In 1687 the Croatian parliament (Sabor) officially declared St Joseph as the patron saint of Croatia.
From the research Vigilare launched for their “Saint Joseph” campaign in early 2022, they discovered the original minutes of this parliamentary decision.
In the minutes of the Parliament of Dalmatia, Croatia and Slavonia from 1687, along with a transcript of the Conclusions of the Croatian Parliament (1958), etc., the only mention of Saint Joseph is recorded in the form of a text whose correct translation and original transcript we provide here:
“Finally, at the aforementioned holy Council, the fast on the eve of the Immaculate Conception of the most glorious Virgin Mary was accepted, and Saint Joseph, according to the most exalted orders and ranks, was unanimously accepted as the patron.”
lat. “Demus in praemissa Sacra Synodo Jeiunium Immaculatae Conceptionis Gloriosissimae Demum Virginis Mariae, ita pariter Santus Josephus per Inclytos Status et Ordines, Communi itidem omnium Voto pro patrono acceptatus et acceptatum est.”
Employees of the Croatian State Archives also confirmed that this is the only record of that session and that event.
A copy of the Latin original and the minutes of the Parliament from 1687 can be seen on the official page of the Vigilare campaign “Saint Joseph”: https://vigilare.hr/izdanja/svetijosip/
That this consecration also applies to the entire Croatian people was confirmed by the Croatian bishops in 1972 at a session in Split.
The Church of St. Joseph located in Dubovac a district of the city of Karlovac, was by decree of the Croatian Bishops proclaimed on April 15, 1987 the feast day of St Joseph as “the national shrine of St. Joseph of the Croatian church”
The shrine was opened for veneration by the late Cardinal Franjo Kuharic in 1987 and concluded on St. Joseph’s feast day in 1988 which fell on of the 300th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as the patron Saint of Croatia.
Prayer to St. Joseph for the Homeland
Saint Joseph, head of the Holy Family of Nazareth and guardian of the Church of God, throughout the centuries the Church in Croatia has relied on you as its protector and has recommended your families and the entire nation to your intercession. We entrust to you all the families of the Croatian people, that through daily prayer, Sunday Eucharist and obedience to the will of God they may fulfill their mission with love, harmony and peace. In these difficult times, pray for the Croatian people and all the nations of the earth for peace in justice and love! Intercede for us before the Most Holy Trinity that we may remain faithful to Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church, and that we may walk the earth doing good. Amen.
(In Karlovac, on the feast of Saint Joseph, March 19, 1988, the servant of God Franjo Card. Kuharić, Archbishop of Zagreb and Metropolitan)
St. Joseph is also known and referred to as the patron saint of the Universal Church and workers.
St. Joseph’s feast day is March 19th. Link to the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Croatia:
