Saint Joseph
Joseph (Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 293: attempt to index local 'data_module' (a boolean value).; Greek: Ἰωσήφ) is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus and the step father of Jesus. In Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Anglican Christian traditions, he is regarded as Saint Joseph.
Saint Joseph | |
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Saint Joseph with the Infant Jesus by Guido Reni, c. 1635 | |
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary Legal father of Jesus Prince and Patron of the Universal Church | |
Venerated in | All Christian denominations which venerate saints |
Feast | 19 March – Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary (Western Christianity)
1 May – Memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker (Catholic Church) The third Wednesday after Easter Sunday - The Solemnity of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and patron of the Universal Church (Roman Catholic Church), The Sunday after the Nativity of the Lord (Eastern Christianity) |
Attributes | Carpenter's square or tools, the infant Jesus, staff with lily blossoms, two turtle doves, rod of spikenard. |
Patronage | Catholic Church, unborn children, fathers, immigrants, workers, employment, explorer, pilgrims, traveller, carpenters, realtors, against doubt and hesitation, and of a happy death, Belgium, From the State of Ceará and the city of Macapá in Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Korea, Indonesia, Zapotlan in Mexico, Vietnam, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines, and many others. |
In the Bible
The Gospel of Luke says that the angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her that she would give birth to a Son and she should call him Jesus and that he would save people from their sins.
When Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant, he decided to privately break the engagement. But then he had a dream. An angel told him that the baby was the Son of God.
At this time, the Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, made a law that everyone in the Roman Empire must pay tax. Everyone had to go back to the town that their family came from, to have their name put on the tax lists. Joseph came from Bethlehem, which was called "The City of David". Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem and she gave birth to the baby, Jesus, in a stable, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Saint Joseph Media
Dream of St Joseph, c. 1625–1630, by Gerard Seghers
The Nativity of Christ by Martin Schongauer (1475–1480)
Holy Family with the Holy Trinity by Murillo, 1675–1682
Saint Joseph's Oratory, Montreal, the largest church in Canada
Altar of Saint Joseph, Billafingen, Germany
Saint Joseph with the Flowering Rod, by Jusepe de Ribera, early 1630s. Ribera conveys the unexpected wonder of the moment with the lighting from above. Brooklyn Museum