Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.
Saint Joseph.
Confessor.
Spouse Of The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Feast Day 19 March.
Double of The First-Class.
White Vestments.
The Church always honours Saint Joseph with Mary and Jesus, especially during the Christmas Solemnities. Today’s Gospel is, indeed, that of 24 December. A Coptic Calendar tells us that Saint Joseph was Liturgically honoured in a special way on 20 July from the 8th-Century A.D.
At the end of the 15th-Century, his Feast was kept on 19 March and, in 1621, Pope Gregory XV extended it to the whole Church. In 1870, Blessed Pope Pius IX proclaimed Saint Joseph Protector of the Universal Church.
This Saint “of the Royal Race of David” was a Just Man (Gospel). As, by his marriage with The Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph has certain rights of the Blessed Fruit of the Virginal Womb of his spouse, a moral affinity exists between him and Jesus.
He exercised over the Child-God a certain paternal authority, which the Preface of Saint Joseph delicately alludes to as that of a Foster-Father.
unless stated otherwise.
Saint Joseph.
Confessor.
Spouse Of The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Feast Day 19 March.
Double of The First-Class.
White Vestments.
Saint Joseph and The Child Jesus.
Illustration: PINTEREST
The Church always honours Saint Joseph with Mary and Jesus, especially during the Christmas Solemnities. Today’s Gospel is, indeed, that of 24 December. A Coptic Calendar tells us that Saint Joseph was Liturgically honoured in a special way on 20 July from the 8th-Century A.D.
At the end of the 15th-Century, his Feast was kept on 19 March and, in 1621, Pope Gregory XV extended it to the whole Church. In 1870, Blessed Pope Pius IX proclaimed Saint Joseph Protector of the Universal Church.
This Saint “of the Royal Race of David” was a Just Man (Gospel). As, by his marriage with The Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph has certain rights of the Blessed Fruit of the Virginal Womb of his spouse, a moral affinity exists between him and Jesus.
Without having begotten Jesus, Saint Joseph, by the bounds which unite him to Mary, is legally and morally the Father of the Son of The Blessed Virgin Mary.
It follows that we must honour, by a special homage, this dignity, or supernatural excellence, of Saint Joseph.
It follows that we must honour, by a special homage, this dignity, or supernatural excellence, of Saint Joseph.
“In The Family of Nazareth”, says Cornelius รก Lapide (a Flemish Jesuit and Exegete (1567-1637), “were the three greatest and most excellent persons in the World. Wherefore, to Christ is due the Divine Worship, to The Virgin a higher reverence than to Saints, and to Saint Joseph the full reverence due to Saints”.
God revealed to Saint Joseph the Mystery of The Incarnation (Ibid.) and “chose him among all” (Epistle) to commit to his care The Incarnate Word and the Virginity of Mary.
The Hymn at Lauds says that: “Christ and The Virgin were with him at his last hour and watched by him, their faces gleaming with sweet serenity”. Saint Joseph went to Heaven for ever to enjoy The Beatific Vision of The Word, Whose humanity he had so long and so closely contemplated on Earth.
This Saint is, therefore, justly considered the patron and model of interior and contemplative Souls. And, in the Heavenly Home, Saint Joseph has a powerful influence of the Heart of the Son of his Most Blessed Spouse (Collect).
Let us imitate, at this Holy Season, the purity, the humility, the spirit of Prayer and Meditation, of Saint Joseph at Nazareth.
Every Parish Priest Celebrates Mass for the people of his Parish.
Mass: Justus ut palma.
Commemoration: Of the Feria, in Lent.
Credo.
Preface: Of Saint Joseph.
Last Gospel: Of the Feria, in Lent.
If 19 March happens to fall in Holy Week, the Feast of Saint Joseph is Transferred to the Tuesday after Low Sunday. An Alleluia is then added to every Antiphon, Verse, or Responsorial.
The following Text refers to 2017, but is a most interesting point in Liturgy, and is from ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS
God revealed to Saint Joseph the Mystery of The Incarnation (Ibid.) and “chose him among all” (Epistle) to commit to his care The Incarnate Word and the Virginity of Mary.
The Hymn at Lauds says that: “Christ and The Virgin were with him at his last hour and watched by him, their faces gleaming with sweet serenity”. Saint Joseph went to Heaven for ever to enjoy The Beatific Vision of The Word, Whose humanity he had so long and so closely contemplated on Earth.
This Saint is, therefore, justly considered the patron and model of interior and contemplative Souls. And, in the Heavenly Home, Saint Joseph has a powerful influence of the Heart of the Son of his Most Blessed Spouse (Collect).
Let us imitate, at this Holy Season, the purity, the humility, the spirit of Prayer and Meditation, of Saint Joseph at Nazareth.
Every Parish Priest Celebrates Mass for the people of his Parish.
Mass: Justus ut palma.
Commemoration: Of the Feria, in Lent.
Credo.
Preface: Of Saint Joseph.
Last Gospel: Of the Feria, in Lent.
If 19 March happens to fall in Holy Week, the Feast of Saint Joseph is Transferred to the Tuesday after Low Sunday. An Alleluia is then added to every Antiphon, Verse, or Responsorial.
The following Text refers to 2017, but is a most interesting point in Liturgy, and is from ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS
“Divino Afflatu”, with yesterday (in 2017) being the Third Sunday of Lent, Saint Joseph’s Feast Day was Transferred to today, 20 March 2017.
The reason being is that Saint Joseph’s Feast Day is a Double of the First Class and this does not take precedence over a Sunday in Lent.
However, in the Rubrics of 1568 (Trent), and, thus, prior to “Divino Afflatu”, the Feast Day is just a Double (and not a Double of the First-Class), so Saint Joseph can be Commemorated in the Third Sunday of Lent Mass and Office.
The reason being is that Saint Joseph’s Feast Day is a Double of the First Class and this does not take precedence over a Sunday in Lent.
However, in the Rubrics of 1568 (Trent), and, thus, prior to “Divino Afflatu”, the Feast Day is just a Double (and not a Double of the First-Class), so Saint Joseph can be Commemorated in the Third Sunday of Lent Mass and Office.
Wonderful short lessons here regarding S. Joseph by Zephyrinus: “ In The Family of Nazareth [there] were the three greatest and most excellent persons in the World.”
ReplyDeleteAnd: “ Christ and The Virgin were with [S. Joseph] at his last hour and watched by him, their faces gleaming with sweet serenity.” What a wonderful image.
Devotion to S. Joseph is always most specially rewarded as testifies by S. Teresa of Avila and many other saints. For those who find it spiritually helpful, there is the Catholic tradition of the Chaplet of S. Joseph, which prays the 15 Mysteries of the Rosary with two Hail Mary’s each, one each recalling S. Joseph’s obedience and his purity, followed by the triple invocation, “ Praised and blessed be Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!”
A final prayer is often included:
“ V. Pray for us, O holy St. Joseph!
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!
V. Let us pray.
O God, Who has predestined St. Joseph from all eternity for the service of Thine Eternal Son and His Blessed Mother, and made him worthy to be the spouse of this Blessed Virgin and the foster father of Thy Son: we beseech Thee, through all the services he has rendered to Jesus and Mary on earth, that Thou wouldst make us worthy of his intercession and grant us to enjoy the happiness of his company in Heaven. Through Christ our Lord. “ -Note by Dante P.
What a magnificent contribution from our Liturgical Historical Correspondent, Dante P, for which we are truly grateful.
DeleteDante P has said it all: Saint Joseph is a mighty comforter; a powerful intercessor; a Saint who watched over The Child Jesus and Our Blessed Mother Mary.
Dear Saint Joseph:
Pray for us.
Pray for The Little Ones in the same way that you watched over The Child Jesus;
Pray for The World that needs your intercession.