St Joseph often stands in the shadow of Mary, yet he is one of the most important saints. As the foster father of Jesus he bore responsibility in a very special family.
Who was Joseph of Nazareth?
The New Testament sketches Joseph briefly. He is of the house of David, a carpenter in Nazareth, and betrothed to Mary (Matthew 1; Luke 2). When Mary is with child, he at first intends to put her away privately, but then follows the dream in which an angel appears to him, and takes her to himself. He travels with Mary to Bethlehem, flees with the family to Egypt and returns to Nazareth. He is last mentioned at the pilgrimage to Jerusalem when Jesus is twelve years old.
Not a single word of Joseph’s has been handed down. His greatness lies in his actions. In 1870 Pope Pius IX declared him patron of the whole Church, and Pope Francis proclaimed a Year of St Joseph in 2020/21.
Legend and tradition
Later legends embellish his life, for example in apocryphal writings. They are not binding on the Church. The depiction of him as an old man is a later tradition; the Bible says nothing on the matter.
Feast day
The solemnity of St Joseph is 19 March. On 1 May the Church additionally celebrates the memorial of St Joseph the Worker. Regional and denominational calendars may differ.
Patronage
- The whole Church (since 1870)
- Families and fathers
- Workers, craftsmen and carpenters
- The dying, who ask for a good death
“Patron saint” means that people ask this saint to intercede for them with God. No guarantee or promise of miracles is attached to it.
Attributes and depiction
Joseph appears with a lily as a sign of purity, with carpenter’s tools such as a square, saw or plane, and often with the Child Jesus in his arms.
A short prayer
St Joseph, you listened, believed and acted. Give fathers and families strength and confidence. Accompany all who work, and all who stand at the end of their lives. Amen.
A simple prayer in our own words, to pray along.
Customs
19 March, St Joseph’s Day, is a public holiday in several Austrian federal states, and in Italy it is celebrated as Festa del Papà (Father’s Day). 1 May recalls Joseph the Worker, introduced by Pope Pius XII in 1955.
The name day of Joseph, Josephine and Josepha is celebrated on 19 March. Figures of St Joseph are often given as a gift for moving into a new home or for a wedding.
Matching items at LUNEXUS
- St Joseph with the Child – hand-carved wooden statue from South Tyrol
- St Joseph the Worker – hand-carved wooden statue from South Tyrol
- Olive wood Holy Family pendant – handcrafted in Bethlehem, blessed
- House blessing olive wood wall plaque 15 × 10 cm – “Gott segne unser Haus” (“God bless our home”)
The wooden statues from our woodcarving workshop are hand-carved in Val Gardena (South Tyrol) and come directly from the workshop: delivery time approx. 3–4 weeks, insured shipping to Germany and Austria only (€6.90). The statues are not blessed in our warehouse, and the 14-day statutory right of withdrawal applies to them.
Many, but not all, of our items are blessed in our own warehouse by a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Fulda. A business-card-sized certificate card showing the date of the blessing is then enclosed; whether an item is blessed is stated in its title or description. Shipped via Amazon's logistics network – free within Germany, €5.90 to Austria and France; Italy €6.90, Spain €6.90. Returns are possible within 30 days.
More to choose from: saint statues from South Tyrol and all patron saints. Parishes and groups will find an offer on request on the quantity discount page (does not apply to wooden statues from the woodcarving workshop).
Keep reading in the magazine: House blessing for a new home: meaning and how to hang one
Frequently asked questions
When is St Joseph’s Day?
On 19 March. The memorial of Joseph the Worker is on 1 May.
Whose patron saint is St Joseph?
He is the patron of the whole Church, of families and fathers, of workers and carpenters, and of the dying.
Was Joseph the biological father of Jesus?
According to Catholic teaching, no. He is the foster father of Jesus and his legal father.
Sources: General Roman Calendar, Martyrologium Romanum and Church reference works. We flag legends as such; prayers are, unless stated otherwise, our own simple wording. Compiled by Denis & Belinda, as of October 2026.
