This paper presents the image of St. Joseph in one of the sermons preached by Joseph Ratzinger on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of religious vows by two sisters from the Congregation of Our Lady of Sorrows. The special character of this approach lies in the fact that the main source of inspiration for the Bavarian Theologian is a relief from the Baroque altar located in a specific and largely unknown church in Portugal. The preacher – thanks to the reading of certain elements contained in the sculpture of St. Joseph – was able to emphasize aspects that had so far remained invisible: a readiness to do God’s will, going on a pilgrimage in faith or resignation from one’s own plans made to the point of heroism. Ratzinger’s interpretation, reinforced with references to Sacred Scripture, confirms the value of the presence of a work of art among theological topics.