St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Patron of the Universal Church
J.M.J.

SAINT JOSEPH

March 19 -- Patron of the Universal Church

From "Lives of the Saints for every day of the year", edited by Rev. Hugo
Hoever, S.O.Cist., Ph.D.

St. Joseph, the pure spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father of our
Blessed Lord, was descended from the royal house of David. He is the "just
man" of the New Testament, the lowly village carpenter of Nazareth, who among
all men of the world was the one chosen by God to be the husband and protector of
the Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ, God Incarnate. To his faithful, loving care was
entrusted the childhood and youth of the Redeemer of the world.

After the Mother of God, not one of the children of men was ever so gifted and
adorned with natural and supernatural virtues as was St. Joseph, her spouse. In
purity of heart, in gentleness and manliness of character, he reveals to us the
perfect type and model of the true Christian.

Poor and obscure in this world's possessions and honors, he was rich in
grace and merit, and eminent before God in the nobility and beauty of holiness.
Because St. Joseph was the representative of the Eternal Father on earth, the divinely
appointed head of the Holy Family, which was the beginning of the great Family of
God, the Church of Christ, on December 8, 1870, the Vicar of Jesus Christ, Pope
Pius IX solemnly proclaimed the foster father of Jesus, Patron of the Universal
Church, and from that time his feast has been celebrated on March 19th as a feast
of high rank. In some places it is observed as a holy day of obligation.

Devotion to St. Joseph, fervent in the East from the early ages, has in later
times spread and increased in such a marvelous way that in our day the Catholics
of all nations vie with one another in honoring him. Besides the feast of March
19th there is another feast, that of St. Joseph the Workman, Spouse of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, Confessor (May 1st). Promulgated in 1955, it replaced the older "Solemnity
of St. Joseph" which had been celebrated since 1847 --- first as the "Patronage
of St. Joseph" on the third Sunday after Easter and after 1913 as the "Solemnity
of St. Joseph" on the Wednesday before the third Sunday after Easter.

From his throne of glory in heaven, St. Joseph watches over and protects the
Church militant, and no one calls on him in need ever calls in vain. He is the model
of perfect Christian life and the patron of a happy death. His patronage extends
over the Mystical Body of Christ, over the Christian family, the Christian school,
and all individuals who in their need appeal to his charity and powerful intercession,
especially in the hour of death; for he who, when dying, received the affectionate
ministry of his foster Son, Jesus, and his Virgin spouse, Mary, may well be invoked
and trusted to obtain for us poor sinners the mercy of God and the grace of a peaceful
and holy death.

CONSECRATION TO ST. JOSEPH

O, my beloved St. Joseph, adopt me as thy child, take care of my salvation, watch
over me day and night, preserve me from the occasion of sin, obtain for me purity
of soul and body! Through thy intercession with Jesus grant me a spirit of sacrifice,
of humility and self-denial, a burning love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament,
and a sweet tender love for Mary, my Mother. St. Joseph, be with me living, be with
me dying and obtain for me a favorable judgment from Jesus, my merciful Savior.
Amen