rich man (Is., liii, 9). The
Greek Church celebrates the feast of Joseph of Arimathea on 31 July, and the Roman
Church on 17 March. The additional details which are found concerning him in the
apocryphal "Acta Pilati", are unworthy of credence. Likewise fabulous is the legend
which tells of his coming to Gaul A.D. 63, and thence to Great Britain, where he is
supposed to have founded the earliest Christian oratory at Glastonbury. Finally, the
story of the translation of the body of Joseph of Arimathea from Jerusalem to
Moyenmonstre (Diocese of Toul) originated late and is unreliable.

FRANCIS E. GIGOT
Transcribed by Mike McLeod

Taken from the New Advent Web Page (www.knight.org/advent).

This article is part of the Catholic Encyclopedia Project, an effort aimed at placing the  entire Catholic Encyclopedia on the World Wide Web. The coordinator is Kevin Knight,  editor of the New Advent Catholic Website. If you would like to contribute to this  worthwhile project, you can contact him by e-mail at ([email protected]). For  more information please download the file cathen.txt/.zip.

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