♔ ST. JOSEPH'S ALTAR AT ST. PETER'S BASILICA ♔

On March 19, 1961, in his apostolic epistle, Le Voci, naming St. Joseph patron of the second Vatican Council, Pope John XXIII also called for the St. Joseph altar in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome to “take on a new and fuller and more solemn splendor….” On March 19, 1963, the Holy Father blessed the new mosaic. Following the blessing, he commented: “Upon entering the basilica today We dedicated the new image of St. Joseph over the Saint’s altar. We were urged to perform this ceremony Ourself as an act of piety towards the most chaste Spouse of Mary and the Guardian of Jesus, in order to fulfill Our most earnest wish to promote within this great temple of Christendom devotion to St. Joseph, protector of the Holy Church and patron of the Second Vatican Council. ”

The mosaic, over nine feet high and made of individual tiles all less then half an inch square, reproduces a painting of the Milanese artist, Achille Funi (born c. 1892). St. Joseph stands on a classical marble pedestal, with Jesus in arm and flowering staff in his left hand. The Child affectionately holds and looks toward his earthly father. At St. Joseph’s feet an angel kneels offering him St. Peter’s boat with supplicant expression. A human person also kneels offering him an olive branch with a plea for true peace. Another angel flies down from heaven with a banner that reads Tu eris super domum meam, “You shall be over my house.” In a word, St. Joseph’s image in the mother church of all Christendom recalls his role as protector of the entire Church. St. Joseph hears the prayers of all who invoke him, whether in the humblest little chapel or the world’s greatest basilica.  

♔ ST JOHN XXIII and ST. JOSEPH ♔

26 May 1960, Feast of the Ascension: We name two of the most intimate persons in Christ’s life: John the Baptist – the Precursor, and Joseph of Nazareth – his putative father and custodian. It corresponds to them – we may piously believe – the honor and the privilege of Jesus allowing them to admirably accompany him on the path to Heaven (on the day of his Ascension) and to sing the first notes of the never ending hymn, “Te Deum”.

Allocution, 19 March 1959: All the saints in glory assuredly merit honor and particular respect, but it is evident that, next to the Blessed Mother, Saint Joseph possesses a just title to a more sweet, more intimate and penetrating place in our hearts, belonging to him alone… We are able to see all the greatness of Saint Joseph, not only by reason of the fact that he was close to Jesus and Mary, but also by the shining example he has given of all virtues…

Le Voci, 19 March 1961: As a new spring breaks into view and we stand on the threshold of the Sacred Easter Liturgy, we find ourselves face to face with the kind and gentle St. Joseph, stately spouse of Mary, a figure so dear to the minds and hearts of those who are most responsive to the appeal of Christian asceticism and the forms of religious devotion that are quiet and unobtrusive, but all the sweeter and more pleasing for being so. …For long centuries St Joseph remained in the background that was so typical of him, like a kind of ornamental detail in the overall picture of the Savior’s life. It took time for devotion to him to go beyond those passing glances and take root in the hearts of the faithful, and then surge forth in the form of special prayers and of a profound sense of trust and confidence. The fervent joy of pouring forth these deepest feelings of the heart in so many impressive ways has been saved for modern times; and it gives Us special pleasure to draw upon these treasures now for something quite pertinent and meaningful.

Top Page image: Pope John XXIII blesses a statue of St. Joseph flown in from the Oratory of St. Joseph, Montreal, Canada

♔ POPE ST JOHN XXIII - ST. JOSEPH ♔

♔ Pope St. John XXIII ♔ Le Voci, 19 March 1961: As a new spring breaks into view and we stand on the threshold of the Sacred Easter Liturgy, we find ourselves face to face with the kind and gentle St. Joseph, stately spouse of Mary, a figure so dear to the minds and hearts of those who are most responsive to the appeal of Christian asceticism and the forms of religious devotion that are quiet and unobtrusive, but all the sweeter and more pleasing for being so. … For long centuries St Joseph remained in the background that was so typical of him, like a kind of ornamental detail in the overall picture of the Savior’s life. It took time for devotion to him to go beyond those passing glances and take root in the hearts of the faithful, and then surge forth in the form of special prayers and of a profound sense of trust and confidence. The fervent joy of pouring forth these deepest feelings of the heart in so many impressive ways has been saved for modern times; and it gives Us special pleasure to draw upon these treasures now for something quite pertinent and meaningful.

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PRAYER OF POPE ST JOHN XXIII TO ST JOSEPH:

St. Joseph: be always our protector. That your internal spirit of peace, silence, honest work, and prayer in the service of the Church give us life and happiness in union with your blessed Spouse, our Sweet and Immaculate Mother in the strong and mild love of Jesus, Glorious and Immortal King of the centuries and the people. + Amen.

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To read "Le Voci Che da Tutti" in full, click here.

Blessed John XXIII & St Joseph

Blessed Pope John XXIII, Le Voci, 19 March 1961:  As a new spring breaks into view and we stand on the threshold of the Sacred Easter Liturgy, we find ourselves face to face with the kind and gentle St. Joseph, stately spouse of Mary, a figure so dear to the minds and hearts of those who are most responsive to the appeal of Christian asceticism and the forms of religious devotion that are quiet and unobtrusive, but all the sweeter and more pleasing for being so. …For long centuries St Joseph remained in the background that was so typical of him, like a kind of ornamental detail in the overall picture of the Saviour’s life. It took time for devotion to him to go beyond those passing glances and take root in the hearts of the faithful, and then surge forth in the form of special prayers and of a profound sense of trust and confidence. The fervent joy of pouring forth these deepest feelings of the heart in so many impressive ways has been saved for modern times; and it gives Us special pleasure to draw upon these treasures now for something quite pertinent and meaningful.

St. Joseph: be always our protector. That your internal spirit of peace, silence, honest work, and prayer in the service of the Church give us life and happiness in union with your blessed Spouse, our Sweet and Immaculate Mother in the strong and mild love to Jesus, Glorious and Immortal King of the centuries and the people. + Amen.