St. Joseph's Name to Be Added to Eucharistic Prayers

ST. JOSEPH'S NAME ADDED TO EUCHARISTIC PRAYERS II, III, AND IV

Vatican City, 19 June 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued a decree, dated 1 May and signed by the prefect of that dicastery, Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera, which provides that, after the Blessed Virgin Mary, the name of her husband St. Joseph also be read in the Eucharistic Prayers II, III, and IV.

“The faithful in the Catholic Church,” reads the decree, “have shown continuous devotion to Saint Joseph and have solemnly and constantly honoured 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.”

“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.”

In English, the formulas are:

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 ...

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