Happy Feast Day of St Joseph!

St Joseph's expression on this medal is wonderful - serious but loving, and the baby Jesus is held in his arms.  St Joseph holds his walking staff which has burst into bloom with lilies.  Legend says that his blooming staff was the sign that he was chosen by God to be the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The lilies also represent the virtue of chastity as represented by St Joseph.

The inscription is in Latin and reads "Sancte Joseph Ora Pro Nobis" or "St Joseph Pray for Us".  St Joseph is the patron saint of fathers, workers, carpenters, and a happy death.  Why happy death?  Because we assume that when he died he had Jesus on one side and Mary on the other - there couldn't be any better way to go!