Like Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans have their own saint that they celebrate in March. Instead of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, Italian-Americans celebrate St. Joseph’s Day on March 19. They substitute red for green and pastries for beer. But St. Joseph’s Day also has deep origins in religion. Some quotes about the Sicilian patron saint are listed below, courtesy of AmericanCatholic.org, Brainy Quote and the Catholic Reader.

1. “He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph’s wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying: ‘Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.’ ” -- St. Bernardine of Siena

2. “Those who give themselves to prayer should in a special manner have always a devotion to St. Joseph; for I know not how any man can think of the Queen of the angels, during the time that she suffered so much with the Infant Jesus, without giving thanks to St. Joseph for the services he rendered them then." -- St. Teresa of Avila

3. “The Lord has arrayed Joseph, like with a sun, in all which the saints possess together in regard to light and splendor.” -- St. Gregory of Nazianzus

4. “Some Saints are privileged to extend to us their patronage with particular efficacy in certain needs, but not in others; but our holy patron St. Joseph has the power to assist us in all cases, in every necessity, in every undertaking.” -- St. Thomas Aquinas

5. “We should, indeed, honor St. Joseph, since the Son of God Himself was graciously pleased to honor him by calling him father. The Holy Scriptures speak of him as the father of Jesus. ‘His father and mother were marveling at the things spoken -- concerning Him’ (Luke 2:33). Mary also used this name: ‘in sorrow thy father and I have been seeking thee’ (Luke 2:48). If, then, the King of Kings was pleased to raise Joseph to so high a dignity, it is right and obligatory on our part to endeavor to honor him as much as we can.” -- St. Alphonsus Liguori

6. “St. Joseph was chosen among all men, to be the protector and guardian of the Virgin Mother of God; the defender and foster-father of the Infant-God, and the only co-operator upon earth, the one confidant of the secret of God in the work of the redemption of mankind.” -- St. Bernard of Clairvaux

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