Saint Joseph: According to catholic.org, Joseph was a saint, and similarly for, "Mary . . . The Mother, of God, Mother of Jesus, wife of St. Joseph, and the greatest of all Christian saints". Most were AD, but there are a few exceptions who were contemporaries. Still, as you say, I have doubts on this woman's sainthood (or even her identity).
If you read the article, it makes plain that she supposedly lived long enough to have known an adult Jesus, and therefore able to be saved by him. Further, ancient prophets whose inspiration from the Holy Spirit can be assured are, in fact, called saints. I’ve seen “Saint Isaiah,” “Saint Jeremiah,” “Saint Elijah,” “Saint Daniel,” etc., on cathedrals and basilicas (balisicae?). Nonetheless, she is almost certainly a pious literary device, not a real person. Calling her “Saint Ismeria,” however, is confusing, however. She is NOT a canonical saint, as the Church probably never formally declared that she even existed, let alone attributed to her saintliness.
Thank ‘you’, and all the other respondents for the ‘clarification’ on ‘Saints’.
Thank ‘you’, and all the other respondents for the ‘clarification’ on ‘Saints’.