Decree from The
Sacred Congregation of Rites
communicating the decisions of Pope Pius IX About
St Joseph on December 8, 1870.
As almighty God appointed Joseph, son of the patriarch Jacob, over
all the land of Egypt to save grain for the people, so when the fullness of
time had come and He was about to send to earth His only-begotten Son, the
Savior of the world, He chose another Joseph, of whom the first had been the
type, and He made him the lord and chief of His household and possessions, the guardian
of His choicest treasures.
Indeed, he had as his spouse the
Immaculate Virgin Mary, of whom was born by the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ our
Lord, who deigned to be reputed in the sight of men as the son of Joseph, and
was subject to him.
Him whom countless kings and
prophets had desired to see, Joseph not only saw but conversed with, and
embraced in paternal affection, and kissed. He most diligently reared Him whom
the faithful were to receive as the bread that came down from heaven whereby
they might obtain eternal life.
Because of this sublime dignity
which God conferred on his most faithful servant, the Church has always most
highly honored and praised blessed Joseph next to his spouse, the Virgin Mother
of God, and has besought his intercession in times of trouble.
And now therefore, when in these
most troublesome times the Church is beset by enemies on every side, and is
weighed down by calamities so heavy that ungodly men assert that the gates of
hell have at length prevailed against her, the venerable prelates of the whole
Catholic world have presented to the Sovereign Pontiff their own petitions and
those of the faithful committed to their charge, praying that he would deign to
constitute St. Joseph Patron of the Church. And this time their prayer and
desire was renewed by them even more earnestly at the Sacred Ecumenical Council
of the Vatican.
Accordingly, it has now pleased our
Most Holy Sovereign, Pope Pius IX, in order to entrust himself and all the
faithful to the Patriarch St. Joseph’s most powerful patronage, has chosen to
comply with the prelates’ desire and has solemnly declared him Patron of the
Catholic Church.
He has also ordered that his feast
on March 19th by henceforth celebrated as a double of the first class, without
any Octave, however, because of Lent. He arranged, moreover, that a declaration
to this effect be promulgated through the present decree of The Sacred
Congregation of Rites on this day sacred to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of
God, the most chaste Joseph’s Spouse.
All things to the contrary notwithstanding.
