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<img height='350' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1764.jpg'> 
 Date Issued - February 22, 2021
 Scott 1764 			 			 			 			 			 			 
 Face Value € 3.00
 Perforation 14 x 13 3/4

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March 19th is the feast day of Saint Joseph. Pope Francis requested the faithful to give devotion to Saint Joseph and declared December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021 as the Year of Saint Joseph. A souvenir stamp sheet was issued in 2021 to commemorate the role Saint Joseph has played in the Church. As stated in the VPS notes (February 2021) the philatelic miniature sheet reproduces the mosaic of St. Joseph, Patron of the Church, located in the Relics Chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica. The mosaic was created in 1882 by F. L. Campanili, based on a design by painter F. Grandi. The mosaic depicts St. Joseph standing and holding the Christ Child. Prior to this stamp, Saint Joseph was always shown with the Blessed Mother. This is the first stamp that shows Saint Joseph alone holding Jesus.

Devotion to Saint Joseph has developed slowly over a number of centuries. Saints who had devotion to Saint Joseph were St. Teresa of Avila, St. Andre Bessette, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Pope John Paul II.

Starting with Pope Pius V in 1479 and his declaring the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the church has been advocating to the faithful the importance of Saint Joseph as an intercessor. Pope Pius IX in the 1870 proclamation “Quemadmodum Deus” declared Saint Joseph as Patron of the Catholic Church. Pope Saint John XXIII in the 1961 proclamation “Le Voci” declared Saint Joseph as Patron of the Second Vatican Council. Pope Saint John Paul II issued the Apostolic Exhortation, Saint Joseph “Guardian of the Redeemer” (Redemptoris Custos) in 1989.

Pope Paul VI in 1969 put together in a March 19th homily the role Saint Joseph had in the history of salvation. Pope Paul VI went on to say that a quick reading of the Gospel gives little recognition of the immense value that Saint Joseph has played in salvific history. When one digs deeper, the Pope says we see the importance of Saint Joseph: his journey to Bethlehem (Luke 2:4-5); his saying “yes” in taking Mary as his wife, a virgin (Mt 1:20); the presentation of Jesus in the temple and Joseph naming Jesus” (Mt 1:21); his journey to Egypt to avoid the madness of King Herod (Mt 2:13); his journey from Egypt to Nazareth (“Christ being called a Nazarene” - 2:22-23 & “Out of Egypt I have called my son” Mt 2-15); his life of poverty and working as a carpenter, a upright man (Mt 1-19 & Mt 13-55 “the Son of a carpenter)); the finding of Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:41-52). Pope Benedict XVI’s Angelus address in 2006 brings up the importance of Saint Joseph belonging to the tribe of Judah (Mt 1-1-20 – “Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham”). Most of these events around Saint Joseph match up with Old Testament prophecies, and give the validity of Christ as the Son of God and the one spoken of in the Old Testament. As the theology of Saint Joseph grew, Pope Francis issued the decree “Paternas vices” that the name of St. Joseph should be inserted into the Eucharistic Prayers.

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Eucharistic Prayer

"To all of us, your children, grant, O merciful Father, that we may enter into a heavenly inheritance with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph , her Spouse, and with your Apostles and Saints in your kingdom."

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The shrine of St. Joseph in Montreal, Canada has a series of chapels behind its main altar which honors some of the titles of Saint Joseph – Protector of Childhood, Protector of Spouses, Protector of the Family, Protector of the Workers, Protector of Virgins, Protector of Prisoners, and Protector of the Dying.

References: 
<a href='https://osjusa.org/'>Website of Oblates of Saint Joseph</a> 
<a href='https://www.vaticanstamps.org/vaticannotes/idisplay.php?p=69-388-06-07&r=4/'>VPS Notes

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