This is part of the Consecration to St. Joseph Set

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DAY 32: The Church needs the protection of St. Joseph. The Church is not only being assaulted by those outside it, but also by those inside it. But we have reason for hope.

DAY 32: Protector of the Holy Church, Pray for Us

The Church invokes St. Joseph as her Patron and Protector through her unshakable trust that he to whom Christ willed to confide the care and protection of his own frail human childhood, will continue from heaven to perform his protective task in order to guide and defend the Mystical Body of Christ himself, which is always weak, always under attack, always in a state of peril. — St. Pope Paul VI

The Church needs the protection of St. Joseph. According to the designs of Providence, the Church has always needed his protection, but today it needs it more than ever. The Church is being assaulted by those outside it (Satan and the world) and by those inside it (many of her own children). Sadly, the Church also has to be protected from heterodox and spiritually weak priests and bishops.

Don’t believe me? Well, on June 29, 1972, St. Pope Paul VI made the claim that “the smoke of Satan has entered the Church.” He was right. The Church is in a mess. The smoke of Satan has infiltrated even the highest levels of the Church. The only way to clear away the smoke and make the Church beautiful again is to repent and return to order. There is no other way.

Jesus never promised that everyone in the Church would be holy. The weeds and the wheat grow together. The Church in her essence is holy because she is the bride of Christ, but there are many individual members of the Church who are not holy, marring the beauty of the bride of Christ by their sinful and criminal actions. In God’s time, the weeds and the wheat will be separated. Our role is to stay close to St. Joseph. In this way, we will be wheat, not weeds.

To be faithful as humble collaborators with the divine plan over our lives, we need, along with the protection of the Virgin Mary, that of St. Joseph, a most powerful intercessor. — St. Pope John XXIII

Saint Joseph protects the Church. The days in which we live are filled with scandal, confusion, and division. It is not easy to remain faithful, zealous, and hopeful. Yet, we have reason for hope. God will never abandon us. Saint Joseph will never abandon us either. He knows what is going on in the Church, and he wants to correct it.

Saint Joseph is always the choir director who intones the songs, but he sometimes allows a few sour notes. — St. Joseph Marello

There are many sour notes in the Church today. Don’t jump ship, though! In his time, the Heavenly Father will put his foot down. We will see the glory of the Church again. All is in the hands of Divine Providence. Trust.

At a time of persecution of the Church in Mexico, Blessed Miguel Pro turned to St. Joseph for help. His first Mass had been said at an altar of St. Joseph. He would later give his life as a martyr before a firing squad, crucifix in one hand, rosary in the other, and St. Joseph in his heart. Blessed Miguel offers words of comfort for the difficult times in which we live. He states:

The splendor of the Resurrection [of the Church] is already on its way because now the gloom of the passion [of the Church] is at its height.

Hold fast to Jesus, Mary, and St. Joseph. They are with us. Trust in Divine Providence.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.

Patron of the Universal Church

He [St. Joseph] was head of the divine household on earth with, as it were, fatherly authority; he has the Church dedicated to his loyalty and protection. Such a person possesses so surpassing a dignity that no honor exists which should not be paid him. — Pope Leo XIII

Did you know that the root for the word “patron” is pater (“father”)? Did you know that it was through the efforts of a zealous Dominican priest that St. Joseph was proclaimed the Patron of the Universal Church in 1870 by Blessed Pope Pius IX?

Here’s the story:

The Dominican priest is Blessed Jean-Joseph Lataste (1832-1869). Blessed Jean-Joseph was very devoted to St. Joseph. Prior to entering the Dominicans, Jean-Joseph believed that his vocation was to marriage. Engaged to be married, Jean-Joseph was not at peace with his decision and discerned that God was instead calling him to be a Dominican priest. After many years of study, he was ordained to the sacred priesthood and quickly became known as a very pious priest with a strong devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Mary Magdalene, and St. Joseph. He loved the message of Lourdes so much that he travelled to Lourdes to speak with St. Bernadette Soubirous personally. He also had a great devotion to St. Mary Magdalene; as a result, he conducted priestly ministry at a women’s prison and later founded a new Dominican community for women who had come out of prison, the Dominican Sisters of Bethany. It was Blessed Jean-Joseph’s great love for St. Joseph, however, that inspired the Vicar of Christ to pro-claim St. Joseph the Patron of the Universal Church.

The pope at the time was Blessed Pope Pius IX, the pope responsible for declaring Mary’s Immaculate Conception to be a dogma of the faith. People from around the world, including many bishops, had written to the pope asking him to consider making this Marian doctrine a dogma. After much prayer, theological research, and inquiry, Blessed Pope Pius IX realized that such a dogma was both true and pleasing to God, and he agreed to their request. He made the declaration on December 8, 1854.

Blessed Pope Pius IX was also very devoted to St. Joseph, and for years had also been receiving letters from priests, bishops, and laity asking him to declare St. Joseph the Patron of the Universal Church. Blessed Pope Pius IX wanted St. Joseph to be more known and loved, and was very inspired by these requests, but he felt uncertain. Was it the right time for such a proclamation? Would it serve Christ and His Church well? That would all change when he received a letter from a zealous Dominican priest.

Like many others, Fr. Jean-Joseph Lataste had written a letter to the pope asking him to proclaim St. Joseph the Patron of the Universal Church. Blessed Jean-Joseph’s letter was given to the pope in 1868. The Dominican was so convinced that God wanted this proclamation for the good of the Church that he told the pope that he had made a promise to God to offer his life as a sacrifice to bring about the patronage of St. Joseph for the entire Church. The pope was very moved by Jean-Joseph’s petition and was convinced that God was speaking to him through the zealous Dominican.

This good religious [Jean Joseph Lataste] is offering the sacrifice of his life to obtain that St. Joseph be declared Patron of the Uni-versal Church. Father Lataste will shortly be granted his wish. We have received more than five hundred letters requesting that we declare St. Joseph patron of the Church, but Fr. Lataste is the only one who offered his life. —  Blessed Pope Pius IX

To fulfill his promise to God, Blessed Jean-Joseph took on many penitential practices and heroic mortifications, all for the intention of seeing the pope declare St. Joseph the Patron of the Universal Church. Blessed Jean-Joseph died in 1869 at the age of 36. Incredibly, one year later, on December 8, 1870 (the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception), Blessed Pope Pius IX proclaimed St. Joseph the Patron of the Universal Church.

On that December 8, 1870, it was this brief but lovely and admirable decree given Urbi et Orbi [to the city and to the world] that has opened a store of rich and beautiful inspirations for the successors of Pius IX. — St. Pope John XXIII

The official decree proclaiming St. Joseph the Patron of the Universal Church reads:

As almighty God appointed Joseph, son of the patriarch Jacob, over all the land of Egypt to save grain for the people, so when the fullness of time had come and he was about to send to earth his only-begotten Son, the Savior of the world, he chose another Joseph, of whom the first had been the type, and He made him the lord and chief of his household and possessions, the guardian of his choicest treasures.

Indeed, he had as his spouse the Immaculate Virgin Mary, of whom was born by the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ our Lord, who deigned to be reputed in the sight of men as the son of Joseph, and was subject to him.

Him whom countless kings and prophets had desired to see, Joseph not only saw but conversed with, and embraced in paternal affection, and kissed. He most diligently reared Him whom the faithful were to receive as the bread that came down from heaven whereby they might obtain eternal life.

Because of this sublime dignity which God conferred on his most faithful servant, the Church has always most highly honored and praised blessed Joseph next to his spouse, the Virgin Mother of God, and has besought his intercession in times of trouble.

And now therefore, when in these most troublesome times the Church is beset by enemies on every side, and is weighed down by calamities so heavy that ungodly men assert that the gates of hell have at length prevailed against her, the venerable prelates of the whole Catholic world have presented to the Sovereign Pontiff their own petitions and those of the faithful committed to their charge, praying that he would deign to constitute St. Joseph Patron of the Church. And this time their prayer and desire was renewed by them even more earnestly at the Sacred Ecumenical Council of the Vatican.

Accordingly, it has now pleased our Most Holy Sovereign, Pope Pius IX, in order to entrust himself and all the faithful to the Patriarch St. Joseph’s most powerful patronage, has chosen to comply with the prelates’ desire and has solemnly declared him [St. Joseph] Patron of the Catholic Church.

He arranged, moreover, that a declaration to this effect be promulgated through the present decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites on this day sacred to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God [December 8, 1870], the most chaste Joseph’s Spouse.

Pray the Litany of St. Joseph:

Lord, have mercy.  Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.  Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven,  have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Noble Offspring of David,  pray for us.
Light of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us.
Chaste Guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster-Father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Zealous Defender of Christ, pray for us.
Servant of Christ, pray for us.
Minister of Salvation, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.

Joseph Most Just, pray for us.
Joseph Most Chaste,  pray for us.
Joseph Most Prudent,  pray for us.
Joseph Most Courageous,  pray for us.
Joseph Most Obedient, pray for us.
Joseph Most Faithful, pray for us.

Mirror of Patience, pray for us.
Lover of Poverty, pray for us.
Model of Workmen, pray for us.
Glory of Domestic Life, pray for us.
Guardian of Virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of Families, pray for us.
Support in Difficulties, pray for us.
Comfort of the Afflicted, pray for us.
Hope of the Sick, pray for us.
Patron of Exiles,  pray for us.
Patron of the Afflicted, pray for us.
Patron of the Poor, pray for us.
Patron of the Dying, pray for us.
Terror of Demons,  pray for us.
Protector of the Holy Church, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

V. He has made him lord of his household,
R. And prince over all his possessions.

Let us pray. O God, who, in your loving providence, chose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most Holy Mother, grant us the favor of having him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our protector. You, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

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