PHOTOS: Romans celebrate St. Joseph’s feast day, venerate his holy cloak

2 weeks ago 10

Vatican City, Mar 19, 2025 / 14:45 pm

Hundreds of people in Rome joined celebrations organized by the Parish Basilica of St. Joseph al Trionfale in Rome to celebrate the March 19 solemnity of St. Joseph.

 Daniel Ibañez/CNAA St. Joseph’s procession winds through the streets of Rome and the surrounding neighborhood of the Parish of San Giuseppe al Trionfale in Rome on March 19, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Festivities began March 9 with a vigil Mass at the parish to commence the March 10–18 novena leading up to the feast day dedicated to the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 Daniel Ibañez/CNAYoung people participate in the St. Joseph’s procession through the streets of Rome and the surrounding neighborhood of the Parish of San Giuseppe al Trionfale in Rome on March 19, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

For the jubilee year, the relics of St. Joseph’s cloak and Our Lady’s veil were on display inside St. Joseph al Trionfale for public veneration for four days from March 16–19.

 Daniel Ibáñez/CNAA reliquary said to contain a piece of St. Joseph’s cloak (at the bottom) and a fragment of the Virgin Mary’s veil (at the top) is displayed for the faithful at San Giuseppe al Trionfale Parish in Rome on March 19, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

It is believed the relics belonging to the parents of Jesus were hidden in the Basilica of Sant’Anastasia, located near the Circus Maximus, for more than 1,600 years after St. Jerome brought the relics to Rome in the fourth century.

 Daniel Ibáñez/CNASpectators watch as a St. Joseph’s procession winds through the surrounding neighborhood of the Parish of San Giuseppe al Trionfale in Rome on March 19, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Devotion to the holy cloak of St. Joseph has expanded beyond Rome. For American visitor Gina Pribaz, the holy patron of the universal Church is an important saint for her family.

 Daniel Ibáñez/CNAA St. Joseph’s procession winds through the streets of Rome and the surrounding neighborhood of the Parish of San Giuseppe al Trionfale on March 19, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

“When I was expecting my first child and experiencing difficulty, I asked St. Joseph for his intercession — my daughter was born on his feast day,” Pribaz told CNA on Wednesday.

“Being able to venerate the relic of his cloak moved me; it helped me feel close to the real man who guided and protected the Holy Family and can do the same for our families now,” she said.

 Daniel Ibañez/CNAA St. Joseph’s procession winds through the streets of Rome and the surrounding neighborhood of the Parish of San Giuseppe al Trionfale in Rome on March 19, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

The 30-day Holy Cloak prayer devotion, which includes the recitation of the Litany of St. Joseph, has spread throughout the world. Each of the 30 days represents a year in the 30 years of Jesus’ hidden life — before he began his public ministry — under the protection of St. Joseph.

 Daniel Ibañez/CNAA St. Joseph’s procession leads to the Parish of San Giuseppe al Trionfale in Rome on March 19, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Wednesday’s celebrations at St. Joseph al Trionfale included six Masses; an afternoon street procession with the parish’s St. Joseph statue, accompanied by the Lazio region’s band orchestra and state police; food and games for children, including St. Joseph cream puff pastries; and an evening fireworks display.

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 Daniel Ibáñez/CNAParticipants observe the St. Joseph’s procession through the streets of Rome on March 19, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
 Daniel Ibañez/CNAA St. Joseph’s procession leads to the Parish of San Giuseppe al Trionfale in Rome on March 19, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Kristina Millare

Kristina Millare is a freelance journalist with a professional communications background in the humanitarian aid and development sector, news journalism, entertainment marketing, politics and government, business and entrepreneurship.

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