st-josephs-day
St. Joseph's Day, March 19, is a popular holiday among Italian-Americans. Reuters

St. Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary, is celebrated every year on March 19 by Italian-Americans. While Irish-Americans pay homage to St. Patrick with the color green and beer on March 17, Italian-Americans gather two days later celebrate to honor St. Joseph with the color red and pastries. To see what other saints have said about St. Joseph, check out the following quotes:

1. “Those who give themselves to prayer should in a special manner have always a devotion to St. Joseph; for I know not how any man can think of the Queen of the Angels, during the time that she suffered so much with the Infant Jesus, without giving thanks to St. Joseph for the services he rendered them then." — St. Teresa of Avila

2. “Some saints are privileged to extend to us their patronage with particular efficacy in certain needs, but not in others; but our holy patron St. Joseph has the power to assist us in all cases, in every necessity, in every undertaking.” — St. Thomas Aquinas

3. “St. Joseph was chosen among all men to be the protector and guardian of the Virgin Mother of God; the defender and foster-father of the Infant-God, and the only co-operator upon earth, the one confidant of the secret of God in the work of the redemption of mankind.” — St. Bernard of Clairvaux

4. “We should, indeed, honor St. Joseph, since the Son of God Himself was graciously pleased to honor him by calling him father. The Holy Scriptures speak of him as the father of Jesus. ‘His father and mother were marveling at the things spoken — concerning Him’ (Luke 2:33). Mary also used this name: ‘in sorrow thy father and I have been seeking thee’ (Luke 2:48). If, then, the King of Kings was pleased to raise Joseph to so high a dignity, it is right and obligatory on our part to endeavor to honor him as much as we can.” — St. Alphonsus Liguori

5. “He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph’s wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying: ‘Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.’” — St. Bernardine of Siena

6. “The Lord has arrayed Joseph, like with a sun, in all which the saints possess together in regard to light and splendor.” — St. Gregory of Nazianzus

Follow me on Twitter @mariamzzarella

RELATED STORIES