Quemadmodum Deus Josephum illum a Jacob patriarca progenitum constituerat universæ terræ Ægypti, ut populo frumenta servaret, ita temporum plenitudine adventante, cum Filium suum Unigenitum, mundi Salvatorem, in terram missurus esset, alium selegit Josephum, cujus ille primus typum gesserat, quemque fecit Dominum et Principem domus ac possessionis suæ, principaliumque thesaurorum suorum Custodem elegit. Siquidem desponsatam sibi habuit Immaculatam Virginem Mariam, ex qua de Spiritu Sancto natus est Dominus Noster Jesus Christus, qui apud homines putari dignatus est Filius Joseph, illique subditus fuit. Et quem tot reges ac prophetæ videre exoptaverunt, iste Joseph non tantum vidit, sed cum eo conversatus, eumque paterno affectu complexus deosculatusque est: nec non solertissime enutrivit, quem populus fidelis uti panem de cœlo descensum sumeret ad vitam æternam consequendam. Ob sublimem hanc dignitatem quam Deus fidelissimo huic Servo suo contulit, semper Beatissimum Josephum post Deiparam Virginem ejus sponsam Ecclesia summo honore ac laudibus prosequuta est, ejusdemque interventum in rebus anxiis imploravit. Verum cum tristissimis hisce temporibus Ecclesia ipsa ab hostibus undique insectata adeo gravioribus opprimatur calamitatibus, ut impii homines portas inferi adversus eam tandem prævalere autumarent, ideo Venerabiles universi Orbis Catholici Sacrorum Antistites suas ac Christi fidelium eorum curæ concreditorum preces Summo Pontifici porrexerunt, quibus petebant ut Sanctum Josephum Catholicæ Ecclesiæ Patronum constituere dignaretur. Deinde cum in Sacra Œcumenica Synodo Vaticana easdem postulationes et vota enixius renovassent, Sanctissimus Dominus Noster Pius Papa IX. nuperrima ac luctuosa rerum conditione commotus, ut potentissimo Sancti Patriarchæ Josephi patrocinio se ac Fideles omnes committeret, Sacrorum Antistitum votis satisfacere voluit, eumque Catholicæ Ecclesiæ Patronum solemniter declaravit; illiusque Festum die decima-nona Martii occurrens, in posterum sub ritu duplici primæ classis, attamen sine octava, ratione Quadragesimæ, celebrari mandavit. Disposuit insuper ut hac die Deiparæ Virgini Immaculatæ ac castissimi Josephi Sponsæ sacra, hujusmodi declaratio per præsens Sacrorum Rituum Congregationis Decretum publici juris fieret. Contrariis non obstantibus quibuscunque.
Die 8 Decembris, anni 1870.
C. Episcopus Ostien et Veliternen.
Card. Patrizi, S.R.C. Præf.
D. Bartolini, S.R.C. Secretarius.
Loco ✠ Signi.
Translation
As God appointed Joseph, son of the Patriarch Jacob, over all the land of Egypt, to store up corn for the people, so, when the fullness of time was come, and He was about to send on earth His Only-Begotten Son, the Savior of the world, He chose another Joseph, of whom the first Joseph had been the type, and made him Lord and Ruler of His household and possession and Guardian of His greatest treasures. And Joseph espoused the Immaculate Virgin Mary, of whom was born by the Holy Ghost Jesus Christ Our Lord, who deigned to be reputed before men the Son of Joseph, and was subject to him. And Him whom so many kings and prophets desired to see, Joseph not only saw, but abode with, and embraced with paternal affection, and kissed, yea, and most sedulously nourished, even Him whom the faithful should receive as the Bread come down from Heaven, that they might obtain eternal life. On account of this sublime dignity which God conferred on His most faithful Servant, the Church has always most highly honored and lauded the Most Blessed Joseph next after his Spouse, the Virgin Mother of God, and has implored his intercession in all her great necessities. And now that at this most sorrowful time the Church herself is beset by enemies on every side and oppressed by heavy calamities, so that impious men imagine that the gates of Hell are at length prevailing against her, therefore the Venerable Prelates of the whole Catholic world have presented to the Sovereign Pontiff their own petitions and those of the faithful of Christ confided to their care, praying that he would vouchsafe to constitute Saint Joseph Patron of the Catholic Church. Moreover, when at the Sacred Œcumenical Council of the Vatican they renewed still more fervently this their petition and prayer, Our Most Holy Lord, Pius IX. Pope, moved thereto by the recent deplorable events, was pleased to comply with the desires of the Prelates, and to commit to the most powerful patronage of the Holy Patriarch, Joseph, both himself and all the faithful, and solemnly declared him Patron of the Catholic Church, and commanded his festival, occurring on the 19th day of March, to be celebrated for the future as a double of the first class, but without an octave, on account of Lent. Further, he ordained that on this day, sacred to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and Spouse of the most chaste Joseph, a declaration to that effect should by this present Decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites be published. All things to the contrary notwithstanding.
On the 8th day of December, 1870.
Constantine, Bishop of Ostia and Velletri.
Cardinal Patrizi, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites.
D. Bartolini, Secretary of the said Congregation.
Place ✠ of Seal.