June 20, 2013 - Addition of St Joseph's name to Eucharistic Prayers II, III, and IV*
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By means of the decree, Paternas Vices (Prot. No. 215/11/L), Cardinal Canizares Llovera, Prefect of the Congregation for Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, with the approval of Pope Francis, authorized the addition of the name of Saint Joseph in Eucharistic Prayers II, III, and IV of the third typical edition of the Missale Romanum. A copy of the English text of the decree is included with this document. You will find the decree helpful in catechizing the parish about the addition.
Future printings of the Roman Missal will include the additions. For now, you may find it helpful to write the added texts into the three Eucharistic Prayers in your Missal.
The addition is to be made as soon as possible and inserted as follows:
In Eucharistic Prayer II:
“… that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her Spouse, with the blessed Apostles … ”
In Eucharistic Prayer III:
“… with the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her Spouse, with your blessed Apostles and glorious Martyrs… ”
In Eucharistic Prayer IV:
“… with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her Spouse, and with your Apostles … ”
This addition is to be made in all languages. The Spanish text is included below. Parishes needing the updated texts in languages other than English may contact the Office of Divine Worship for translations.In Spanish:
En la Plegaria Eucarística II:
“… con María, la Virgen Madre de Dios, su esposo san José, los apóstoles y … “
En la Plegaria Eucarística III:
“… con María, la Virgen Madre de Dios, su esposo san José, los apóstoles y los mártires … “
En la Plegaria Eucarística IV:
“… con María, la Virgen Madre de Dios, con su esposo san José, con los apóstoles y los santos … “
Prot. N. 215/11/L*DECREE*
Exercising his paternal care over Jesus, Saint Joseph of Nazareth, set over the Lord’s family, marvelously fulfilled the office he received by grace. Adhering firmly to the mystery of God’s design of salvation in its very beginnings, he stands as an exemplary model of the kindness and humility that the Christian faith raises to a great destiny, and demonstrates the ordinary and simple virtues necessary for men to be good and genuine followers of Christ. Through these virtues, this Just man, caring most lovingly for the Mother of God and happily dedicating himself to the upbringing of Jesus Christ, was placed as guardian over God the Father’s most precious treasures.
Therefore he has been the subject of assiduous devotion on the part of the People of God throughout the centuries, as the support of that mystical body, which is the Church. The faithful in the Catholic Church have shown continuous devotion to Saint Joseph and have solemnly and constantly honored his memory as the most chaste spouse of the Mother of God and as the heavenly Patron of the universal Church. For this reason Blessed Pope John XXIII, in the days of the Most Holy Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, decreed that Saint Joseph’s name be added to the ancient Roman Canon. In response to petitions received from places throughout the world, the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI deemed them worthy of implementation and graciously approved them. The Supreme Pontiff FRANCIS likewise has recently confirmed them. In this the Pontiffs had before their eyes the full communion of the Saints who, once pilgrims in this world, now lead us to Christ and unite us with him.
Accordingly, mature consideration having been given to all the matters mentioned here above, this Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, by virtue of the faculties granted by the Supreme Pontiff FRANCIS, is pleased to decree that the name of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary is henceforth to be added to Eucharistic Prayers II, III, and IV, as they appear in the third typical edition of the Roman Missal, after the name of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, as follows: in Eucharistic Prayer II: “*ut cum beáta Dei Genetríce Vírgine*
*María*, beáto Ioseph, eius Sponso, *beátis Apóstolis*”; in Eucharistic Prayer III: “*cum beatíssima*
*Vírgine, Dei Genetríce, María*, cum beáto Ioseph, eius Sponso, *cum beátis Apóstolis*”; and in
Eucharistic Prayer IV: “*cum beáta Vírgine, Dei Genetríce, María*, cum beáto Ioseph, eius Sponso, *cum Apóstolis *”.
As regards the Latin text, these formulas are hereby declared typical. The Congregation itself will soon provide vernacular translations in the more widespread western languages; as for other languages, translations are to be prepared by the Bishops’ Conferences, according to the norm of law, to be confirmed by the Holy See through this Dicastery.
All things to the contrary notwithstanding.
From the offices of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 1 May 2013, on the Memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker.
( Antonio Card. CAÑIZARES LLOVERA )
*Prefect*
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( + Arthur ROCHE )
*Archbishop Secretary*
Rev. Jonathan Gaspar
Priest Secretary to Cardinal Seán O'Malley
Director of Divine Worship
Archdiocese of Boston
66 Brooks Drive
Braintree, MA 02184