This tableau of the Holy Family of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Joseph stands in the amazing Shrine of St. Joseph in downtown St. Louis MO. It depicts the moment of the death of St. Joseph, who according to Roman Catholic beliefs, died in the arms of Mary and Jesus. For this reason, St. Joseph is the Patron saint of a good death, as well as the Patron of families, hunters, working people, fathers, and the Universal Church, as well as many other patronages
The statue occupies an alcove along the rear of the church, and was placed here in the 1960s.
The figures of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are arranged in an intimate triangular orientation. Mary and Jesus are gazing into Joseph's face as he lays dying. Jesus has wrapped his arm around Joseph's shoulders and appears to make the Sign of the Cross over him, symbolizing the blessings of God descending upon Joseph at the moment of his death. Mary looks on sadly, with her hands clasped in prayer.
From the StJosephStatue.com webiste: (
visit link)
"Patronage profile: against doubt, cabinetmakers, Canada, carpenters, China, confectioners, craftsmen, dying people, engineers, families, fathers, happy death, holy death, house hunters, Korea, laborers, Mexico, New France, people in doubt, Peru, pioneers, protector of the Church, social justice, travellers, Universal Church, Vatican II, Viet Nam, workers, working people
Feast Days
Two separate & distinct feast days are celebrated for Joseph: March 19 for Joseph the Husband of Mary and May 1 for Joseph the Worker."