Bulletin Letter from Sunday, March 1, 2015
by Fr. Eric Andersen, Parochial Vicar
Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Bandon,
OR
March 19th is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed
Virgin Mary. The entire month of March belongs to him. Devotion to
St. Joseph is as old as the Church itself, being that he is mentioned in the
gospels. The most recent phase in the development of devotion to him
began in the 19th century, culminated at the Second Vatican Council in the
early 1960s, and continues.
To begin with this most recent phase, Popes Pius VIII
(1829-1830) and Gregory XVI (1831-1846) “both endowed with indulgences the
pious meditation of (a devotion called) the Seven Sorrows and Joys of St.
Joseph. Pius IX increased those indulgences considerably soon after the
beginning of his pontificate (Feb 1, 1847). On June 11, 1855, he enriched with
great spiritual favors the daily devotion to St. Joseph during the month of
March, and on April 27, 1865, he issued a decree that had for its aim, or
effect, to make the month of March, as it were, the counterpart of the month of
May, inasmuch as the month of March was to be dedicated to St. Joseph as the
month of May is especially dedicated to the Blessed Virgin” (Mueller. The
Fatherhood of St. Joseph p. 6). Pius IX also gave approval for the forming of
the Confraternity of the Cord of St. Joseph in 1860. This cord is blessed
and worn by married men as a sign of fidelity to the Church’s teaching on
marital chastity.
In 1869, the Bishops who attended the First Vatican Council
presented a petition to the Council to “solemnly declare St. Joseph the first
patron and protector, after the Blessed Virgin, of the whole Church, and…accord
to him, next to the Mother of God, the highest liturgical veneration”(7).
In 1870, Pope Pius IX responded by solemnly declaring St. Joseph to be the
Patron of the Universal Church and in 1871 he increased liturgical veneration
in several ways.
His successor, Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) wrote an encyclical on
St. Joseph. Pope Pius X (1903-1914) approved the Litany of St. Joseph and
inserted it into liturgical books for public and private use. Pope
Benedict XV (1914-1922) had a Preface for Masses of St. Joseph composed and
inserted into the Roman Missal. Pope Pius XI (1922-1939) inserted prayers
to St. Joseph, patron of the dying in to the Rite of Extreme Unction and the
liturgical prayers for the dying. In 1955, Pope Pius XII (1939-1958)
instituted the feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1st to elevate the dignity
of work for the common man, in opposition to Atheistic Communism. Pope
John XXIII (1958-1963) added St. Joseph to the Roman Canon of the Mass and to
the liturgical prayers of the Divine Praises during Benediction of the Blessed
Sacrament. Pope John Paul II (1978-2005) wrote an Apostolic Exhortation
entitled Redemptoris Custos about the person and mission of St.
Joseph in the life of Christ and the Church. Pope Benedict XVI
(2005-2013) approved the insertion of the name of St. Joseph into Eucharist
Prayers II, III, and IV in the Roman Missal and this act was completed and
promulgated by Pope Francis (2013-present).
During this month of March–the month of St. Joseph–please
consider making a month-long novena to St. Joseph. Alternately, every
Wednesday throughout the year is a good day to pray to him. I will also
make available booklets with the “Seven Joys and Sorrows of St. Joseph”
devotion available.
Memorare of St. Joseph
Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, Ever Virgin, my loving
protector Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection or
asked your aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in your
goodness, I come before you and humbly implore you. Despise not my
petitions, Foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive
them.
Amen.
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