Facts About St. Joseph:

1) There are actually two feast days for Saint Joseph. On March 19th we celebrate Joseph the Husband of Mary, and on May 1st we celebrate Joseph the Worker.

2) Saint Joseph is the Patron Saint of the Universal Church (and the Diocese of Manchester). He is also the patron of carpenters, China, fathers, a happy death, Peru, Russia, social justice, travelers, Vietnam, workers, engineers, families, house hunters, Korea, laborers, Mexico, New France, people in doubt, pioneers, children, pregnant women, the Americas, and Vatican II.

3) One very early tradition claims that Joseph was an elderly widower with children from a previous marriage. This tradition would explain why Joseph apparently died while Jesus was still a young man (since he is not mentioned once Jesus began His public ministry and since Jesus left Mary in the care of John and not Joseph). However, there is another tradition that says Joseph was a young man and a virgin himself when he became Mary's husband. There are other interesting facts about Saint Joseph that can be gleaned from the Gospels. Through the intercession of Saint Joseph, may we come to a deeper love of Jesus and Mary, and greater charity and appreciation for our own families. Saint Joseph, pray for us!

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted his only Son;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,
show yourself a father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage,
and defend us from every evil. Amen.

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