March 19

Feast of Saint Joseph

A religious observance on March 19 honoring Saint Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary and foster father of Jesus Christ, as a principal feast on the Catholic liturgical calendar.

Yearly Date

March 19

Observed

Internationally

Introduction

The Feast of Saint Joseph has been observed for more than a thousand years, making it one of the oldest continually celebrated saints' feasts in Western Christianity. Joseph, described in the Gospels as a "just man" and a carpenter from Nazareth, speaks no recorded words in Scripture, yet his silent obedience earned him the distinction of being named Patron of the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX in 1870.

The feast carries one of the most distinctive food traditions in the Catholic world: the St. Joseph's Table. Originating from a medieval Sicilian famine, these elaborate three-tiered altars covered in meatless dishes, sculpted breads, and fava beans are still built each March in Sicilian parishes, Italian-American communities, and across New Orleans, where the tradition blends with the city's own Mardi Gras Indian processions.

Feast of Saint Joseph History

Veneration of Saint Joseph developed slowly in the early Church, where martyrs initially dominated the cult of saints. The earliest recorded feast of "Joseph the Carpenter" appeared in Coptic calendars as early as the 4th century, observed on July 20. By around 1000 AD, Byzantine churches commemorated him on the Sunday after Christmas. In the Western Church, his name began appearing in local martyrologies by the 9th and 10th centuries.

The devotion gained momentum in medieval Europe through the influence of prominent theologians and preachers. According to Pope Benedict XIV, the Carmelite order is credited with bringing the practice of venerating Saint Joseph from the East to the West.

Champions of the Devotion

Figures like St. Bernardine of Siena, St. Vincent Ferrer, and the theologian Jean Gerson, who composed an Office of the Espousals of Joseph in 1400, actively promoted devotion to the saint. Gerson was particularly vocal at the Council of Constance in 1414, urging formal Church recognition.

Their efforts were rewarded under Pope Sixtus IV, who added the Feast of Saint Joseph to the Roman Calendar on March 19 around 1479. The feast was initially ranked as a simple celebration. Pope Innocent VIII elevated it to a double rite, and Pope Gregory XV declared it a holy day of obligation in 1621 at the urging of the Habsburg emperors.

Patron of the Universal Church

The most significant elevation came on December 8, 1870, when Pope Pius IX issued the decree Quemadmodum Deus, naming Saint Joseph the Patron of the Universal Church. The declaration came during the First Vatican Council. In 1955, Pope Pius XII created a second feast, the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker on May 1, explicitly positioning it as a Catholic response to International Workers' Day.

Renewed Devotion in the 21st Century

In 2013, Pope Francis inserted Saint Joseph's name into all four Eucharistic Prayers of the Mass, a liturgical change that placed Joseph alongside the Virgin Mary in every Catholic celebration of the Eucharist. He later declared a Year of Saint Joseph from December 2020 to December 2021, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Quemadmodum Deus decree and issuing the apostolic letter Patris Corde ("With a Father's Heart").

Feast of Saint Joseph Timeline

1479

Feast added to Roman Calendar

Pope Sixtus IV placed the Feast of Saint Joseph on March 19 in the Roman Calendar, formalizing centuries of local devotion into an official Church-wide observance.

1570

Universal observance extended

Pope Pius V extended the feast to the entire Roman Rite through his Apostolic Constitution Quo primum, ensuring every Catholic diocese observed March 19.

1621

Elevated to holy day of obligation

Pope Gregory XV declared the feast a festival of obligation at the request of the Habsburg emperors and King Charles II of Spain.

1870

Joseph declared Patron of the Universal Church

Pope Pius IX issued the decree Quemadmodum Deus during the First Vatican Council, naming Saint Joseph the patron and protector of the entire Catholic Church.

1955

Feast of St. Joseph the Worker established

Pope Pius XII created a second feast on May 1, positioning Saint Joseph as the patron of workers and directly countering International Workers' Day.

2020

Pope Francis declares Year of Saint Joseph

Pope Francis proclaimed a special Year of Saint Joseph from December 8, 2020, to December 8, 2021, marking the 150th anniversary of the Quemadmodum Deus decree.

How to Celebrate Feast of Saint Joseph

1

Build or visit a St. Joseph's altar

Many Catholic parishes construct elaborate three-tiered altars covered in meatless dishes, breads, and pastries for March 19. The New Orleans Public Library provides a detailed guide to the altar tradition and its Sicilian roots.
2

Bake zeppole di San Giuseppe

These fried or baked choux pastries filled with custard and topped with a cherry are the signature dessert of the feast. The Sip and Feast recipe guide walks through the traditional Neapolitan preparation step by step.
3

Carry fava beans for good luck

Dried fava beans are distributed at St. Joseph's Day celebrations as tokens of good fortune, a tradition rooted in the Sicilian famine legend. Place one in your wallet or give them to friends as a symbol of abundance and gratitude.
4

Explore the Basilica of Saint Joseph in your area

Saint Joseph is the patron of dozens of cathedrals, basilicas, and oratories worldwide, including Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montreal, the largest church in Canada. Many hold special masses, processions, and community meals on March 19.
5

Read Patris Corde by Pope Francis

Pope Francis's 2020 apostolic letter on Saint Joseph offers a modern reflection on fatherhood, humility, and work. The full text is available on the Vatican website.

Why Feast of Saint Joseph is Important

A

Father's Day in Catholic Europe and beyond

In Spain, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, and Mozambique, March 19 doubles as Father's Day, directly linking fatherhood celebrations to Saint Joseph's role as the foster father of Jesus. This tradition, rooted in the Middle Ages, means the feast shapes civic and family life well beyond the walls of the Church.
B

A living food tradition spanning continents

The St. Joseph's Table, born from a medieval Sicilian famine, is still constructed each March in parishes from Palermo to New Orleans to Chicago. In New Orleans, the tradition merges with Mardi Gras Indian 'Super Sunday' processions, creating one of the most culturally layered religious food traditions in the United States.
C

The most elevated non-biblical saint in Catholic liturgy

Saint Joseph holds the title of Patron of the Universal Church and is the only saint besides the Virgin Mary named in all four Eucharistic Prayers. His veneration, termed protodulia, ranks him above all other saints except Mary, reflecting a theological status unmatched in the Catholic sanctoral calendar.