Most people think of Mary or Jesus whenever they hear the word “apparition,” but there were several times when St. Joseph appeared as well, either alone or as part of the Holy Family. He appeared to a saint as early as the 13th century, but it wasn’t until the 20th century that he began to show up more often. Many saints and the Church have taught that St. Joseph is the most powerful saint in heaven, second only to Our Blessed Mother, and these appearances seem to confirm that.
Cotignac, France (1660)
https://www.ncregister.com/blog/saint-joseph-s-little-known-appearance-in-france
Our Lady of Knock (1879)
This silent apparition in Knock, Ireland was seen by 15 witnesses, and it showed a tableau of Mary, St. Joseph and St. John standing next to an altar with a Lamb (Jesus) standing on it. A good explanation of the meaning behind this scene can be found here: https://ewtn.co.uk/article-marys-major-message-in-the-silent-apparition-at-knock/
Our Lady of Fatima (1917)
At some point during the Miracle of the Sun on October 17, 1917 at Fatima, Portugal, the seers “beheld St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle, beside the sun. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus seemed to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands.”
Our Lady of Zeitoun (1968-71)
Supposedly, Zeitoun is one of the locations where the Holy Family stopped on their flight to Egypt, and nineteen centuries later, Our Lady appeared over the course of 3 years on top of St. Mary’s Coptic Church (see https://zeitun-eg.org/zeitoun1.htm for more information). All of her appearances were silent but were witnessed by millions of people and even caught on camera. Sometimes the witnesses would see her with either the infant or 12-year old Jesus, and at least once with St. Joseph.
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In addition to apparitions, there have been a number of saints and Catholic mystics who have received revelations from or about St. Joseph and the Holy Family:
St. Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)
St. Gertrude was a German Benedictine nun who was one of the great mystics of the 13th century. She had her first mystical experience when she was 25, received the stigmata two years later, and had a number of visions and minor miracles. In one of her visions on the Solemnity of the Annunciation, she wrote: “I saw Heaven opened and St. Joseph sitting upon a magnificent throne. I felt myself wonderfully affected when, each time his name was mentioned, all the Saints made a profound inclination toward him, showing by the serenity and sweetness of their looks that they rejoiced with him on account of his exalted dignity.”
St. Teresa of Avila (1515-82)
St. Teresa was extremely devoted to St. Joseph, and even named all of her monasteries after him. In her autobiography, she describes a time when St. Joseph actually appeared to her: “Once, when I was in a difficulty and could not think what to do, or how I was going to pay some workmen, Saint Joseph, my true father and lord, appeared to me and gave me to understand that money would not be lacking and I must make all the necessary arrangements. I did so, though I had not a farthing, and the Lord, in ways which amazed people when they heard of them, provided the money.”
St. Junipero Serra (1713-84)
St. Junipero Serra maintained a strong devotion to St. Joseph throughout his life, and would even offer a Mass every Wednesday to St. Joseph. In fact, there were times when he was trying to establish a series of missions in California and would find himself facing extreme fatigue, severe shortage of food and supplies, and even inclement weather. Each time, though, he and his companion(s) were miraculously relieved by strangers whom St. Serra believed was St. Joseph himself coming down to help him. At one point, he claims that St. Joseph returned with all the member of the Holy Family in order to help him find much-needed lodging for that night.
St. Maria Faustina (1905-38)
St. Faustina is best known for her visions and revelations of Jesus as the Divine Mercy, but there were times when she also saw and conversed with our Blessed Mother Mary. However, in her Diary, she relates four times that she saw St. Joseph.
February 2, 1936: “When Mass began, a wonderful silence and joy filled my heart. Just then I saw Our Lady with the Child Jesus and St. Joseph standing behind them. The Blessed Mother said to me: ‘Take my dearest Treasure …’ and handed me the Child Jesus. When I took the Infant Jesus in my arms, Our Lady and St. Joseph disappeared. I was left alone with the Child Jesus.”
December 25, 1936: “During the Midnight Mass, God’s presence pierced me to the core. Moments before the Elevation (of the Host) I saw the Mother of God, the infant Jesus and the good man St. Joseph.”
July 30, 1937: “Saint Joseph demanded that I have a constant devotion to him. He himself told me to say three prayers [the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be] and the Memorare once every day. He looked at me with great kindness and gave me to know how much he supported this work. He promised me his special help and protection. I recite these requested prayers daily and feel his special protection.”
December 25, 1937: “When I came to the Midnight Mass, immediately at the beginning of the Mass, I plunged myself into deep recollection, in which I saw the Nativity scene of Bethlehem filled with great brightness. The Blessed Virgin was wrapping Jesus in swaddling clothes, immersed in great love, but St. Joseph was still asleep. Only when Our Lady laid Jesus in the manger, at that moment did God’s brightness wake Joseph, who was also praying.”
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In addition to the apparitions and saints listed above, there have been other Catholic mystics who have received revelations concerning details about Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and their life together as a Holy Family. The most prominent of these mystics are St. Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373), Venerable Marina de Escobar (1554–1653), Venerable Mary of Agreda (1602–1665), Servant of God Maria Beij (1694–1766), Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774–1824), and Therese Neumann (1898-1962).
Of the mystics listed above, the most details come from Ven. Mary of Agreda in her book Mystical City of God and Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich in The Complete Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich. Since these are considered private revelations, we are not bound to believe these writings as true or historical, and there may be discrepancies on some of the details. In fact, when The Mystical City of God was first published, there were some controversies regarding it, but in 1681, Pope Innocent XI had this work studied, and then decreed that this book should be freely spread to the clergy and laity. All of these mystics and their visions have been carefully studied by the Church, who determined that there was nothing in their writings that were contrary to the official teachings or traditions of the Church, and many popes and saints have declared them worthy of devout reading.
There have been sermons and books written by various priests (including some saints) that use some of these visions as a basis for their preaching. One of these books – St. Joseph: His Life, His Virtues, His Privileges, His Power – was written by an Irish priest (Archdeacon Kinane) in 1884 who compiled a detailed accounting of the life of St. Joseph and the Holy Family based on teachings from Sacred Tradition, Church Fathers, other saints, and the Mystical City of God from Ven. Mary of Agreda. Since this book is in the public domain, over the next two weeks, we will post excerpts from his book detailing events in the life of the Holy Family, as well as excerpt from the visions of Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich and the revelations to St. Bridget of Sweden.