About

St. Joseph our patron Saint

 

 

Saint Joseph is recorded in the New Testament as the foster father of Jesus and the husband of the Virgin Mary, descended from the lineage of David. He is also known as Saint Joseph of Nazareth, the Worker Saint Joseph, and the Great Saint Joseph, among other titles.

 

Saint Joseph is celebrated for his many virtues. According to the Gospels, he was a "righteous man": one who fulfilled righteousness and lived in complete obedience to God's will. He possessed abundant faith, trusted in God wholeheartedly, and obeyed God without reservation. He was kind-hearted, compassionate, and loved others as himself. He worked diligently, remained faithful to his duties, and devoted himself entirely to caring for his family. He was the steadfast companion of the Virgin Mary and a loving earthly father to Jesus.

 

From the early traditions of the Catholic Church to the veneration in other Christian denominations, Saint Joseph has been regarded as a saint. On December 8, 1870 (the Feast of the Immaculate Conception), Pope Pius IX solemnly declared Saint Joseph as the patron saint of the Catholic Church, with his feast day set on March 19. Later, Pope Pius XII established May 1 as the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker in 1955.

 

In addition to being the patron saint of the Catholic Church and the patron of workers, the Chinese Church also venerates him as the principal patron of China. Furthermore, due to the Catholic tradition that Saint Joseph likely died under the care of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, he is also considered the patron saint of a happy death. Because of his chaste and faithful relationship with the Virgin Mary, in Church tradition, Saint Joseph is often depicted holding a lily, symbolizing his role as the patron saint of chastity.

 

Saint Joseph is truly a saint among saints, standing alongside the Virgin Mary as one of the closest figures to Jesus. He is indeed worthy of our trust, veneration, and blessings.