Pope Francis has approved seven new invocations for the Litany of St. Joseph.
The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments introduced the new invocations on Saturday, May 1, the Feast of St. Joseph. The initiative comes during the Year of St. Joseph which Pope Francis declared from December 8, 2020, to December 8, 2021.
In a letter to the presidents of bishops’ conferences around the world, the Secretary of the Congregation, Archbishop Arthur Roche, and Undersecretary, Father Corrado Maggioni, SMM, explained the reason behind the move. “On the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, published the Apostolic Letter Patris corde, with the aim ‘to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal’,” they wrote. “In this light, it appeared opportune to update the Litany in honor of Saint Joseph, approved by the Apostolic See in 1909, by integrating seven new invocations drawn from the interventions of the Popes who have reflected on aspects of the figure of the Patron of the Universal Church.”
LETTER TO THE PRESIDENTS OF THE CONFERENCES OF BISHOPS
ON SOME NEW INVOCATIONS
IN THE LITANY IN HONOUR OF SAINT JOSEPH
Vatican City, 1 May 2021, Saint Joseph the Worker
Your Eminence, Your Excellency,
on the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, published the Apostolic Letter Patris corde, with the aim «to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal».
In this light, it appeared opportune to update the Litany in honor of Saint Joseph, approved by the Apostolic See in 1909 (cf. Acta Apostolicae Sedis 1 [1909] 290-292), by integrating seven new invocations drawn from the interventions of the Popes who have reflected on aspects of the figure of the Patron of the Universal Church. They are as follows: «Custos Redemptoris» (cf. Saint John Paul II, Ap. Exhort. Redemptoris custos); «Serve Christi» (cf. Saint Paul VI, Homily of 19.3.1966, quoted in Redemptoris custos n. 8 and Patris corde n. 1); «Minister salutis» (Saint John Chrysostom, quoted
in Redemptoris custos, n. 8); «Fulcimen in difficultatibus» (cf. Francis, Ap. Let. Patris corde, prologue); «Patrone exsulum, afflictorum, pauperum» (Patris corde, n. 5).
The new invocations were presented to the Holy Father, Pope Francis, who approved their integration into the Litany of Saint Joseph, as found in the text attached to this letter.
It will be the responsibility of the Episcopal Conferences to see to the translation and publication of the Litany in the languages which are within their competency; these translations do not require the confirmation of the Apostolic See. According to their prudential judgment, Episcopal Conferences can also introduce other invocations by which Saint Joseph is honored in their countries. Such additions should be made in the proper place and preserve the literary genre of the Litany.
While I am pleased to inform you of this provision for your information and implementation, allow me to take this opportunity to assure you of my best wishes.
Yours sincerely in the Lord,
X Arthur ROCHE
Archbishop Secretary
