Church of the Home for Saturday, March 19

The Feast of St. Joseph

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph. He was a holy man, the spouse of Mary, the earthly father of Jesus, and a hard-working carpenter.

However, little more is known about him.

In the Bible, he is referred to as a just man. He was willing and open to do whatever God asked of him, including taking Mary as his wife after the Annunciation. He also loved and cared for Jesus.

St. Joseph was a strong protector of his family. He found a safe place for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem. He guided Mary and Jesus to Egypt to protect them from King Herod.

Recently, Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter titled “Patris Corde” in Latin. It translates to “With a Father’s Heart,” in which the pope describes St. Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father, a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, and a father in the shadows.

In some images, St. Joseph is seen holding lilies, which symbolize integrity and indicate that he was the earthly spouse of the Blessed Mother, whose purity is represented by a white lily. A group of three lilies can represent the Trinity.

St, Joseph is known as the patron saint of the Universal Church, a happy death, families, fathers, expectant mothers, explorers, pilgrims, travelers, immigrants, home sellers and buyers, craftsmen, engineers, and working people.

Saint of the Day: Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary

Meet St. Joseph • Saints for kids

Celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph

Have A St. Joseph’s Table– Learn more at St Joseph Table
Wear red – color of Italy and of celebration for this day!
Celebrate with tons of traditional food – Some of the most traditional foods made and eaten on this day are fava beans, fancy breads in symbolic shapes, pasta, breads decorated with figs, wine, Italian pasteries, and fruits.
Eat Zeppole– these are a famous traditional pasty eaten on St. Joseph’s feast day. They are traditionally fried but there are also baked varieties. They are generally filled with cream and topped with ricotta and a red cherry. You can find a recipe for this here.