The editorial – Great prospects for this month of March
1er March 2021
On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis opened on December 8, 2020 a year dedicated to the spouse of the Virgin Mary. And we cannot recommend enough that you meditate on the beautiful apostolic letter “Patris Corde – With a father's heart” which he published in his honor.
“A beloved father, said the Pope, a father in tenderness, in obedience and in welcome, a father with creative courage, a worker, always in the shadows, " who nevertheless “plays an unparalleled role in the history of salvation.”
When we know the attachment of Saints Louis and Zélie to Saint Joseph, we can only rejoice at this initiative.
“I also recommend myself greatly to Saint Joseph, I have great confidence in him; join your prayers to ours, in this month dedicated to honoring him; he will intercede with the Blessed Virgin who will give you back your mother”, wrote Zélie to her daughter Pauline on March 12, 1877 (CF 194).
And following his advice, we will also take care to live this month of March in a beautiful way:
- Recitation of the litanies of Saint Joseph, at noon, from Tuesday to Saturday, before each Eucharist.
- Solemnity of the feast of Saint Joseph on March 19 according to the encouragement of the decree establishing the gift of special indulgences granted to the faithful1
- Meditation dedicated to Saint Joseph every 19th of the month until the end of 2021, broadcast on our Facebook page and on the site of the sanctuary.
We will also not fail to entrust it with the year of the family that Pope Francis chooses to open this March 19, 2021. It joins the sanctuary of Saints Louis and Zélie at the heart of its mission of being the sanctuary of families.
While the universal Church celebrates the 5th anniversary of the encyclical Amoris Laetitia, how can we not remember that it was at the heart of the 2nd session of the synod on the family that the Martin parents, the first couple of the Church to be together, as a couple?
We entrust to their intercession the fruits of this year of the Family as well as the mission of our sanctuary.
Father Thierry Hénault-Morel, rector.
[1] "In order to reaffirm the universality of the patronage of Saint Joseph over the Church, […], the Apostolic Penitentiary grants the Plenary Indulgence to the faithful who will recite any legitimately approved prayer or act of piety in honor of Saint Joseph, for example “To you, O Blessed Joseph”, in particular the commemorations of March 19 and May 1, […], the 19th of each month and every Wednesday, a day dedicated to the memory of the Saint according to the Latin tradition." Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary of December 8, 2020.
