St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ chose to enter the world through the human family; He came as an infant born into the marriage and home of the two holiest human creatures who ever lived: Joseph and Mary. Although He was God, He was obedient to them as a Child, and under their watchful care “Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men” (Luke 2:51-52). In this Jesus gave us an example, that we too as His disciples are meant to entrust ourselves to Joseph and Mary, learning from them how to grow in holiness as the adopted children of God (Eph. 1:5).

The Catholic Church fosters heartfelt devotion to St. Joseph as the Head of the Holy Family and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Worship and sacrfice are reserved to God alone. But as our love for what God has done for us grows, so does our love for God increase. Love only increases to the degree that it is given away. Here is how the Church Universal has recognized the role of St. Joseph in the spiritual life. 

• 1870 – Blessed Pope Pius IX declares St. Joseph the “Universal Patron of the Church.”
• 1879 – Apparitions at Knock, Ireland. St. Joseph appears with the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Apostle, and Jesus (appearing as the Lamb of God).
• 1889 – Pope Leo XIII writes Quamquam Pluries, an encyclical letter on St. Joseph.
• 1908 – St. Luigi Guanella begins constructing a church dedicated to St. Joseph in Rome. It is completed and consecrated as a basilica in 1912.
• 1917 – Apparitions at Fatima, Portugal. During the last apparition on October 13, St. Joseph appears holding the Child Jesus and blessing the world.
• 1921 – Pope Benedict XV inserts the phrase “Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse” into the Divine Praises.
• 1955 – Venerable Pope Pius XII establishes the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, to be celebrated on May 1.
• 1962 – Pope St. John XXIII inserts St. Joseph’s name into the Canon of the Mass (Eucharistic Prayer I).
• 1989 – Pope St. John Paul II writes Redemptoris Custos, an encyclical letter on St. Joseph.
• 2013 – Pope Francis, echoing and fulfilling the intentions of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, inserts the name of St. Joseph into all Eucharistic Prayers. He also consecrates Vatican City State to St. Joseph.