Saint Joseph
- Feast
- 19 March
- Patron of
- fathers, workers, carpenters, the universal Church and a happy death
The Gospels of Matthew and Luke present Joseph as a descendant of David and a craftsman of Nazareth, betrothed to Mary. Warned in dreams, he took Mary as his wife, fled with her and the child to Egypt, and later brought them home. He last appears when the twelve-year-old Jesus is found in the Temple; tradition holds that he died before Jesus began to preach.
Scripture records no word he spoke, only what he did. He is patron of a happy death because tradition places Jesus and Mary at his side as he died, and Pius IX named him patron of the universal Church in 1870. Painters show him holding the Christ Child, at work with carpenter's tools, or with a staff in flower, from an old legend.
The obvious patron for a boy growing into a man, a new father or a godfather, and for anyone who works with their hands. Joseph shows that faith is often quiet: listening, getting up, and doing the next thing well.
5 prints of Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph
Catholic Art Studio
From $33.26
Joseph the Carpenter
Georges de La Tour
From $32.98
Saint Joseph and the Christ Child
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
From $31.52
Saint Joseph and the Christ Child
Guido Reni
From $31.52
St. Joseph – Mosaic from St. Peter's Basilica
Guido Reni
From $31.52
Questions
When is the feast of Saint Joseph?
The feast of Saint Joseph is kept on 19 March.
What is Saint Joseph the patron saint of?
Saint Joseph is the patron saint of fathers, workers, carpenters, the universal Church and a happy death.
Is Saint Joseph a good confirmation saint?
The obvious patron for a boy growing into a man, a new father or a godfather, and for anyone who works with their hands. Joseph shows that faith is often quiet: listening, getting up, and doing the next thing well.
Is Saint Joseph the patron saint of people named Joseph?
Yes. Saint Joseph is the traditional name saint for anyone called Joseph, Josephine, José, Giuseppe, Josef and Józef, and the feast on 19 March is their name day.
Choosing for a confirmation? See Confirmation gifts. Any two Charcoal Saints are 15% off.
Other patron saints
AgnesAnneAnthony of PaduaAugustine of HippoBenedict of NursiaBernadette SoubirousCarlo AcutisCatherine of SienaCeciliaChristopherClare of AssisiDominicDymphnaFaustina KowalskaFrancis of AssisiFrancis XavierGeorgeGerard MajellaGianna Beretta MollaIgnatius of LoyolaJoan of ArcJohn of the CrossJohn Paul IIJohn the BaptistJosephine BakhitaJuan DiegoJude ThaddeusKateri TekakwithaLucyMartin de PorresMary MagdaleneMaximilian KolbeMichael the ArchangelMonicaNicholasPadre PioPatrickPaulPeregrine LaziosiPeterPier Giorgio FrassatiRita of CasciaSebastianTeresa of ÁvilaTeresa of CalcuttaThérèse of LisieuxThomas AquinasJeromeCatherine of AlexandriaMartin of Tours