The History of St Joseph

Saint Joseph was the husband of the Virgin Mary and the foster-father of Jesus.  He is the patron saint of the home and family according to the Roman Catholic Church.  He was dedicated to his family and represents the ideal father figure.  Although the date and place of birth for Saint Joseph are largely unknown, he has been an important figure in Catholicism.

Many feast days are dedicated to St Joseph in Catholic traditions.  One of the key elements of Saint Joseph is that he has been proclaimed as the patron saint and protector of the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1870.  This is also the main feast day of the Saint.  St Joseph has been looked upon as a pious believer who experiences grace upon dying.  According to Catholicism, Joseph died in the arms of Jesus and Mary.  As a result, he has been declared the Saint of happy death because the circumstances of his death are how most people would want to die  Other Saintly proclamations of Joseph include doubt and hesitation.

Pope Pius XII made the first of May an official holiday that honors Saint Joseph the Worker and a feast is held in his tribute.  Joseph was chosen to be the honorary saint for this day, which has been a holiday for socialists and other workers.  This feast day regards Saint Joseph as the ideal worker as he becomes the patron saint of workers and a role model.  He is venerated for his noble characteristics such as patience, persistence and dedication to hard work.  These qualities are said to be inspiring for believers.  Aside from praying for families and workers, Saint Joseph also believes for house sellers and buyers.  His personal life has not been widely documented but he is a prominent figure in Catholicism.

Today, many believers have strong faith in Saint Joseph especially when it comes to working, home and even real estate.  Many believe that Saint Joseph brings luck and helps people sell their homes.

St Joseph has many feast days in honor of him.  Compared to other saints, Joseph was introduced by the Catholic Church in the tenth century which is much later than most other biblical saints.  A lot of what is known about Saint Joseph has been introduced by the Scripture.  Joseph was a humble man and worker and has come from a royal lineage.  He was also very caring and compassionate for his family.  He loved Jesus dearly and was always concerned for his safety and remained by his side to protect him. 

Above all, Joseph was a great believer and a man of faith.  It has been said that Joseph was not present at Jesus’ death and resurrection and many believe that Joseph had died before the events.