St Joseph’s Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Joseph, is celebrated on 19 March and it reminds us to honor the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the legal father of Jesus Christ. He is considered not only the Patron Saint of workers and artisans, but even of fathers.
Let’s discover 5 curious things about this important Catholic feast.
1. Saint Joseph Patron Saint of...
Saint Joseph is the Patron Saint of many things and people, such as the universal Church, fathers, the dying, social justice, unborn children, travelers, immigrants, families, pregnant women, craftsmen, engineers and working people in general.
If you are part of those categories, you can protect yourself with this magnificent Catholic medal, dedicated to Saint Joseph.
Bring your Patron Saint always with you!
2. St Joseph has more Feast Days during the year
Due to the important role he covered in Christianity, St Joseph is celebrated on many days of the year, such as:
- 30 December - the Feast of the Holy Family
- 3rd Sunday of June - the American Father’s Day
- 1 May - the International Workers’ Day.
In 1955 Pope Pius XII established the Feast of St Joseph the Worker, since he is the patron saint of workers.
3. St Joseph’s Day is different from Father’s Day
Despite some countries such as Italy celebrate fathers on St Joseph’s Day, other people, such as Americans, celebrate fatherhood on Father’s Day in June. Father’s Day was founded by Sonora Smart Dodd in 1910 and celebrated on the third Sunday of June.
You can celebrate St Joseph in both days, dedicating some of your daily prayers to these amazing St Joseph statues in resin or wood.
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4. Sicilian Tradition linked to St Joseph’s Day
Since Saint Joseph is the Patron Saint of Sicily too, people from this Italian region celebrate him with some very typical traditions. The most important one is the Tavolate di San Giuseppe, literally the St Joseph’s Tables. According to tradition, during the Middle Ages there was a severe drought and famine in Sicily. After that peasants prayed to St Joseph, the rains arrived and they organized celebrations in his honor. Nowadays, Sicilians fill up their tables with many kinds of food and drinks as a vote for Saint Joseph. These tables are open to everyone, especially for poor people, in sign of charity, devotion and abundance. This important tradition reminds us about the Holy Family and the Christian love towards poors.
5. St Joseph Prayer for a Happy Death
Since Joseph died in the arms of Jesus and Mary, according to tradition, he is considered the model of the pious believer who receives grace at the moment of death. For this reason, he is considered the Patron Saint of happy death.
Here’s a St Joseph prayer for a happy death.
“O Blessed Joseph, you gave your last breath in the loving embrace of Jesus and Mary.
When the seal of death shall close my life, come with Jesus and Mary to aid me.
Obtain for me this solace for that hour - to die with their holy arms around me.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I commend my soul, living and dying, into your sacred arms. Amen.”
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