This position is still held in the Orthodox churches, but the Western church holds to Saint Jerome's argument that both Joseph and Mary must have been lifelong virgins and that the "brothers" must have been his cousins. Perspectives on Joseph as a historical figure are distinguished from a theological reading of the Gospel texts. The month of March is dedicated to Saint Joseph. Pope Pius IX declared him to be both the patron and the protector of the Catholic Church, in addition to his patronages of the sick and of a happy death, due to the belief that he died in the presence of Jesus and Mary. Joseph has become patron of various dioceses and places. Several venerated images of Saint Joseph have been granted a decree of canonical coronation by a Pope.
This article is a list of the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary by occupations, activities, dioceses, and other geographic locations. The Blessed Virgin is cited as the patroness of all humanity. However, certain occupations and activities are more closely associated with her protection. A large number of countries, places and groups claim the Blessed Virgin Mary as a patroness, though usually under a specific title or apparition while only a select few retains its patronage by Pontifical decree from Rome. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Virgo by Josef Moroder-Lusenberg. Hymns to Mary.
Saint Paschal Pascal Baylon was a sixteenth century Spanish friar known for his prayerful holiness and a life dedicated to the veneration of the Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin. As a child, he received his religious education from his devout mother, who regularly took him to Mass at the town church. Throughout his childhood, he would slip away, only to be later found keeping vigil at the church tabernacle. From ages seven to twenty-four, Paschal labored as a shepherd. If he remained in one spot for a long time, he would stick his staff in the ground and pray before his portable shrine.
A feast called the Conception of Mary arose in the Eastern Church in the seventh century. It came to the West in the eighth century. In the 11th century it received its present name, the Immaculate Conception. In the 18th century it became a feast of the universal Church.