Joseph

Also known as

Joseph the Betrothed; Joseph the Worker

Memorial

19 March; 1 May (Joseph the Worker)

Profile

Descendant of the house of David. Layman. Carpenter. Earthly spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Foster and adoptive father of Jesus Christ. Visionary who was visited by angels. Noted for his willingness to immediately get up and do what God told him.

Died

1st century, prior to the Passion, of natural causes

Name Meaning

whom the Lord adds (Joseph)

Patronage

against doubt; against hesitation; Americas; archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska; Austria; diocese of Balanga, Philippines; diocese of Bangued, Philippines; diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Belgium; diocese of Biloxi, Mississippi; Birkirkara, Malta; Bohemia; diocese of Buffalo, New York; bursars; diocese of Butuan, Philippines; cabinetmakers; Canada; Candian Armed Forces (in 1941); Carinthia; carpenters; Catholic Church (1847 by Blessed Pope Pius IX); diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming; China; archdiocese of Cologne, Germany; confectioners; craftsmen; Croatian people (in 1687 by decree of the Croatian parliment); diocese of Daet, Philippines; Deschambault, Quebec; dying people; emigrants; engineers; expectant mothers; families; fathers; Florence Italy; Fonte Nuova, Italy; happy death; archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut; holy death; house hunters; immigrants; interior souls; diocese of Itanagar, India; Kalkara, Malta; Korea; diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin; La Spezia, Italy; laborers; Ladispoli, Italy; Laguna Indian Pueblo; archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky; diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire; diocese of Mangalore, India; married people; diocese of Menevia, Wales; Mexico; Msida, Malta; diocese of Nashville, Tennessee; New France; New World; Oblates of Saint Joseph; Orvieto, Italy; diocese of Osnabrück, Germany; people in doubt; people who fight Communism; Peru; pioneers; pregnant women; protection of the Church; Qala, Gozo, Malta; Querceta, Italy; diocese of Rarotonga, Cook Islands; diocese of Romblon, Philippines; diocese of San Jose, California; apostolic vicariate of San Jose, Mindoro, Philippines; diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Philippines; Santa Marinella, Italy; Sicily; diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; social justice; Spadafora, Sicily; Styria, Austria; diocese of Tagbilaran, Philippines; travellers; Turin, Italy; Tyrol, Austria; unborn children; Universal Church (1847 by Blessed Pope Pius IX); Vatican II; Viet Nam; diocese of Virac, Philippines; diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia; wheelwrights; workers; working people

Representation

bible; branch; carpenter's square; carpenter's tools; chalice; cross; hand tools; infant Jesus; ladder; lamb; lily; monstrance; old man holding a lily and a carpenter's tool such as a square; old man holding the infant Jesus; plane; rod

Images

Gallery #1 -	10 holy cards -	220 kb
Gallery #2 -	10 holy cards -	149 kb
Gallery #3 -	10 holy cards -	187 kb
Gallery #4 -	10 holy cards -	128 kb
Gallery #5 -	10 holy cards -	134 kb
Gallery #6 -	10 holy cards -	165 kb
Gallery #7 -	19 statues -	210 kb
Gallery #8 -	5 other -	87 kb
Gallery #9 -	11 holy cards -	194 kb
Gallery #10 -	36 Holy Family -	584 kb

Storefront

Commercial Links related to Saint Joseph

Prayers

Harry Holbrook's collection
Litany to Saint Joseph,
Novena to Saint Joseph I,
Novena to Saint Joseph II,
Prayer to... I - 2 versions,
Prayer to... V,
Prayer to... II,
Prayer to... III,
Prayer Before Mass,
Prayer to... ...for the Whole Church,
Prayer to... ...for the Spirit of Work,
Prayer to... ...to Know One's Vocation,
Prayer for a Happy Death,
Prayer to... ...patron of Carpenters,
Prayer to... ...the Workman,
Prayer to... IV,
Prayer to... ...for Protection,
Prayer to... ...patron of Workers,
Prayer to... VI,
Prayer to... VII, The Josephites,
Prayer to... VIII, Pope Saint Pius X,
Prayer to... IX, the Pallottines

Additional Information

Goffine's Devout Instructions
Google Directory
Wikipedia
Quamquam Pluries: On Devotion to Saint Joseph, by Pope Leo XIII
Burying Saint Joseph to Sell Your Home
Redemptoris Custos: Guardian of the Redeemer by Pope John Paul II

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Readings

He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph's wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying 'Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.'

from a sermon by Saint Bernardine of Siena

---

There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to any human being. Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfill the task at hand.

This general rule is especially verified in the case of Saint Joseph, the foster-father of our Lord, and the husband of the Queen of our world, enthroned above the angels. He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph's wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying "Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord."

Remember us, Saint Joseph, and plead for us to your foster child. Ask your most holy bride, the Virgin Mary, to look kindly upon us, since she is the mother of him who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns eternally. Amen.

from a sermon by Saint Bernardine of Siena

---

What emanates from the figure of Saint Joseph is faith. Joseph of Nazareth is a "just man" because he totally "lives by faith." He is holy because his faith is truly heroic.

Sacred Scripture says little of him. It does not record even one word spoken by Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth. And yet, even without words, he shows the depth of his faith, his greatness.

Saint Joseph is a man of great spirit. He is great in faith, not because he speaks his own words, but above all because he listens to the words of the Living God. He listens in silence. And his heart ceaselessly perseveres in the readiness to accept the Truth contained in the word of the Living God.

We see how the word of the Living God penetrates deeply into the soul of that man, that just man. And we, do we know how to listen to the word of God? Do we know how to absorb it into the depths of our human personalities? Do we open our conscience in the presence of this word?

Pope John Paul II from Daily Meditations