Patris Corde

In his apostolic letter Patris Corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis reflects on Saint Joseph and his multifaceted role as a father. The purpose of this letter, Pope Francis writes, “is to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal.” Saint Joseph is a beloved father; a tender, loving father; an obedient father; an accepting father; a creatively courageous father; a working father; and a father in the shadows. As protector, advocate, and guardian of the Holy Family, Saint Joseph has always been venerated as a father to all Christians. With this letter, promulgated on the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis proclaimed a Year of Saint Joseph from December 8, 2020, to December 8, 2021. Patris Corde ends with a new prayer to Saint Joseph, and the OSV edition includes additional prayers and a litany to this beloved saint.

The essays in this very timely volume, each in its own way, journey with Joseph. The discerning reader will enjoy the richness and variety of Joseph's legacy as seen through the eyes of the writers, who bear the title Josephite and who generously share their knowledge, experience, reflection and prayer of this saint, whom Julian Tenison Woods calls 'the Prince of God's House who was among the poorest of men and hidden with Mary and Jesus' (4 September, 1887). Sister Lauretta Baker rsj, Congregational Leader, Sisters of St. Joseph, Lochinvar Who better than the Josephites to give us an "inside" look at the character who gave early shape to Jesus' Jewish life and spirituality. When Mary MacKillop and Julian Woods were establishing a new religious group in Australia, why did they turn to Joseph as their identity-marker? Human aspirations, Gospel verses, and ancient legends all met to sow the seeds that would flourish in this soil, and be known with respect and gratitude as "the Joeys." Professor Mary Coloe, pbvm. Yarra Theological Union, University of Divinity, Melbourne. It is often said that 'actions speak louder than words. In the case of St Joseph this is so true. With no recorded utterances in the Scriptures, we have only to rely on his deeds. Journeying with Joseph is a timely publication not only for the Year of St Joseph, but one which allows us to delve more deeply into how we might draw inspiration from him to follow more closely the path of being a missionary Disciple, in a world deeply affected by COVID. The net is cast well and wide when you survey the topics contained in this book, and these show that while St Joseph may not have spoken any words, his deeds were, and are, profound. Patrick O'Regan DD, Archbishop of Adelaide, (Josephite Companion).

This is the text of the Apostolic Letter issued by Pope Francis on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the declaration of St. Joseph as Patron of the Catholic Church made by Blessed Pius IX, on December 8, 1870. After Mary, Mother of God, no saint occupies as much space in the papal Magisterium as Joseph, her spouse. Pope Francis' reflections take up the message contained in the few verses of the Gospels about Saint Joseph to further highlight his central role in the history of Salvation: Blessed Pius IX declared him "Patron of the Catholic Church," Venerable Pius XII presented him as "Patron of Workers," and St. John Paul II as "Guardian of the Redeemer." This edition also includes the decree for the Jubilee indulgences, an essay on St. Joseph and the Popes (from Pius IX to Pope Francis), and prayers to St. Joseph.

With his extraordinary figure and “so close to our human condition” (Pope Francis), Saint Joseph is very close to those of us, ordinary people, without for this reason our lives lack of importance for God and others. The Holy Patriarch teaches us much more than what may appear at first glance. It shows us paths of holiness, faith, prayer, love of family, humility, workmanship, detachment… This book offers meditations on the biblical text about “God’s man of trust”: they are designed for those who do a few days of retreat, as well as for the personal prayer and spiritual reading.

When Pope Francis puts pen to paper, people around the world pay attention. Between 2017 and 2020, the Holy Father published six groundbreaking documents with topics ranging from the importance of scripture to Catholic social teaching, and from injustice in the Amazon to the role of religion in building world peace. These seven documents—letters, apostolic exhortations, an encyclical, and a statement cosigned by Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb—are gathered in one volume for the first time. Volume 2 includes: Gaudete et Exultate, March 19, 2018: In his apostolic exhortation Rejoice and Be Glad: On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World, Pope Francis reissues the universal call to holiness, challenges us to recognize the “saints next door” we encounter in daily life, and provides a practical meditation on how we can respond to the Lord’s invitation to become his disciples. Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, February 4, 2019: This document emphasizes the important role of religion in building world peace and the rights of freedom, justice, and full citizenship for all people—including women. It was cosigned in Abu Dhabi by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, during Pope Francis’s apostolic visit to the United Arab Emirates. Apperuit Illis, September 30, 2019: This apostolic letter, Instituting the Sunday of the Word of God, reflects on Vatican II’s teaching on the importance of the scriptures and encourages all Catholics to embrace the Bible as part of their rich spiritual heritage. Christus Vivit, March 25, 2019: Christ is Alive is the post-synodal apostolic exhortation to young people framed on three key principles: God loves you, Jesus saves and suffers with you, and Jesus is alive. Querida Amazonia, February 12, 2020: The 2020 post-synodal apostolic exhortation Beloved Amazon addresses injustice and exploitation in the Amazon region, outlines challenges to caring for creation and respecting the cultures of indigenous peoples, and renews consideration of how the Church’s mission can and should take shape in the twenty-first century. Fratelli Tutti, October 4, 2020: All Brothers and Sisters: On Fraternity and Social Friendship is Pope Francis’s third encyclical and the only one written between 2017 and 2020. This seminal work challenges us to take a fresh look at the great ideals of the Church’s social teaching and put them into practice on a new—and more personal—level. Patris Corde, December 8, 2020: The apostolic letter With a Father’s Heart declared 2021 the Year of St. Joseph, and provides an extended meditation on the various facets of Joseph’s fatherhood.

Though he speaks no words in Scripture, St. Joseph’s message to us is resounding: he wants to lead us to Jesus. In Through the Heart of St. Joseph, Fr. Boniface Hicks reveals the path St. Joseph has laid. Discover how St. Joseph’s vulnerability, littleness, silence, and hiddenness can transform and heal us. Fr. Hicks also looks to the saints who lived the “Joseph Option” to show how we too can embrace a life of humble trust and steadfast courage. Through the Heart of St. Joseph proves with quiet conviction that if we entrust ourselves to the foster father of Our Lord, he will give us his love and protection—just as he gave it to Jesus.

Invites readers to prayerfully reflect on Pope Francis's words from his Apostolic Letter, Patris Corde, on St. Joseph, and to apply them to our lives. Enriched with beautiful, colorful fine art illustrations.