Saint Joseph's Day

Saint Joseph, here with Christ and the BVM, is the patron of the Universal Church.

Transferred from the 19th March, which falls in Holy Week.

"St Joseph is considered the second greatest Saint, next to the Blessed Virgin Mary, because of his humility and the closeness he had to Jesus as his foster father. Scripture tells us that Joseph was just, pure, gentle, prudent, and unfailingly obedient to the divine will. We wish to imitate him by renewing our desire to be faithful. We know that the only meaning of our life is to be faithful to the Lord till the last day, as Joseph was. Bl. Pius IX named him Patron of the Universal Church, and Bl. John XXIII included his name in the Roman Canon" (OSV/MTF Daily Roman Missal).

"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." (Pope John Paul II)