Feast of St. Joseph

"Saint Joseph, patron of the universal Church, watch over the Church as carefully as you watched over Jesus; help protect it and guide it as you did with your adopted son. Amen."

St. Joseph, earthly father to our Lord Jesus

Memorial Day: 19 March

Saint Joseph is patron of many places
and many trades. He is the guardian
of the spiritual home of Christians, the
Church, and of the material home, too.

The tradition of a St. Joseph's Day began when there was a severe drought in Sicily in the middle ages. In desperation, people asked St. Joseph, their patron, to intervene. They promised, if rain came, they would prepare a big feast in his honor.  The tradition says these prayers were answered with rainy weather.  In gratitude, huge banquet tables were set-up in public and poor people were invited to come and eat as much as they wanted.  Today, special foods, linens, flowers, and statuary adorn the St. Joseph's Altar which is built with three steps representing the Holy Trinity.

Worship Resources for St. Joseph's Day:

Prayer by Pope Pius IX

"Glorious St. Joseph, model of all who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work in the spirit of penance in expiation of my many sins; to work conscientiously by placing love of duty above my inclinations; to gratefully and joyously deem it an honor to employ and to develop by labor the gifts I have received from God, to work methodically, peacefully, and in moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from it through weariness or difficulty to work; above all, with purity of intention and unselfishness, having unceasingly before my eyes death and the account I have to render of time lost, talents unused, good not done, and vain complacency in success, so baneful to the work of God. All for Jesus, all for Mary, all to imitate thee, O patriarch St. Joseph! This shall be my motto for life and eternity."

Prayer from the Litany of St. Joseph

"O God, who in thine unspeakable providence did vouchsafe to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of thy most holy Mother, grant, we beseech thee, that we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in heaven whome we venerate on Earth as our protector."

To St. Joseph for Protection

"Gracious St. Joseph, protect me and my family from all evil as you did the Holy Family. Kindly keep us ever united in the love of Christ, ever fervent in the imitation of the virtue of our Blessed Lady, your sinless spouse, and always faithful in devotion to you. Amen" ~ From the Franciscan Mission Associates