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Introduction to St. Joseph

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Introduction to St. Joseph Year of St. Joseph An Introduction Patris Corde (With a father’s heart) Apostolic Letter from Pope Francis On the 150th Anniversary of the Proclamation of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents /papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20201208_patris-corde.html Eucharistic Prayer I (Roman Canon) – Nov. 13, 1962 – Pope John XXIII Eucharistic Prayers (II, III, IV) – May 1, 2013 “with blessed Joseph, her Spouse,” “Fathers are not born, but made. A man does not become a father simply by bringing a child into the world, but by taking up the responsibility to care for that child. Whenever a man accepts responsibility for the life of another, in some way he becomes a father to that person.” “Being a father entails introducing children to life and reality. Not holding them back, being overprotective or possessive, but rather making them capable of deciding for themselves, enjoying freedom and exploring new possibilities.” -Pope Francis (Patris Corde) Some Titles of St. Joseph Patron of the Catholic Church – Blessed Pius IX Patron of Workers – Venerable Pius XII Guardian of the Redeemer – St. John Paul II Patron of a Happy Death Litany of St. Joseph Lord, have mercy on us. Glory of home life, pray for us. Christ, have mercy on us. Guardian of virgins, pray for us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Pillar of families, pray for us. Christ, graciously hear us. Solace of the afflicted, pray for us. God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. Hope of the sick, pray for us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. Patron of the dying, pray for us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Terror of demons, pray for us. Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us. Protector of Holy Church, pray for us. Holy Mary, pray for us. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, St. Joseph, pray for us. Spare us, O Lord! Illustrious son of David, pray for us. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Light of patriarchs, pray for us. Graciously hear us, O Lord! Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Chaste guardian of the Virgin, pray for us. Have mercy on us! Foster father of the Son of God, pray for us. Watchful defender of Christ, pray for us. V. He made him the lord of His household, Head of the Holy Family, pray for us. R. And prince over all His possessions. Joseph most just, pray for us. Joseph most chaste, pray for us. Let Us Pray Joseph most prudent, pray for us. O God, Who in Thine ineffable Providence did vouchsafe to Joseph most valiant, pray for us. choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most holy Joseph most obedient, pray for us. Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, that he whom we Joseph most faithful, pray for us. venerate as our protector on earth may be our intercessor Mirror of patience, pray for us. in Heaven. Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Lover of poverty, pray for us. Model of workmen, pray for us. Dec. 8, 2020 - Dec. 8, 2021 https://osjusa.org/2021/01/the- logo-for-the-year-of-st-joseph/ ITE AD JOSEPH – GO TO JOSEPH “Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do” (Gen 41:55) When there was a famine in Egypt, the Egyptians begged Pharaoh for Bread. He replied wit the words above, referring to Joseph the son of Jacob, who was sold into slavery because of the jealousy of his brothers and subsequently became viceroy of Egypt. “We see faith, the root of all the Christian virtues, lessening in many souls; we see charity growing cold; the young generation daily growing in depravity of morals and views; the Church of Jesus Christ attacked on every side by open force or by craft; a relentless war waged against the Sovereign Pontiff; and the very foundations of religion undermined with a boldness which waxes daily in intensity.” Pope Leo XIII - August 15, 1889 “For marriage is the most intimate of all unions which from its essence imparts a community of gifts between those that by it are joined together. Thus in giving Joseph the Blessed Virgin as spouse, God appointed him to be not only her life's companion, the witness of her maidenhood, the protector of her honour, but also, by virtue of the conjugal tie, a participator in her sublime dignity.” -Quamquam Pluries http://www.vatican.va/content/leo- xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l- xiii_enc_15081889_quamquam-pluries.html Pope Leo XIII +1903 The official prayer of the Year of St. Joseph—To you, O blessed Joseph (Ad te, beate Ioseph)—was composed by Pope Leo XIII in his 1889 encyclical, Quamquam Pluries. The Holy Father asked that it be added to the end of the Rosary especially during October, the month of the Holy Rosary. This prayer is enriched with a partial indulgence (Source: USCCB). (Ad te, beate Ioseph) To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our afflictions, and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also. Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities. O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness. As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen. https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/prayers/prayer-to-st-joseph-after-rosary Quotes of St. Joseph in Scripture … “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” –Mt 1:20b-21 References in Scripture Matthew’s Gospel - 13:55 refers to Joseph in passing by calling Jesus “the carpenter’s son.” Also speaks of Joseph’s involvement in the birth of Jesus. Luke’s Gospel - Joseph is also referred to in Luke 3:23 (genealogy) and 4:22 “the son of Joseph”. John’s Gospel mentions Joseph in only two verses, 1:45 “Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth” and 6:42 “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother?” Mark’s Gospel – ? 6:3 “Is he not the carpenter, the Son of Mary […]”. Two great feast days of St. Joseph in Church Calendar March 19 May 1 Solemnity of St. Joseph, St. Joseph the Worker Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Carmelites observed a feast for St. Joseph rd In the early Church, St. Joseph was on the 3 Wednesday after Easter. commemorated in the Eastern liturgies during In 1955 Pope Pius XII replaced that feast with Christmas, but he received little attention until the May 1st celebration to honor St. Joseph the th the 7 century. Worker. th By the 9 century, St. Joseph’s feast was Pope Pius intended this feast to acknowledge observed on March 11 in some places in Christian workers’ value and the nobility of Europe. Servite and Franciscan preachers human labor. promoted the feast which became celebrated on March 19. Pope Sixtus IV (elected 1471) extended this feast to be celebrated in Rome, and it later became a universal feast in the 16th century when the Missal was revised by the Council of Trent. Cont… December 27, 2020, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph The nineteenth day of each month Every Wednesday, the traditional day of the week for devotions to Saint Joseph "St. Joseph Sunday" and suitable days of other liturgical rites in the Eastern Catholic Churches Decree on Indulgences for the Year of St. Joseph http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/tribunals/apost_penit/documents/rc_trib_appe n_pro_20201208_decreto-indulgenze-sangiuseppe_en.html Apostolic Penitentiary - The Gift of Indulgence https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/tribunals/apost_penit/documents/ rc_trib_appen_pro_20000129_indulgence_en.html • To gain indulgences, whether plenary or partial, it is necessary that the faithful be in the state of grace at least at the time the indulgenced work is completed. • A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day. In order to obtain it, the faithful must, in addition to being in the state of grace: 1. have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin; 2. have sacramentally confessed their sins; 3. receive the Holy Eucharist (it is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required); 4. pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. 5. Complete the indulgenced work.
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