St Joseph little is known about this great and awesome saint, who has performed many miracles.
St Joseph is the third member of the Holy Family; he is spouse of the Blessed Virgin and foster father of Christ.
St Joseph is referred to as the 'Just Man' he is the Gospels of the new testaments.
The last known fact of St Joseph was after finding the Lord Jesus in the Temple.
In 1870 Pope Pius IX proclaimed him patron of the Universal Church.
In 1955 Pope Pius XII added the title of "Patron of the Workmen" this title is celebrated on May 1st.
The official feast day of St Joseph celebrated by the Universal Church is on March 19th.
What we know of St Joseph comes from the Scripture.
His life: Joseph lived and worked as a carpenter at Nazareth. Joseph is the "Son of David" meaning in generation is under the line of King David to who Messiah shall come.
Joseph was compassionate; after finding out Mary was pregnant he planned to divorce her quietly without letting her being stoned to death (punishment of the time). An angel then appeared to him and told him that his wife was bearing the Son of God. He accompanied Mary to Bethlehem to sign up for the census. The then helped the family escape into Egypt after being foretold by an angel of the reign of King Herod and his plot to kill Jesus. He cared for Jesus and respected God, and when Jesus went missing he followed God commands and handled the situation with Mary. Jesus was later found in a temple teaching to the best teachers in the whole land.
Joseph died somewhere between the Finding of Our Lord Jesus in the temple and before Jesus enters his public mission.
He is represented with: bible; branch; carpenter's square; carpenter's tools; chalice; cross; hand tools; infant Jesus; ladder; lamb; lily.
He is patron of: against doubt and hesitation, Americas, Belgium, New York, Louisiana, Mississippi, Canada, Austria, China, the Church, craftspeople, emigrants and engineers, family, fathers, happy death, Florence, Korea, labourers, Mexico, Oblates of St Joseph, fighters of communism, Peru, pregnant, Sicily, Turin, social justice, travellers, Universal Church, the unborn.
Catholic Resources
St Joseph little is known about this great and awesome saint, who has performed many miracles. 
