Hail of Saint Joseph: history and the new invocations
The invocations of the central body can be grouped into three families. First, the biblical-theological titles, which condense Joseph’s identity: descendant of David, light of the patriarchs (Lumen Patriarcharum), husband of the Mother of God, foster father of the Son of God. Second, the virtues: the righteous of Mt 1,19, chaste, prudent, obedient, faithful. The Gospel calls him “righteous,” and Pope Saint John Paul II sees this judgment as the key to his silence: “that silence of Joseph has a special eloquence: thanks to such an attitude, one can perfectly grasp the truth contained in the judgment that the Gospel gives us about him: ‘the righteous’ (Mt 1, 19)” (Redemptoris custos, n. 17). Third, the patronages: model of workers, glory of family life, terror to demons (Terror daemonum), patron of the dying (Patrone morientium), protector of the Holy Church (Protector sanctae Ecclesiae). The Catechism recalls this last patronage by exhorting the faithful “to trust in St. Joseph, patron of a good death” (CIC 1014).
The Seven New Invocations of 2021
On December 8, 2020, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX’s decree, Pope Francis published the apostolic letter Patris corde and proclaimed a Year of Saint Joseph, extending until December 8, 2021. In this context, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, by letter to the presidents of the Episcopal Conferences of May 1, 2021, announced an update to the Litanies in honor of Saint Joseph, approved in 1909 by the Apostolic See […], adding seven invocations taken from the interventions of Popes who have reflected on various aspects of the figure of the Patron of the Universal Church.
1. Custos Redemptoris – Guardian of the Redeemer
Taken from Saint John Paul II’s own title in Redemptoris custos (1989). This invocation summarizes Joseph’s whole mission: “Called to protect the Redeemer, ‘Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him’ (Mt 1:24)” (Redemptoris custos, n. 1). Joseph is the guardian of the mystery in which “he participated, like no other human being except Mary” (ibid.).
2. Serve Christi – Servant of Christ
Taken from a homily by Saint Paul VI on March 19, 1966, cited both in Redemptoris custos (n. 8) and in Patris corde (n. 1). Joseph’s service is not generic: “Saint Joseph was called by God to serve directly the Person and mission of Jesus through the exercise of his paternity” (Redemptoris custos, n. 8).
3. Minister salutis – Minister of Salvation
Expression of Saint John Chrysostom, taken from Redemptoris custos: Joseph “cooperates in the great mystery of Redemption when the fullness of time has come,” and is indeed “a minister of salvation” (no. 8). A fourth-century Church Father thus enters, through the mediation of a twentieth-century Pope, into the prayer of the people of the third millennium.4. Fulcrum in difficulties – Comfort in difficulties
From the prologue of Patris corde: “Everyone can find in Saint Joseph—the man who goes unnoticed, the man of quiet and hidden daily presence—a mediator, comfort, and guidance in moments of difficulty” (Francis, Patris corde, prologue).5-7. Patron of exiles, afflicted, and poor – Patron of the exiled, the afflicted, and the poor
The last three invocations form a triad taken from Patris corde, no. 5, where Francis reflects on the flight to Egypt: “I believe that Saint Joseph is truly a special patron for those who have to leave their land because of wars, hatred, persecution, and poverty.” The carpenter who endured exile with the Child and His Mother becomes, in the Church’s prayer, the intercessor for migrants, the afflicted, and the poor—in line with Leo XIII, who already presented Joseph as one “who spent his life working, and earned through the toil of the craftsman the necessary support for his family” (Quamquam pluries, no. 4).Note the theological criterion in choosing: no invocation was invented. All were taken from pontifical teaching, from Saint John Chrysostom to Francis, passing through Paul VI and John Paul II. The updated litany is thus a small prayerful compendium of Josephology by the Popes.How and when to pray the Litany of Saint Joseph
The litany can be prayed communally or individually, sung or recited. A guide (or the praying individual) proclaims each invocation, to which a response is given: “Pray for us.” Traditionally privileged times are the month of March, dedicated to Saint Joseph, Wednesdays—the day of the week consecrated to him in Catholic piety, the feast of Saint Joseph on March 19th, and the memory of Saint Joseph the Worker on May 1st—a date chosen not by chance, for the publication of the new invocations. It is customary to pray it at the end of a rosary, in novenas, on the 19th of each month, and as preparation for the consecration and other prayers to Saint Joseph.Rezar a Ladainha de São José não é acumular títulos devotos; é percorrer, invocação por invocação, o perfil teológico completo do santo que a josefologia estuda cientificamente. Quem reza com atenção aprende que a grandeza de José “consiste no fato de ter sido o esposo de Maria e o pai de Jesus” (Patris corde, n. 1) e pede, no fim, aquilo que Francisco chama “a graça das graças: a nossa conversão” (Patris corde, conclusão). Que São José, guardião do Redentor, servo de Cristo e ministro da salvação, seja para cada orante “um mestre singular no serviço da missão salvífica de Cristo” (Redemptoris custos, n. 32).
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