St joseph’s Day in lent
Today Friday 19 March is St Joseph’s Day and we are remembering him in this year of St Joseph marking the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX declaring St Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church.
He is also patron of workers, including carpenters, and fathers.
We know Joseph as Jesus’s step father who accepted Mary his wife being the mother of Jesus.
Next week on Thursday 25 March, The Annunciation, we shall recall the moment Mary accepted her role.
Today is Father’s Day in Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Pope Francis offers this prayer to St Joseph:
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.
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.