«With a father’s heart: that is how Joseph loved Jesus, whom all four Gospels refer to as “the son of Joseph”». Words of His Holiness Pope Francis, in his Apostolic Letter Patris Corde of 8 December 2020, it was an encouraging and timely text that gave impetus to the celebration of the Year of St. Joseph in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the declaration of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. Words that have also awakened in our hearts the desire to humbly address a supplication to the Holy Father, for the institution of the liturgical memorial of the Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph. Just as we have the grace to celebrate the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, we will also have the grace to celebrate the day of the Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph, Universal Patron of the Church.
We were motivated by the same desire of Pope Francis who, in closing the aforementioned document, justifies that he did so in order «to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal». We understand that this Chaste Heart not only loved, but continues to love Jesus and Mary and, since the Church is the Mystical Body of Christ, also loves us, protects us, teaches us and guides us forever.
The moment for this supplication seems to be very opportune, since, as stated by the Supreme Pontiff Leo XIII in his Encyclical Letter Quamquam Pluries, those hard times still persist today: «We see, in fact, the diminished faith of many, which is the principle of all Christian virtues, charity grows cold, and the new generations degrade in ideas and conduct». In this same letter, the Pope also shows us the way of hope: «In such a difficult and distressing situation, in which the evils far outweigh human remedies, we have no choice but to recourse to divine power… To make God more favorable to our prayers,… may the Christian people accustom themselves to pray with devotion and trust, together with the Virgin Mother of God, also her most chaste spouse Saint Joseph».
To illustrate this desire, it is worth mentioning, in a special way, the last apparition of the Virgin Mary at Fatima, on October 13, 1917, where St. Joseph accompanied by the Child Jesus comes, both blessing the world, a prelude to which the family will be blessed in honor and by the action of the three divine hearts.
Saint Joseph has a unique role in the life of the Church, in the attainment of peace in the world and in the promised Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, role that is nothing other than an extension of his spiritual paternity and the unbreakable union of his earthly life with the Holy Family. Sister Lucy, the longest-lived of the visionaries of Fatima, affirmed that the final battle between good and evil would be over marriage and the family, the battle that we easily see going on in our times. It seems to us that it is time to ask God for this victory through the intercession of St. Joseph, a victory that is impossible for "human remedies", but not for the power of the love of the Three Hearts, of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
In view of the above, we humbly ask the Holy Father to institute in the Roman Calendar of the Church, the celebration of the Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph on the first wednesday after the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Join us in this request by signing this online petition for the institution of the memorial of the Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph, Universal Patron of the Church!
Hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, defend the Church and the Holy Father and reign over us.
Kátia Lucena, MD
Apostolado Filhos de São José
Apostolado Mãe dos Sacerdotes
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