St. Joseph's Day

Saint Joseph's Day is in honor of Saint Joseph, spouse of Mary, the mother of Jesus and foster-father of Jesus of Nazareth. It is a feast day in Roman Catholicism. The 11th and 12th of the Divine Praises of the Roman Catholic Church are as follows: "Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse". Pope Pius IX declared Joseph to be the patron of the Universal Church in 1870, and promoted the "Patronage" (later Solemnity) feast of Saint Joseph on the third Wednesday after Easter. However, as Joseph was a carpenter (or a builder), he is also the patron saint of workers. Pope Pius XII decided in 1955 to add the optional feast day of Saint Joseph the Worker on May 1st, intentionally coinciding with the international labour day, the May Day. The fava bean was the crop which saved the population from starvation, and is a traditional part of St. Joseph's Day altars and traditions. Giving food to the needy is a St. Joseph's Day custom. Saint Joseph's Day always falls during Lent, and St. Joseph's Day altars and feasts have no meat. However, since the feast day is classed as a solemnity, the requirement of abstinence from meat is technically abrogated, according to Canon Law, even if it falls on a Friday. If the feast day falls on a Sunday, the previous Saturday is observed instead, and if it falls during Holy Week or Easter week, it is moved to the Monday after Low Sunday, or eight days after Easter.