LITANY OF SAINT JOSEPH - NEW INVOCATIONS
On the feast of Saint Joseph Opifex, the first of May, the Holy See has promulgated seven new invocations in the Litany of Saint Joseph, in the 150th year of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. These invocations are drawn from the writings of intervening Popes.
The Congregation for Divine Worship's letter states: “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 honour 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.” The Congregation presented the new invocations to Pope Francis, who approved their integration into the Litany of Saint Joseph.
The new texts have been published in Latin, we understand it is for the English bishops to prepare translations in due course. The seven invocations might be translated as: Guardian of the Redeemer, Servant of Christ, Minister of salvation, Support in difficulties, Patron of the exiled, Patron of the afflicted, Patron of the poor. It will be seen that they chime very deeply with the spiritual and hospitaller charism of the Order of Saint John.
The new invocations are printed below in Bold.
LITANIÆ IN HONOREM S. IOSEPH SPONSI B. MARIÆ V.
Kyrie, eléison, (ii)
Christe, eléison, (ii)
Kyrie, eléison, (ii)
Christe, audi nos,
Christe, exáudi nos,
Pater de cælis, Deus, miserére nobis,
Fili, Redémptor mundi, Deus, miserére nobis,
Spíritus sancte, Deus, miserére nobis,
Sancta Trínitas, unus Deus, miserére nobis,
Sancta María, ora pro nobis,
Sancte Ioseph, ora pro nobis,
Proles David ínclyta, ora pro nobis,
Lumen Patriarchárum, ora pro nobis,
Dei Genitrícis sponse, ora pro nobis,
Custos Redemptóris, ora pro nobis,
Custos púdice Vírginis, ora pro nobis,
Fílii Dei nutrítie, ora pro nobis,
Christi defénsor sédule, ora pro nobis,
Serve Christi, ora pro nobis,
Mínister salútis, ora pro nobis,
Alma Famíliæ præses, ora pro nobis,
Ioseph iustíssime, ora pro nobis,
Ioseph castíssime, ora pro nobis,
Ioseph prudentíssime, ora pro nobis,
Ioseph fortíssime, ora pro nobis,
Ioseph obedientíssime, ora pro nobis,
Ioseph fidelíssime, ora pro nobis,
Spéculum patiéntiæ, ora pro nobis,
Amátor paupertátis, ora pro nobis,
Exémplar opíficum, ora pro nobis,
Domésticæ vitæ decus, ora pro nobis,
Custos vírginum, ora pro nobis,
Familiárum cólumen, ora pro nobis,
Fulcímen in difficultátibus, ora pro nobis,
Solátium miserórum, ora pro nobis,
Spes ægrotántium, ora pro nobis,
Patróne éxsulum, ora pro nobis,
Patróne afflictórum, ora pro nobis,
Patróne páuperum, ora pro nobis,
Patróne moriéntium, ora pro nobis,
Terror daémonum, ora pro nobis,
Protéctor sanctæ Ecclésiæ, ora pro nobis,
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi, parce nobis, Dómine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi, exaúdi nos, Dómine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi, miserére nobis.
V/. Constítuit eum dóminum domus suæ.
R/. Et príncipem omnis possessiónis suæ.
Orémus.
Deus, qui ineffábili providéntia beátum Ioseph, sanctíssimæ Genitrícis tuæ sponsum elígere dignátus es, praésta, quaésumus, ut, quem protectórem venerámur in terris, intercessórem habére mereámur in cælis. Qui vivis et regnas in saécula sæculórum. Amen.
Pro Supplicatione ad Deum in capite Litaniarum et Conclusione eligi possunt formulae A vel B pro Litaniis Sanctorum in CALENDARIUM ROMANUM ex Decreto Sacrosancti Oecumenici Concilii Vaticanii II instauratum auctoritate Pauli PP. VI promulgatum, Typis Polyglottis, Vaticanis 1969, pp. 33 et 37 propositis.