Celebrating our Saint of the Month
Saint Joseph
Feast Day: 19th March
Patron of fathers, workers, travellers, immigrants and a happy death
Saint Joseph's Day, 19th March, has been the principal feast day of Saint Joseph in Western Christianity since the 10th century and is celebrated by Anglicans, Catholics and many other denominations. In the Roman Catholic Church, Saint Joseph is also celebrated with the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker on 1st May. This date joins with May Day (International Workers' Day). In Eastern Orthodoxy, the feast day of Saint Joseph is celebrated on the First Sunday after the Nativity of Christ.
Saint Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus, first appears in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. There is also a reference to him in the gospel of John. He came from the house of David but his trade as a carpenter shows that he was not rich. He was betrothed to Mary and worried when he learnt that she was pregnant and so resolved to send her away quietly to avoid her being exposed to shame. However, the gospel of Matthew tells us that an angel came to him in a dream and told him not to be afraid and to marry Mary. After the birth of Jesus, Joseph was warned in other dreams firstly to flee with his family to Egypt and then when Herod died, to return to Israel, but he feared Herod's successor and went on to Galilee, where the Holy Family set up home in Nazareth.
Christian tradition represents Mary as a widow during the adult ministry of her son. Joseph is not mentioned as being present at the Wedding at Cana at the beginning of Jesus's mission, nor at the Passion at the end. If he had been present at the Crucifixion, he would under Jewish custom have been expected to take charge of Jesus's body, but this role is instead performed by Joseph of Arimathea.
While traditionally St Joseph is depicted as an old man, historians think he was probably younger. It is not know when he died, but it was before the crucifixion. The few biblical details give an impression of a compassionate and brave man. His symbol is a white lily, signifying purity.
Feast Day: 19th March
Patron of fathers, workers, travellers, immigrants and a happy death
Saint Joseph's Day, 19th March, has been the principal feast day of Saint Joseph in Western Christianity since the 10th century and is celebrated by Anglicans, Catholics and many other denominations. In the Roman Catholic Church, Saint Joseph is also celebrated with the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker on 1st May. This date joins with May Day (International Workers' Day). In Eastern Orthodoxy, the feast day of Saint Joseph is celebrated on the First Sunday after the Nativity of Christ.
Saint Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus, first appears in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. There is also a reference to him in the gospel of John. He came from the house of David but his trade as a carpenter shows that he was not rich. He was betrothed to Mary and worried when he learnt that she was pregnant and so resolved to send her away quietly to avoid her being exposed to shame. However, the gospel of Matthew tells us that an angel came to him in a dream and told him not to be afraid and to marry Mary. After the birth of Jesus, Joseph was warned in other dreams firstly to flee with his family to Egypt and then when Herod died, to return to Israel, but he feared Herod's successor and went on to Galilee, where the Holy Family set up home in Nazareth.
Christian tradition represents Mary as a widow during the adult ministry of her son. Joseph is not mentioned as being present at the Wedding at Cana at the beginning of Jesus's mission, nor at the Passion at the end. If he had been present at the Crucifixion, he would under Jewish custom have been expected to take charge of Jesus's body, but this role is instead performed by Joseph of Arimathea.
While traditionally St Joseph is depicted as an old man, historians think he was probably younger. It is not know when he died, but it was before the crucifixion. The few biblical details give an impression of a compassionate and brave man. His symbol is a white lily, signifying purity.
