What does the Catholic Church do during St. Joseph's Month?
(Baonghean.vn) - For the Catholic Church, Saint Joseph is the patron saint of workers. A large number of Catholic men often take the name Joseph as their patron saint. This saint is also chosen as the patron saint of many countries such as the United States, China, Canada, Korea, Mexico, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Peru and Vietnam.
Every March, many Catholic churches hold an opening mass for the month of Saint Joseph, the saint considered the "great saint", the foster father of God on earth and honored by the church as "Saint Joseph - Patron of the Church and consecrated souls"; the one who, when he died, had Jesus and the Virgin Mary standing beside him.
The dedication of March to Saint Joseph was approved by Pope Pius IX on April 27, 1865, and the official feast day takes place on March 19 every year.
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These days, the Catholic Church practices living according to the Gospel, performing the Litany of St. Joseph, contemplating the 7 joys and sorrows of St. Joseph, and praying for the Church. Among them, the Litany of St. Joseph is performed more frequently and more frequently, and is performed according to the following structure:
The opening is the invocation to the Trinity and the Virgin Mary; followed by the prayers to Saint Joseph under 25 titles. These titles can be divided into 5 groups. The first group speaks of the holiness as well as the origin of Saint Joseph (descendant of King David, among the patriarchs).
The second group refers to the entrusted functions (friend of Mary, foster father of Jesus, protector of Christ and the Holy Family).
The third group praises the saint's six virtues (justice, chastity, wisdom, fortitude, obedience, fidelity).
The fourth group holds up St. Joseph as a model of social virtues (patience, poverty, hard work, an example for heads of families, for the chaste as well as for married people, comforter of the afflicted).
The last group refers to the patronal titles (of the dying and of the whole Church).
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| Week of adoration at Phu Vinh Parish. Photo courtesy: Hong An |
In the Catholic Church, St. Joseph is the patron saint of workers. A large number of Catholic men take the name Joseph as their patron saint. He is also the patron saint of many countries, including the United States, China, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Peru, and Vietnam.
In Vietnam, the Archdiocese of Hanoi, the Diocese of Xuan Loc, the Diocese of Da Lat, and the Diocese of Thanh Hoa have Saint Joseph as their patron saint. Many parishes, churches, and chapels also take his name as their patron saint.
In Vinh Diocese, the feast of Saint Joseph is solemnly celebrated with popular rituals; in many parishes that choose Saint Joseph as their patron saint, the feast is held in a variety of ways with many unique cultural and artistic activities reenacting the journey of dedication and fidelity to God of this special saint./.
