Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Encyclical: QUAMQUAM PLURIES (On Devotion to St. Joseph) Pope Leo XIII


an excerpt
To Our Venerable Brethren the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, and other Ordinaries, in Peace and Union With Holy See.
Although We have already many times ordered special prayers to be offered up in the whole world, that the interests of Catholicism might be insistently recommended to God, none will deem it matter for surprise that We consider the present moment an opportune one for again inculcating the same duty. During periods of stress and trial—chiefly when every lawlessness of act seems permitted to the powers of darkness—it has been the custom in the Church to plead with special fervor and perseverance to God, her author and protector, by recourse to the intercession of the saints—and chiefly of the Blessed Virgin, Mother of God—whose patronage has ever been the most efficacious. The fruit of these pious prayers and of the confidence reposed in the Divine goodness, has always, sooner or later, been made apparent. Now, Venerable Brethren, you know the times in which we live; they are scarcely less deplorable for the Christian religion than the worst days, which in time past were most full of misery to the Church. We see faith, the root of all the Christian virtues, lessening in many souls; we see charity growing cold; the young generation daily growing in depravity of morals and views; the Church of Jesus Christ attacked on every side by open force or by craft; a relentless war waged against the Sovereign Pontiff; and the very foundations of religion undermined with a boldness which waxes daily in intensity. These things are, indeed, so much a matter of notoriety that it is needless for Us to expatiate on the depths to which society has sunk in these days, or on the designs which now agitate the minds of men. In circumstances so unhappy and troublous, human remedies are insufficient, and it becomes necessary, as a sole resource, to beg for assistance from the Divine power.
. . . That God may be more favorable to Our prayers, and that He may come with bounty and promptitude to the aid of His Church, We judge it of deep utility for the Christian people, continually to invoke with great piety and trust, together with the Virgin-Mother of God, her chaste Spouse, the Blessed Joseph. . . . [who] looks upon the multitude of Christians who make up the Church as confided specially to his trust—this limitless family spread over the earth, over which, because he is the spouse of Mary and the Father of Jesus Christ he holds, as it were, a paternal authority. It is, then, natural and worthy that as the Blessed Joseph ministered to all the needs of the family at Nazareth and girt it about with his protection, he should now cover with the cloak of his heavenly patronage and defend the Church of Jesus Christ. . . .
This is the reason why - trusting much to your zeal and episcopal authority, Venerable Brethren, and not doubting that the good and pious faithful will run beyond the mere letter of the law - We prescribe that during the whole month of October, at the recitation of the Rosary, for which We have already legislated, a prayer to St. Joseph be added, the formula of which will be sent with this letter, and that this custom should be repeated every year. (Click here for prayer)

ROSARY PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH


To you, O blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our
afflictions, and, having implored the help of your holy
Spouse, we now, with hearts filled with confidence,
earnestly beg you also to take us under your protection.
By that charity wherewith you were united to the
Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by that fatherly love
with which you cherished the Child Jesus, we beseech you
and we humbly pray that you will look down with gracious
eyes upon that inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased
by His blood, and will succor us in our need by your power
and strength. Defend, O most watchful guardian of the
Holy Family, the chosen offspring of Jesus Christ. Keep
from us, O most loving Father, all blight of error and
corruption. Aid us from on high, most valiant defender, in
this conflict with the powers of darkness. And even as of
old you rescued the Child jesus from the peril of His life,
so now defend God’s Holy Church from the snares of the
enemy and from all adversity. Shield us ever under your
patronage, that, following your example and strengthened
by your help, we may live a holy life, die a happy death, and
attain to everlasting bliss in heaven. Amen.
Pope Saint Leo XIII

Mrs. Seton Reading Schedule 2010-2011


On the 3rd Wednesdays of this year (from September 2010-May 2011), we will be reading Mrs. Seton by Fr. Joseph Dirvin. This unparalleled biography of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton uses many primary materials including Mother Seton's own words.

Sept. Chapters 1-­‐3
Oct. Chapters 4-­‐6
Nov. Chapters 7-­‐9
Dec. Chapters 10-­‐11
Jan. Chapters 12-­‐13
Feb. Chapters 14-­‐15
Mar. Chapters 16-­‐18
April Chapters 19-­‐21
May Chapter 22-­‐23

He Leadeth Me Reading Schedule Sept 2010-May 2011


This year we will be reading He Leadeth Me by Fr. Walter Ciszek on the 2nd Wednesdays of each month. This book is the deeply moving personal story of one man's spiritual odyssey and the unflagging faith which enabled him to survive the horrendous ordeal that wrenched his body and spirit to near collapse during years of captivity in the USSR.







Sept Chapters 1-­‐2
Oct. Chapters 3-­‐5
Nov. Chapters 6-­‐8
Dec. Chapters 9-­‐11
Jan. Chapters 12-­‐13
Feb. Chapters 14-­‐15
Mar. Chapters 16-­‐17
April Chapters 18-­‐19
May Chapters 20-­‐Epilogue

Redemptoris Custos (Guardian of the Redeemer) by Pope John Paul II

Redemptoris Custos (Guardian of the Redeemer) is the title of an Apostolic Exhortation by Pope John Paul II on St. Joseph. It was delivered on August 15, 1989 in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on the occasion of the centenary of Pope Leo XIII's Encyclical Quamquam Pluries.

In this document, John Paul II reemphasizes key elements of Quamquam Pluries regarding the position of St. Joseph in the Church and his connection to Mary.
Recalling Quamquam Pluries, Pope John Paul II again stressed that the Church has implored the protection of St. Joseph on the basis of "that sacred bond of charity which united him to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God," and that the Church has commended to Joseph all of her cares, including those dangers which threaten the human family.

An Excerpt from GUARDIAN OF THE REDEEMER [Redemptoris Custos]
Apostolic Exhortation of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II On August 15, 1989.

One hundred years ago, Pope Leo XIII had already exhorted the Catholic world to pray for the protection of St. Joseph, Patron of the whole Church. The Encyclical Epistle Quamquam Pluries appealed to Joseph's "fatherly love...for the child Jesus" and commended to him, as "the provident guardian of the divine Family," "the beloved inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by his blood." Since that time-as I recalled at the beginning of this Exhortation-the Church has implored the protection of St. Joseph on the basis of "that sacred bond of charity which united him to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God," and the Church has commended to Joseph all of her cares, including those dangers which threaten the human family.

Even today we have many reasons to pray in a similar way Today we still have good reason to commend everyone to St. Joseph.

It is my heartfelt wish that these reflections on the person of St. Joseph will renew in us the prayerful devotion which my Predecessor called for a century ago. Our prayers and the very person of Joseph have renewed significance for the Church in our day in light of the Third Christian Millennium.