After the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph is the highest saint in the hierarchy among all other saints.
This is not only because of his virtues and witness of faith and courage, but also because of his essential role in salvation history.
Chosen by God to care for Our Lady as his wife and raise Jesus as his earthly father, Saint Joseph lived for many years under the same roof as the two holiest people who ever lived: Jesus, because He is God, and Mary, because she was born without Original Sin.
Together, the three experienced joyful and difficult times and shared many "ordinary" moments like any family, but lived supernaturally.
For many centuries, devotion to this great saint remained relatively quiet, but in recent decades, many popes and saints have emphasized the importance of turning to Saint Joseph as a spiritual father and relying on his powerful intercession.
Here are five quotes from saints who were known for their devotion to Saint Joseph:
"I prayed to St. Joseph to watch over me. From my childhood, my devotion to him was mingled with my love for the Blessed Virgin. Each day I recited the prayer, 'O Saint Joseph, father and protector of virgins.' It seemed to me that I was well protected and completely sheltered from every danger." (Saint Thérèse of Lisieux)
"Love Saint Joseph a lot. Love him with all your soul, because he, together with Jesus, is the person who has most loved our Blessed Lady and been closest to God. He is the person who has most loved God, after our Mother. He deserves your affection, and it will do you good to get to know him, because he is the Master of the interior life, and has great power before the Lord and before the Mother of God." (Saint Josemaría Escrivá)
"Saint Joseph urged me to have a constant devotion to him. He himself told me to recite three prayers [the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be]. and the Memorare [to St. Joseph] once every day. He looked at me with great kindness and gave me to know how much he is supporting this work of mercy. He has promised me this special help and protection. I recite the requested prayers every day and feel his special protection." (St. Faustina)
"Saint Joseph, with the love and generosity with which he guarded Jesus, so too will he guard your soul, and as he defended him from Herod, so will he defend your soul from the fiercest Herod: the devil! All the care that the Patriarch Saint Joseph has for Jesus, he has for you and will always help you with his patronage. He will free you from the persecution of the wicked and proud Herod, and will not allow your heart to be estranged from Jesus. Ite ad loseph! Go to Joseph with extreme confidence, because I do not remember having asked anything from St. Joseph, without having obtained it readily." (St. Padre Pio)
"Knowing by experience Saint Joseph's astonishing influence with God, I would wish to persuade everyone to honor him with particular devotion. I have always seen those who honored him in a special manner make progress in virtue, for this heavenly protector favors in a striking manner the spiritual advancement of souls who commend themselves to him." (St. Teresa of Avila)
As we prepare to celebrate his feast day on March 19th, let's pray together the Memorare to St. Joseph:
Remember, O most pure spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, my great protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection, or implored your aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in your goodness, I come before you. Do not turn down my petitions, foster father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.
Saint Joseph, pray for us!