St. Joseph Spouse of the BVM

The feast of St. Joseph Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a double of the first class. The Office is proper.

The feast began with first Vespers on Thursday morning. Where the resources allow, six pluvialistae assist the Hebdomadarius, all wearing white copes. The solemn tone of Deus, adjutorium may be used. The antiphons were proper, Jacob autem etc, with the psalms from the Common of Apostles in Paschaltide (without, of course, the Alleluias). The hymn was Te Joseph celebrent agmina caelitum. A commemoration of the Lenten feria was made (Thursday in the fourth week). At Compline the Sunday psalms were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory, Christum Dei Filium, qui putari dignatus est filius Joseph, venite adoremus, is proper. The Office hymn at Mattins is Caelitum, Joseph decus atque nostrae. The antiphons are proper and the lessons in the first nocturn are from the Book of Genesis and the story of Joseph, using the Old Testament Joseph as a 'type' for St. Joseph. The second nocturn lessons are a sermon from St. Bernard and in the third nocturn the lessons are from a homily from St. Jerome on the first chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Lenten feria, which is a homily from the writings of St. Augustine. Although the ninth lesson of St. Joseph may be omitted and only the first lesson of the feria sung it is permissible, and the better practice to combine the eighth and ninth lessons of the feast, Anetequam convenirent... and Joseph autem... and read them as one and then read all three lessons of the Lenten ferial day as the ninth lesson. The Te Deum is sung after the ninth lesson. Again at Lauds six pluvialistae assist the Hebdomadarius. At Lauds the antiphons are again proper, Ibant parentes etc, and the Dominical psalms sung. A commemoration is made of the Lenten feria.

At the Hours the antiphons are proper and the psalms festal. At Prime the Sunday psalms are sung (Pss. 53, 118(i) & 118(ii). The short lesson, Profugum justum, is proper to the feast.

Mass follows Terce. The Gloria is sung. The second collect is a commemoration of the Lenten feria. The Credo is sung, the preface is of St. Joseph and the last Gospel is of the Lenten feria.

Second Vespers are, as for all weekdays of Lent, sung before mid-day, even on a great feast. The antiphons are those used at Lauds. A commemoration of the Lenten feria is made. At Compline the Sunday psalms are sung.

In the 1960s liturgical books St. Joseph's feast become a 1st class and is entitled 'St. Joseph Sponse of the BVM and Patron of the Universal Church' reflecting the axing by Pius XII of the more modern Solemnity of St. Joseph in Paschaltide. At Mattins there is no ninth lesson of the Lenten ferial day. At the Hours the antiphons are doubled and at Prime the short lesson is of the season. St. Joseph did not fare well under two of the twentieth century popes by the name of Pius as I commented in last years post.