Saint Joseph Grained Medal
From€299
Choose your materialThe face
Saint Joseph: protection, family, work
The Saint Joseph Grained Medal represents Saint Joseph, husband of Mary and father of Jesus in the Christian tradition. Latournerie offers it in 18ct gold, 925 silver or 925 silver gilt. It is intended for those who wish to wear or give a reminder of protection, family and responsibility, whether for a christening, a family commitment or a professional milestone.
The back
The back can be engraved.
A name, a date, a few words: on the back of the medal, close to you.
The profile
1.4 mmThickness, relief included
- Diameter
- Ø 20 mm
- Overall height
- 23.4 mm
- Bail
- Round ring
The material
Choose your material.
Material
Your piece
Saint Joseph Grained Medal
Gold 750/1000
- Diameter
- 20 mm
- Approximate weight
- 5.2 g
€1,594
Optional — a name, a date. An engraved piece is made for you: it cannot be returned.0 / 40 · 2 lines at most
The piece, measured
Dimensions
- Shape
- Round
- Diameter
- 20 mm
- Overall height
- 23.4 mm
- Thickness, relief included
- 1.4 mm
- Bail
- Round ring
Approximate weight
- Gold 750/1000
- 5.2 g
- Silver 925/1000
- 3.5 g
- Vermeil 925/1000
- 3.5 g
Dimensions taken from the workshop model; weights estimated from its volume.
The piece and its story
Who is Saint Joseph, represented on this medal?
Saint Joseph is the husband of Mary and the legal father of Jesus in the Christian tradition. The Gospel according to Matthew presents him as a just man. After a dream, he welcomes his wife into his home and gives the child the name Jesus. These two gestures explain why his fatherhood is said to be concrete: it manifests itself through acts, presence and commitment to the child. In the apostolic letter Patris corde, published on 8 December 2020, Pope Francis describes him as one who assumes the legal fatherhood of Jesus. Wearing a medal of Saint Joseph is therefore to place oneself before a figure of discreet faithfulness, which Catholic tradition associates with the family.12
Why is Saint Joseph associated with protection?
This association is based on a specific episode from the Gospel. According to Matthew 2, 13-15, Joseph is warned in a dream of the threat from Herod. He rises in the night and takes the child and his mother to Egypt. Protection here takes the form of immediate departure and care for vulnerable loved ones. In Patris corde, Francis explains that Joseph's fatherhood is responsible care, distinct from any possession: to educate is also to make the child capable of freedom and choice. According to this Catholic reading, to protect does not mean to retain but to accompany. The medal can remind the wearer of this attention, without providing a guarantee of protection.23
Why is Saint Joseph the patron of workers?
Joseph is presented as a carpenter who works to ensure the subsistence of his family. In section 6 of Patris corde, Pope Francis links this example to the dignity of work and the service of family and society. Work thus appears as a way of caring for one's own. Vatican News identifies Saint Joseph as patron of workers and recalls that Pius XII instituted in 1955 the feast of Saint Joseph the Craftsman, fixed on 1 May. This date offers a simple landmark for giving or wearing the medal, particularly on the occasion of a new job, a career change or a professional project.24
Christening, family, work: what meaning to give to this gift?
The medal is suitable for a christening, as it allows the transmission of a meaning rather than a simple object: that of attentive presence, faith and care for others. It can also honour a family commitment, such as the birth of a child or the role of godparent, or accompany a professional milestone. These connections are personal intentions, which each person chooses freely; they are not attached by default to the medal. A simple message can accompany the gift: "To remind you of a faithful presence." To extend the family theme, the Virgin Mary with Jesus Medal naturally dialogues with this one.
Gold, silver or silver gilt: which material to choose?
The Saint Joseph Grained Medal is available in 18ct gold, 925 silver and 925 silver gilt. Gold is suitable for a gift intended to last and be passed down. Silver offers a sober option for everyday wear. Silver gilt, which is 925 silver plated with gold, gives the appearance of gold with a silver base. The estimated weights are approximately 5.2 g in gold and 3.5 g in silver or silver gilt. Choose according to the intended use, the person who will receive it and the way you wish to wear it.
Your questions
- When should you give a Saint Joseph medal?
- Three occasions stand out. A christening allows the transmission of a meaning around presence and care. A family or professional milestone is also suitable. 1 May, the feast of Saint Joseph the Craftsman instituted by Pius XII in 1955, offers a landmark linked to work.4
- Is a Saint Joseph christening medal suitable for any age?
- Christening does not indicate the age of the person: this medal can be given to a child, adolescent or adult. What matters is the meaning you wish to give it: faithful presence, family responsibility, care for others.
- What other medal to associate with the Saint Joseph medal for a family?
- The Virgin Mary with Jesus Medal can complement this family theme, since Joseph is the husband of Mary and the legal father of Jesus in the Christian tradition.1
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