CatholicSaints.Info » Blog Archive » Saint Joseph

Also known as

• Joseph of Nazareth
• Joseph the Artisan
• Joseph the Betrothed
• Joseph the Worker

Memorial

• 19 March
• 1 May (Joseph the Worker)
• 3rd Wednesday after Easter (patronage of Saint Joseph of the Universal Church)
• 3 January on some local calendars
• 29 October (Armenian)
• 20 July (Coptic)

Profile

Descendant of the house of David. Layman. Builder by trade; traditionally a carpenter, but may have been a stone worker. 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 to do.

Died

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

Name Meaning

• whom the Lord adds (Joseph)

Patronage

• against doubt
• against hesitation
• against pain
• dying people
• exiles
• expectant mothers
• families
• fathers
• happy death
• holy death
• house hunters
• immigrants
• interior souls
• married people
• orphans
• people in doubt
• people who fight Communism
• pioneers
• pregnant women
• social justice
• travellers
• unborn children
• —
• accountants
• attornies
• barristers
• bursars
• cabinetmakers
• carpenters
• cemetery workers
• children
• civil engineers
• confectioners
• craftsmen
• educators
• emigrants
• furniture makers
• grave diggers
• joiners
• laborers
• lawyers
• solicitors
• missionaries in China (proclaimed on 17 August 1678 by Pope Innocent XI)
• teachers
• wheelwrights
• workers
• working people
• —
• Catholic Church (proclaimed on 8 December 1847 by Blessed Pope Pius IX)
• Oblates of Saint Joseph
• protection of the Church
• Universal Church (proclaimed on 8 December 1847 by Blessed Pope Pius IX)
• Vatican II
•  
• Americas
• Austria (given in 1675)
• Belgium
• Bohemia (proclaimed in 1654 by Pope Innocent X; 14 May 1914 by Pope Pius X; 11 December 1935 by Pope Pius XI)
• Canada (given in 1624, and by Pope John XXIII on 18 January 1963)
• China
• Croatia
• Croatian people (in 1687 by decree of the Croatian parliament)
• Indonesia
• Korea
• Mexico (given in 1555)
• New France
• New World
• Papal States
• Peru (given in 1828)
• Philippines (given in 1565)
• Russia (given by Pope Pius XI in 1930 as a ‘special protector’ from the Soviets)
• Vatican City (given in 2013)
• Viet Nam
•  
• Aizawl, India, diocese of
• Alaminos, Philippines, diocese of
• Allahabad, India, diocese of
• Alleppey, India, diocese of
• Altamura–Gravina–Acquaviva delle Fonti, Italy, diocese of
• Añatuya, Argentina, diocese of
• Anchorage-Juneau, Alaska, archdiocese of
• Antofagasta, Chile, archdiocese of
• Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, diocese of
• Balanga, Philippines, diocese of
• Bangued, Philippines, diocese of
• Baton Rouge, Louisiana, diocese of
• Beja, Portugal, diocese of
• Bhadravathi, India, diocese of
• Biloxi, Mississippi, diocese of
• Buffalo, New York, diocese of
• Butuan, Philippines, diocese of
• Cheyenne, Wyoming, diocese of
• Cologne, Germany, archdiocese of
• Daet, Philippines, diocese of
• Dill, Slovenia, diocese of
• Edmonton, Alberta, diocese of
• Gatineau, Québec, archdiocese of
• Hartford, Connecticut, archdiocese of
• Houma-Theibodaux, Louisiana, diocese of
• Itanagar, India, diocese of
• Kansas City-Saint Joseph, Missouri, diocese of
• Koper, Slovenia, diocese of
• La Crosse, Wisconsin, diocese of
• Libmanan, Philippines, diocese of
• Liverpool, England, archdiocese of
• Louisville, Kentucky, archdiocese of
• Lubango, Angola, archdiocese of
• MacKenzie – Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, diocese of
• Manchester, New Hampshire, diocese of
• Mangalore, India, diocese of
• Menevia, Wales, diocese of
• Nashville, Tennessee, diocese of
• Novo Mesto, Slovenia, diocese of
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, archdiocese of
• Oliveira, Brazil, diocese of
• Osnabrück, Germany, diocese of
• Ottawa-Cornwall, Ontario, archdiocese of
• Rarotonga, Cook Islands, diocese of
• Romblon, Philippines, diocese of
• Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, diocese of
• Salford, England, diocese of
• San Jose, California, diocese of
• San Jose, Mindoro, Philippines, apostolic vicariate of
• San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, diocese of
• Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, diocese of
• Sioux City, Iowa, diocese of
• Sioux Falls, South Dakota, diocese of
• Tagbilaran, Philippines, diocese of
• Virac, Philippines, diocese of
• Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, diocese of
• Westminster, England, archdiocese of
• Whitehorse, Yukon Territories, diocese of
• Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, archdiocese of
• Wloclawek, Poland, diocese of
• Yakima, Washington, diocese of
•  
• Partido de Daireaux, Argentina
• San José de Metán, Argentina
•  
• in Austria
  • Carinthia
  • Styria
  • Tyrol
•  
• in Brazil
  • Além Paraíba
  • Alfenas
  • Alto Rio Doce
  • Barra Longa
  • Botelhos
  • Cabeceira Grande
  • Capetinga
  • Caraí
  • Confins
  • Congonhal
  • Conselheiro Pena
  • Córrego Danta
  • Fronteira dos Vales
  • Ituiutaba
  • Itumirim
  • Jagauraçu
  • Josenópolis
  • Medeiros
  • Muzambinho
  • Nova Era
  • Oratórios
  • Paraisópolis
  • Passabém
  • Paula Cândido
  • Paulistas
  • Pedra Bonita
  • Pedra Dourada
  • Ressaquinha
  • São Francisco
  • São José da Barra
  • São José da Lapa
  • São José da Safira
  • São José da Varginha
  • São José do Alegre
  • São José do Divino
  • São José do Goiabal
  • São José do Jacurí
  • São José do Mantimento
  • Taparubá
  • Tocantins
  • Toledo
  • Tumiritinga
  • Vargem Alegre
•  
• in Canada
  • Canadian Armed Forces (in 1941)
  • Deschambault, Quebec
•  
• in Germany
  • Bavaria (given in 1663)
  • Cologne
  • Westphalia
•  
• in Italy
  • Acri
  • Altamura
  • Bagheria
  • Bella
  • Borgo San Cesareo, Albanella
  • Borgo Tressanti
  • Capurso
  • Cascano
  • Castelplanio, Ancona
  • Cattolica Eraclea
  • Cecina
  • Dicomano
  • Donnalucata
  • Dossello, Albino
  • Fiumefreddo di Sicilia
  • Florence
  • Fonte Nuova
  • La Spezia
  • Ladispoli
  • Monte Compatri
  • Nibbiaia
  • Orvieto
  • Paringianu
  • Pescia Romana
  • Querceta
  • Radazzo, Sicily
  • Rome
  • Santa Marinella
  • Sicily
  • Spadafora, Sicily
  • Turin
  • Venice
•  
• in Luxembourg
  • Esch-sur-Alzette
•  
• in Malta
  • Birkirkara
  • Kalkara
  • Msida
  • Qala, Gozo
•  
• in Montenegro
  • Ulcinj
•  
• in Portugal
  • Santarém
•  
• Laguna Indian Pueblo
•  
• Associazioni Cristiane Lavoratori Italiani (proclaimed on 1 May 1955 by Pope Pius XII)
• Sisters of Reparation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
• Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus

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

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

Saint Joseph, guardian of Jesus and chaste husband of Mary, you passed your life in loving fulfillment of duty. You supported the holy family of Nazareth with the work of your hands. Kindly protect those who trustingly come to you. You know their aspirations, their hardships, their hopes. They look to you because they know you will understand and protect them. You too knew trial, labor and weariness. But amid the worries of material life, your soul was full of deep peace and sang out in true joy through intimacy with God’s Son entrusted to you and with Mary, his tender Mother. Assure those you protect that they do not labor alone. Teach them to find Jesus near them and to watch over Him faithfully as you have done. Amen. – Blessed Pope John XXIII

MLA Citation

• “Saint Joseph“. CatholicSaints.Info. 16 June 2024. Web. 15 February 2025. <>