“Among the saints, who beseech for us the true confidence in the Blessed Virgin,
is especially St. Joseph, the greatest servant of Mary.”
(Blessed Alphonse Marie Eppinger)
On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph’s proclamation as patron of the Universal Church, we would like to introduce the veneration and relationship of Blessed Alphonse Marie to St. Joseph.
on the occasion of the Year of Saint Joseph, announced by Pope Francis
to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the universal Church.
Today marks 150 years since the Decree Quemadmodum Deus, with which Bl. Pius IX, moved by the grave and sorrowful circumstances in which the Church was threatened by mankind’s hostility, declared Saint Joseph the Patron of the Catholic Church.
In an historically difficult time of the Church, the Pope, BlessedPius IX, declared St. Joseph patron of the universal Church by Decree “Quemadmodum Deus”, on December 8, 1870. The Pope wrote that the Church has always most highly honored and praised St. Joseph, the one who most diligently reared Him whom the faithful were to receive as the bread that came down from heaven, whereby they might obtain eternal life. God made St. Joseph the protector of His greatest treasures.
