“God is full of goods”, this is the meaning in Hebrew for the word Joseph and it is exactly this importance that the Catholic Church gives to Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus Christ and husband of Mary. This is because, according to the biblical passages, he would have been an exemplary man: hardworking, full of faith and protector of his family. For these reasons, he became revered as a universal patron not only to this church, but also to the Anglican and Orthodox. To celebrate his memory, March 19 was chosen, the date on which religious institutions are preparing a special program.
Who was Saint Joseph according to the Bible?
There is little information about Joseph in the Bible, but where he was mentioned he was always treated as a faithful, committed, faith-filled and hardworking man. Mary's husband, Joseph was chosen to be the adoptive father of Jesus Christ on earth. A carpenter from Nazareth, he also taught his son the trades of the profession. This is why he is known as the patron saint of workers.
In the book of Matthew, he shows how Joseph reacted to Mary's unexpected pregnancy. “When he awoke, Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had commanded and took his wife” (Mt 1,24). Because of this readiness, he was also appointed as the patron of families. Today, he is acclaimed by the faithful as an important intercessor in the prayers of Catholics.
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Celebrations in honor of the saint
The churches that see São José as their patron prepare programs for the 19th of March. Masses are held in honor of the saint and some religious institutions carry out processions in his memory. Some festivities can count on attending confessions and even shows for the general public.
Curiosity: sympathy to achieve goals
Some sympathies are created by the faithful and spread over time. And just as there are in the name of other saints, there are some linked to St. Joseph. A good example is the one that aims to achieve certain goals in life, which may be related to relationships, work, education, etc.
Therefore, it is necessary for the sympathizer to think of various fruits and write them on shredded paper. Fold the writings and deposit them in a box. Then, a piece of paper must be pulled out and the selected fruit must be removed from the diet for a year. It is noteworthy that, according to tradition, no food containing the fruit in its composition can be consumed. As soon as the believer achieves the goal, he needs to say a prayer of thanks to the saint.