Told in all four gospels, the story of Joseph of Arimathea tells of a wealthy man that uses his wealth and donates his very own tomb for Jesus Christ.

According to the Gospels, Jesus was arrested and condemned for blasphemy as the Sanhedrin, an elite council of priestly and lay elders saw him as a threat against the temple. His punishment was death by crucifixion, a horrific and degrading execution that, in those times, would not permit him to be buried in a traditional cemetery as it was considered unclean.

As a faithful disciple, in the ultimate act of belief and sacrifice, Joseph intervened and decided to donate his very own family tomb to honor and revere Jesus with a final resting place and burial fit for the King of Kings. As a result of this benevolent act of belief, he forfeited his right to use the family tomb forever and would need to carve a new tomb for him and his family.

Three days after his death, Jesus was resurrected. In the end, there was no need for Joseph to make plans for a new tomb because the tomb that held Jesus was empty. What Joseph had given and sacrificed was returned to him along with peace and joy in following Jesus. Most importantly, he also received the promise of eternal life.

Choosing Arimathea was a natural fit for our process name because the story of Joseph demonstrates one faithful believer’s major act of moral responsibility to God. In choosing Arimathea, you are taking one step along that same path that support companies that remain committed to the moral and social teachings of the Catholic Church.