St. Joseph
Mosaic from St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican

Joseph is the quiet one in the Gospels. He is the protector of the Holy Family. He was chosen as the earthly model of manhood for Jesus, so we can be sure he was nearly perfect in virtue. His strength and nobility of character come across beautifully in this inspiring mosaic from the walls of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Joseph is an ideal model for all men who seek to be Godly men.

Tu Eris Super Domum Meam means, You shall take charge of my home and family. It applies to all men in this sense, that the families that we protect and the children we raise are first and foremost God's families and God's children.

In a culture that encourages men to be irresponsible and then condemns them for it, it is important to remember the crucial role that men have to play in a healthy society. In many ways, the ongoing crisis of our times is the crisis of manhood and fatherhood. This august image of St. Joseph can remind men of their strength and of the purposes God has assigned to them, that He will equip them for, and that He will help them fulfill.

This mosaic fresco was done in the 19th Century by Francesco Grandi (1831-1891), a Catholic artist who decorated a lot of churches in Rome. It originally was displayed at St. Peter’s Basilica for about 100 years, but was moved in 1963 by Pope John XXIII to Sacred Mount of the Blessed Virgin of Soccorso. Here's a link to the beautiful place it is now. You can see it on the right.

** IMPORTANT ** THE IMAGE IS SMALLER THAN THE PAPER! There is a white border of about 0.5" inch for 5x7", 1.3" for 8.5x11", or 1.6" for 11x14" pictures. All Approx! Fine art printers do this because the images are almost never the same rectangular ratio of the standard paper sizes. It also gives the prints a finished look, and lets them look good in a frame without a matt.

- Acid-free paper
- Archival pigments, rated to last for generations.
- Cardboard backer
- Above story of the art
- Enclosed in a tight-fitting, crystal clear bag.

Thanks for your interest!
Sue & John

"In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art." ~ St. Pope John Paul II

Original image is out-of-copyright. Descriptive text and image alterations (hence the whole new image) © by Sue Kouma Johnson - Classic Catholic.