Patrocinii St. Joseph Confessoris Sponsi B.M.V. confessoris et Dominica III Post Pascha: Missa “Adjútor et protéctor”
The Feast of the Patronage of St Joseph, traditionally observed on the Third Sunday after Easter, was instituted for the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX in 1847 in response to the mounting threats against the Church in the modern era. Distinct from the March 19 feast that honours St Joseph as Spouse of the Blessed Virgin and foster-father of Christ, this celebration focuses on his ongoing role as Protector of the Universal Church, a title he received officially during this time of rising secular revolution and spiritual danger.
The feast invites the faithful to place their trust in St Joseph’s powerful intercession. Just as he protected the Holy Family in silence and strength, so now he watches over the Mystical Body of Christ. The Church presents him as the model of fidelity, purity, and paternal care — an antidote to the crises of fatherlessness, confusion, and doctrinal instability that afflict our age. The liturgical texts speak of him as the pillar of the Church, a sure refuge in distress, and the one who still safeguards Christ’s presence among us.
Though removed from the general calendar in 1955 and replaced by the Feast of St Joseph the Worker on May 1, this original feast remains deeply significant in the Traditional Latin Rite. Its theme is one of confidence, gratitude, and spiritual resistance — reminding us that in times of sorrow, as Christ says in the Gospel (John 16:16–22), our suffering will be turned into joy. In the midst of uncertainty, the Church teaches us again: Ite ad Joseph — Go to Joseph.
On this Third Sunday After Easter, the Church rejoices because Christ is risen again and has redeemed us (Alleluia); and so she utters cries of joy (Introit) and sings the praises of God (Offertory).
“A little while, and now you shall not see Me, and you shall lament and weep,” Jesus said in His last discourse to His disciples; “and again a little while, and you shall see Me, and your heart shall rejoice”
The Apostles, when again they saw Christ risen from the dead, were filled with the same joy to which the liturgical services for Easter give expression this day; and seeing that Easter is but a figure of the eternal Pasch, the Church will experience a similar joy when, having brought forth in sorrow souls to God, she sees Jesus again in His triumphant entry into Heaven. “He will turn our sorrow then into joy, which no man shall take from us” (Gospel).
The head of the Church, moreover, states in the Epistle that we are here only as strangers and pilgrims, and he enumerates the positive and negative precepts to be observed in order that those “who profess themselves Christians may be able to reject those things which disgrace the name and follow those which are becoming to it” (Collect).
St Andrew’s Daily Missal: Propers p.1180, Sunday p.659
INTROIT Psalm 65: 1-2
Our soul waiteth for the Lord: for he is our helper and protector. For in him our heart shall rejoice: and in his holy name we have trusted, allelúja, allelúja. Ps 79:2 Give ear, O thou that rulest Israel: thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Repeat Our soul waiteth for the Lord…
COLLECT
God, Who in thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of thine Own most holy Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with thee, we who on earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be holpen by the succour of his prayers to thee on our behalf; Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. R. Amen
Sunday III Post Pascha
O God, who to those that go astray dost show the light of Thy truth, that they may return to the path of justice: grant that all who are enrolled in the Christian faith, may both reject all that is hostile to that name, and follow after what is fitting to it. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R.Amen.
EPISTLE Gen 49:22-26
Lesson from the book of Genesis. Joseph is a growing son, a growing son and comely to behold; the daughters run to and fro upon the wall. But they that held darts provoked him, and quarrelled with him, and envied him. His bow rested upon the strong, and the bands of his arms and his hands were loosed, by the hands of the mighty one of Jacob: thence he came forth a pastor, the stone of Israel. The God of thy father shall be thy helper, and the Almighty shall bless thee with the blessings of heaven above, with the blessings of the deep that lieth be- neath, with the blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of thy father are strengthened with the blessings of his fathers: until the desire of the everlasting hills should come; may they be upon the head of Joseph, and upon the crown of the Nazarite among his brethren.
ALLELUIA
Allelúja, allelúja. In whatever tribulation they shall cry to me, I will hear them and be their protector always. Allelúja. V. Obtain to us, O Joseph, to lead an innocent life; and may it ever be safe through thy patronage. Allelúja.
GOSPEL Luke 3:21-23
At that time. It came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, heaven was opened; And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, as a dove upon him; and a voice came from heaven: Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. And Jesus himself was beginning about the age of thirty years; being – as it was supposed – the son of Joseph
OFFERTORY Psalm 147:12; 147:13
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O Sion. Because he hath strengthened the bolts of thy gates, he hath blessed thy children within thee, allelúja, allelúja.
SECRET
Supported by the patronage of the spouse of thy most holy Mother, we beseech thy clemency, O Lord, that thou wouldst make our hearts despise all earthly things and love thee, the true God with perfect charity. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. R. Amen
Commemoration Sunday III Post Pascha
Grant, O Lord, by these Mysteries, that checking our earthly longings, we may learn to love heavenly things. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. R.Amen.
PREFACE of Easter
It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, at all times to praise Thee, O Lord, but more gloriously especially this when Christ our Pasch was sacrificed. For He is the Lamb Who hath taken away the sins of the world: Who by dying hath destroyed our death: and by rising again hath restored us to life. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…
COMMUNION Matt 1:16
And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ, allelúja, allelúja.
POSTCOMMUNION
Refreshed at the fount of divine blessing, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, that as thou dost gladden us by the protection of blessed Joseph, so by his merits and intercession thou woulds make us partakers of his heavenly glory. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.
Commemoration Sunday III Post Pascha
May the Sacraments which we have received, we beseech Thee, O Lord, renew us with spiritual refreshment and defend us with bodily help. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. R.Amen.
PROPER GOSPEL Sunday III Post Pascha John 16:16-22
In that time: Jesus said to his disciples: A little while, and now you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you shall see me: because I go to the Father. Then some of the disciples said one to another: What is this that he saith to us: A little while, and you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you shall see me, and, because I go to the Father? They said therefore: What is this that he saith, A little while? we know not what he speaketh. And Jesus knew that they had a mind to ask him; and he said to them: Of this do you inquire among yourselves, because I said: A little while, and you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you shall see me? Amen, amen I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labour, hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. So also you now indeed have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice; and your joy no man shall take from you.