Pope adds name of St. Joseph to Eucharistic prayers
(Vatican Radio) In the first decree of a liturgical nature of this pontificate, Pope
Francis has decided that name of St. Joseph should be added to the Eucharistic Prayers
II, II and IV, as they appear in the third typical edition of the Roman Missal, after
the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Below please find the text of the decree issued
Wednesday by the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments:
DECREE
Exercising his paternal care over Jesus, Saint Joseph of Nazareth,
set over the Lord’s family, marvelously fulfilled the office he received by grace.
Adhering firmly to the mystery of God’s design of salvation in its very beginnings,
he stands as an exemplary model of the kindness and humility that the Christian faith
raises to a great destiny, and demonstrates the ordinary and simple virtues necessary
for men to be good and genuine followers of Christ. Through these virtues, this Just
man, caring most lovingly for the Mother of God and happily dedicating himself to
the upbringing of Jesus Christ, was placed as guardian over God the Father’s most
precious treasures. Therefore he has been the subject of assiduous devotion on the
part of the People of God throughout the centuries, as the support of that mystical
body, which is the Church.
The faithful in the Catholic Church have shown continuous
devotion to Saint Joseph and have solemnly and constantly honored his memory as the
most chaste spouse of the Mother of God and as the heavenly Patron of the universal
Church. For this reason Blessed Pope John XXIII, in the days of the Most Holy Second
Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, decreed that Saint Joseph’s name be added to the
ancient Roman Canon. In response to petitions received from places throughout the
world, the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI deemed them worthy of implementation and graciously
approved them. The Supreme Pontiff Francis likewise has recently confirmed them. In
this the Pontiffs had before their eyes the full communion of the Saints who, once
pilgrims in this world, now lead us to Christ and unite us with him.
Accordingly,
mature consideration having been given to all the matters mentioned here above, this
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, by virtue of
the faculties granted by the Supreme Pontiff Francis, is pleased to decree that the
name of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary is henceforth to be added
to Eucharistic Prayers II, III, and IV, as they appear in the third typical edition
of the Roman Missal, after the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as follows: in Eucharistic
Prayer II: “ut cum beáta Dei Genetríce Vírgine María, beáto Ioseph, eius Sponso,
beátis Apóstolis”; in Eucharistic Prayer III: “cum beatíssima Vírgine, Dei
Genetríce, María, cum beáto Ioseph, eius Sponso, cum beátis Apóstolis”;
and in Eucharistic Prayer IV: “cum beáta Vírgine, Dei Genetríce, María, cum
beáto Ioseph, eius Sponso, cum Apóstolis ”. As regards the Latin text, these
formulas are hereby declared typical. The Congregation itself will soon provide vernacular
translations in the more widespread western languages; as for other languages, translations
are to be prepared by the Bishops’ Conferences, according to the norm of law, to be
confirmed by the Holy See through this Dicastery.
All things to the contrary
notwithstanding.
From the offices of the Congregation for Divine Worship and
the Discipline of the Sacraments, 1 May 2013, on the Memorial of Saint Joseph the
Worker. ( Antonio Card. Cañizares Llovera ) Prefect
( X Arthur
Roche ) Archbishop Secretary
The Congregation has provided English
language translations for the additions to the Mass prayers.
In Eucharistic
Prayer II:
that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed
Joseph, her Spouse, with the blessed Apostles
In Eucharistic Prayer III:
with the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph,
her Spouse, with your blessed Apostles and glorious Martyrs
In Eucharistic
Prayer IV:
with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph,
her Spouse, and with your Apostles