Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.
The Solemnity of Saint Joseph.
Spouse of The Blessed Virgin Mary,
Confessor and Patron of The Universal Church.
Third Wednesday after Easter.
(Wednesday after Good Shepherd Sunday).
Double of The First-Class
with an Octave.
[Note: An Octave was given to this Solemnity, rather than to The Feast of Saint Joseph on 19 March, because Feasts falling in Lent may not have Octaves.]
White Vestments.
unless otherwise stated.
The Solemnity of Saint Joseph.
Spouse of The Blessed Virgin Mary,
Confessor and Patron of The Universal Church.
Third Wednesday after Easter.
(Wednesday after Good Shepherd Sunday).
Double of The First-Class
with an Octave.
[Note: An Octave was given to this Solemnity, rather than to The Feast of Saint Joseph on 19 March, because Feasts falling in Lent may not have Octaves.]
White Vestments.
Saint Joseph.
Spouse of The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Confessor and Patron of The Universal Church.
Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY
Artist: René de Cramer.
“Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium”.
Used with Permission.
Today’s Mass might be represented by a Triptych (see, below), showing us that Saint Joseph is the protector, whom Divine Providence has chosen for His Church.
1. The Epistle speaks to us of Joseph, who, in the Old Testament, is a figure of Saint Joseph. The dying Jacob prophesies that his son, Joseph, “shall be the Pastor and Strength of Israel, and that The Almighty shall shower Blessings upon him.” And Joseph was established by Pharao over the entire land of Egypt, so that the salvation of all depended upon him. [The Lessons and Responses of the First Nocturn of Matins.] The whole Church has recourse to Saint Joseph with confidence.
2. The Gospel, Collect, and Communion, explaining the connection between the Heavenly Trinity and The Holy Family, this Trinity on Earth, show forth the power of Saint Joseph. Jesus is, at the same time, Son of God and Son of man. Mary is the Spouse of The Holy Ghost, and it is the will of God The Father that Saint Joseph should be considered father of Christ and that he should exercise paternal rights over Him (Preface).
3. Lastly, the Introit, Collects, Alleluia, and Offertory, show us Saint Joseph as the guardian of the new Jerusalem, which is The Church, to watch over her in the midst of all her tribulations.
Full of confidence in the patronage of Saint Joseph, let us honour his Title of Protector on Earth, so as to deserve his help from Heaven (Collect).
Mass: Adjútor.
Creed: Is said.
Preface of Saint Joseph during the Octave.
Preface of Saint Joseph during the Octave.
“Te Joseph Celebrent”.
The Hymn (First Tone) of Second Vespers
for the Solemnity of Saint Joseph.
Available on YouTube
Prayer To Saint Joseph.
Prescribed by Pope Leo XIII, for the Month of October,
after the recitation of the Rosary
and the Litany of Our Lady.
Indulgence: 300 Days.
21 September 1889.
Unto thee. O, Blessed Joseph, do we fly in our tribulation and, having implored the help of thy Holy Spouse, we now also confidently seek thy protection.
By that affection which united thee to The Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by thy fatherly love for The Child Jesus, we humbly beg thee to look down with compassion on the inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased with His Blood, and in our need to help us by thy powerful intercession.
Do thou, O prudent Guardian of The Holy Family,
watch over the chosen people of Jesus Christ.
Keep us, O loving father, safe from all error
and corruption. O great protector, from thy place
in Heaven, graciously help us in our contest
against The Powers of Darkness.
And as of old thou didst rescue The Child Jesus from
the danger of death, so now defend God’s Holy Church
from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity.
Extend to each one of us thy continual protection,
that, led on by thine example, and strengthened
by thine aid, we may live and die in holiness,
and obtain everlasting happiness in Heaven.
Amen.
Thanks to Zephyrinus, this observer now knows something of this special Eastertide feast commemorating the role of S. Joseph in the revelation of Jesus Christ to the nations.
ReplyDeleteThus spurred some thumbnail research by the observer on the history of the feast. A writer does a much better job explaining the history of the feast:
“According to Fr. Francis X. Lasance, it was instituted during the hostile occupation of Rome by the troops of the Italian King, Victor Emmanuel II. The Pope proclaimed St. Joseph Patron of the oppressed Household of the Faith, entrusting to St. Joseph the defense of Holy Mother Church.”
“In the beginning, this Feast Day was observed on the Third Sunday after Easter, but when P. St. Pius X reformed the liturgical calendar to restore the Sunday Offices to prominence over those of the Saints, the second Feast of St.
Joseph was moved to the Wednesday preceding the Third Sunday after Easter. In 1911, the Feast was raised to a Double of the First Class, and it was assigned an Octave after it was moved to the Wednesday after the Easter. While this feastday is not in the 1962 Missal, it is still kept by priests who celebrate Holy Mass according to the pre-1955 reforms.” -From “Acatholiclife.blogspot, by Matthew Plese (cont.)
(part 2): The same writer cites this insightful writing by Dom Gueranger, OSB:
ReplyDelete“ The Easter mysteries are superseded today by a special subject, which is offered for our consideration. The holy Church invites us to spend this Sunday in honouring the Spouse of Mary, the Foster-Father of the Son of God. And yet, as we offered him the yearly tribute of our devotion on the 19th of March, it is not, properly speaking, his Feast that we are to celebrate today. It is a solemn expression of gratitude offered to Joseph, the Protector of the Faithful, the refuge and support of all that invoke him with confidence. The innumerable favours he has bestowed upon the world entitle him to this additional homage…”
“Devotion to St. Joseph was reserved for these latter times. Though based on the Gospel, it was not to be developed in the early ages of the Church. It is not that the Faithful were, in any way, checked from showing honour to him who had been called to take so important a part in the mystery of the Incarnation; but Divine Providence had its hidden reasons for retarding the Liturgical homage to be paid, each year, to the Spouse of Mary. As on other occasions, so here also; the East preceded the West in the special cultus of St. Joseph: but, in the 15th Century, the whole Latin Church adopted it, and, since that time, it has gradually gained the affections of the Faithful.” -Matthew Plese, Ibid.
(Part III) Devotion to S. Joseph, in this observer’s humble opinion, is greatly overlooked in this age, but that is particularly sad because his holy patronage is cited by so many great saints, notably S. Teresa of Avila and S. Francis de Sales, as the principal protector of their spiritual works. So, this observer would like to recommend the devotion of the Chaplet of S. Joseph—a short meditation on all 15 Rosary mysteries, with two Hail Mary’s each one representing the purity and piety of S. Joseph, and a triple invocation, “Praise be to Jesus, Mary and Joseph,” as an adjunct devotion to the Holy Rosary, with highly efficacious graces and favors. It is yet another great Catholic prayer form in the wonderful Catholic tradition just as Zephyrinus also maintains in this inspiring blog—in the humble opinion of this observer. —Comment by Dante Peregrinus
ReplyDeleteA wonderful in-depth Comment and analysis by Dante Peregrinus, for which we are extremely grateful.
DeleteIndeed, Saint Teresa of Avila's urging of Prayer to Saint Joseph is valid, especially these days: She said: “Though thou hast recourse to many Saints as thine intercessors, go especially to Saint Joseph, for he has great power with God”.
Also, a clarification: When the “humble observer” noted “ A writer does a much better job explaining the history of the feast”—-in other words, “better than the ‘humble observer’”—-certainly, however, not better in explanation than the esteemed Zephyrinus’ blog! Deo Gratias! —Comment by Dante P.
DeleteThank you, Dante P. You are too kind.
Delete