Many saints had a filial love for St. Joseph and learned from him to love Jesus and Mary more. Together with them, we also want to honor and love him. We’ve selected some phrases that reveal what the saints think about St. Joseph.
St. Thomas Aquinas
It’s true that other saints enjoy great power in heaven, but they ask like servants, they don’t give orders like masters. St. Joseph, to whose authority Jesus subjected himself on earth, obtains what he wants from his Son, the nurturing king in heaven.
Saint Augustine
What would Jesus deny St. Joseph, who never denied him anything during his mortal life on earth?
St. Peter Julian Eymard
He (St. Joseph) never preached, but he gave his whole life to the service of Jesus and died in his arms. If Jesus wept for Lazarus, how could he not weep for St. Joseph’s death?
Saint Teresa of Avila
Those who are devoted to prayer should especially cherish devotion to St. Joseph. I don’t know anyone who can think about the sufferings, trials and tribulations that the Queen of Angels endured while caring for Jesus in his infancy without at the same time thanking St. Joseph for the services he rendered to the Divine Child and his Blessed Mother.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
If you want to get an idea of St. Joseph’s greatness, consider that, by divine privilege, he earned the title of “father of Jesus”. Reflect on the fact that his very name, “Joseph”, means “an increase”. Bearing in mind that the great patriarch Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers in Egypt, realize that our saint inherited not only his name, but also his power, his innocence and his holiness. Because he kept the wheat, not for himself, but rather for the people in times of need, Joseph was entrusted with keeping the Bread, not for himself, but rather for the whole world.
Pope Pius XII
Stay with us, O St. Joseph. Joseph, in our times of prosperity, when everything invites us to honestly enjoy the fruits of our labors; but above all, remain with us and sustain us in the hours of sadness when it seems that the sky wants to close in on us and even the tools of our labor are slipping out of our hands
St. Francis de Sales
Who can understand how great in the virtue of virginity he had to be (St. Joseph), who was destined by the Eternal Father to be the guardian or, even more so, a participant in Mary’s virginity.
St. John Paul II
“Look, your father and I have been looking for you,” says Mary. I should be in my Father’s house,” Jesus replies. It is precisely these words of the Son that help us to understand the mystery of Joseph’s “fatherhood”. By reminding parents of the primacy of the One he calls “My Father”, Jesus reveals the truth of the role of both Mary and Joseph. He is truly Mary’s “husband” and Jesus’ “father”, as she affirms when she says: “Your father and I were anxiously looking for you”. But his spousal character and his paternity are totally relative to God’s. This is how Joseph of Nazareth is called to become Jesus’ disciple: by dedicating his life to the service of the only-begotten Son of the Father and of the Virgin Mother, Mary.
Saint Basil
What saint or angel deserved to be called the father of the Son of God? Saint Joseph had that honor.
