Panoply of representations of Saint Joseph, him whom we call the husband of Mary and

the Foster Father of Jesus are presented each with its particularity. We shall give our focus to

depicting the image of the Saint standing alone and holding in his hand a flowering staff. To

begin, the Saint is represented with a round crown on his head which is called halo, to signify his

holiness, his particularity as chosen by God, since this ring can also be observed around the sun

or moon or other luminous body; it can be either white or coloured light. Thus Saint Joseph is a

luminous body.

Furthermore, he holds with him a flowering staff that can be depicted as such. The staff

represents authority; he who is from a kingly lineage inherits authority, from David his father.

Thus, representing the staff of Aaron which was kept in the Ark of the Covenant, the tabernacle

that Mary will represent then. And as such, the kingly lineage is kept; the child Jesus shall inherit

the staff of his Foster Father, the humane representation of his divine Father.

Moreover, the staff is not simply represented as a mere stick, but as a flowering staff,

with three flowers, not any one, but three lilies flowers. The colour means purity. But then, the

lily flower is seen as a sign of purity and most especially chastity, virginity. As such, in relation

to Joseph, it implies his relation with Mary his wife which remained pure chaste since he didn’t

know her. Therefore Mary is that lily flower, he holds in his hand.

In French, lily flower is called fleur de Lys, and calling Mary as such, we know the

implication; a French musician, in order to manifest his doubt sang: “Oh Fleur de Lys je ne suis

pas homme de foi, j’irai cueillir la fleur d’amour…”, to mean that it is only faith that makes us

believe the virginity, chastity of Mary and Joseph.