Pilar Monastery Cloister: Death of St. Joseph

Death of St. Joseph
Embedded into the wall of the cloister of the Monastery of Our Lady of Pilar in Goa, this painting depicts the Death of St. Joseph, regarded in Christianity as the patron saint of a good death. The painting is accompanied by a board nearby describing the scene. Here is the text from that board:

DEATH OF ST. JOSEPH
Death of St. Joseph in the arms of Jesus and Mary, surrounded by angels, one angel is holding the crown. God the Father in Heaven and Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, are ready to receive his soul into the eternal abode. St. Joseph is the foster Father of Jesus to whom Mary was betrothed. The exact date of his death is not known but we hear of him up to the time Jesus was last in the temple (Lk 2: 41-51) at the age of 12. We do not hear of him in the public ministry of Jesus which began when he was thirty years old (Lk 3:23)

St. Joseph is invoked as the Patron of Good Death.

As seen in the image, as Joseph lies dying, he rests his head on Jesus’ shoulder, while Jesus supports him from behind. Mary, kneeling at Joseph’s feet, looks on with a sorrowful expression and gestures with her left palm facing upward.

Surrounding the deathbed are angels, one carrying a crown and others holding lilies, traditionally associated with St. Joseph. In the clouds above, God the Father appears holding an orb in his left hand, while the Holy Spirit, represented by a dove, descends toward the scene.

As mentioned on the board, St. Joseph is invoked as the Patron of Good Death, and the painting presents this tradition visually. Joseph dies peacefully in the presence of Jesus and Mary, surrounded by angels, while God the Father and the Holy Spirit await him in Heaven.

Paintings in the Pilar Monastery Cloister
1. Pilar Monastery Cloister: One Good Deed Wins Heaven
2. Pilar Monastery Cloister: A Good Monk’s Reward
3. Pilar Monastery Cloister: The Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi
4. Pilar Monastery Cloister: The Death of St. Francis of Assisi
5. Pilar Monastery Cloister: Death of St. Joseph

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