The Optional Memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker falls on May 1, which happens to be the perfect time to also consider the pious belief that, like Our Lady, Saint Joseph was taken up bodily into heaven — the assumption of Saint Joseph.
Some great saints, Doctors of the Church, and other eminent churchmen have spoken of it and taught about it.
Saint Bernardine of Siena and Blessed Bernardine de Bustis
One such saint is Saint Bernardine of Siena, who was the undisputed top preacher throughout Italy in the early 15th century. We may not be familiar with his name, but because he was so devoted to the Holy Name of Jesus, Bernardine popularized the familiar symbol for Jesus’ name using the first three Greek letters of his name — IHS.
“We may piously believe, but not assert, that the Most Holy Son of God Jesus crowned his foster-father with the same privilege which he gave his Mother: that as he assumed her into heaven bodily and glorious in soul, so also on the day when he arose he took Joseph up with him in the glory of the Resurrection,” Bernadine preached in one of his great sermons, adding, “So that as this glorious
