Saturday, July 18, 2020 –
Today’s Holy Day of Obligation is one that I really wish we would bring back to the whole Church. I mean, it is still a Holy Day and all, but (at least in the US) many of us are not obligated to attend Mass on March 19th: Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
I was going to make Mr. Flusche write this post because he has a particular devotion to Saint Joseph, but all I got from him was, “Saint Joseph is the bomb…dot com.” That is not wrong, but I was hoping for more. LOL!
The Catechism does not say much about the Feast of Saint Joseph, other than that there is one, but it does wax poetic about the man: the Annunciation of the angel to Joseph; the mentioning of his Holy Day; Jesus’ submission to his foster father thus fulfilling the fourth commandment; that Saint Joseph is the patron of a happy death; and his role and calling. BUT…why a whole Holy Day devoted to Saint Joseph?
Joseph had one job: be of the House of David and fulfill the Messianic prophecy that the Son of God would be born of the House of David. Okay, so he had other jobs: don’t abandon Mary, be the foster father of Jesus Christ, and protect and raise the Son of God.
Saint Joseph literally protected Christ. He is therefore literally the protector of the Church!
It was back on December 8, 1870 that Pope Pius IX, through the Sacred Congregation of Rites promulgated a decree called Quemadmodum Deus in which he proclaimed Saint Joseph “Patron of the Catholic Church.” It was during this time that the Church was going through some really tough times (umm…hello loss of Papal States!?). So, Pope Pius IX, after receiving several signed…um…petitions, if you will, saw fit to give us a mighty powerful intercessory, second only to the Blessed Mother herself: Saint Joseph!
Here are some fun facts about Saint Joseph:
- He never says a word in the Bible (but does have some crazy vivid dreams with angels giving him some direction!!).
- Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal, Canada is the largest oratory in the world, the tallest building in Montreal, and the largest Church in Canada.
- In 1815 and over the next few decades, several petitions were started to add, “Joseph, the Blessed Virgin Mary’s chaste Spouse” to the Roman Canon. The future Popes Leo XIII and Saint Pius X—when they were cardinals / before they were famous—even signed!
- On November 13, 1962, Pope John XXIII finally acceded to the ever-mounting requests and announced motu proprio (edict issued by the Pope personally) that the name of Saint Joseph would be entered into the Communicantes prayer of the Roman Canon as thus:
“In communion with and honoring the memory, first of the glorious, ever Virgin Mary, Mother of our God and Lord Jesus Christ: as also of blessed Joseph, her Spouse…” (English text from the Roman Catholic Daily Missal) - My favorite title for Saint Joseph is “Terror of Demons!”
Also, Mr. Flusche adds: “Ite ad Joseph!” (Go to Joseph!) and everyone should make a pilgrimage to Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal. It is his favorite place on earth.
Saint Joseph, spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us!
