Although We have already ordered on several occasions that special prayers should be offered throughout the whole world and that Catholic interests should be recommended to God in a more earnest manner, let it not seem surprising to anyone if at this time We judge that this duty should again be called to mind.  In difficult times, particularly when it seems that the powers of darkness are able to make daring attempts to ruin Christianity, the Church has always been accustomed to call humbly upon God, her founder and champion, with greater earnestness and perseverance.  In such times she has also sought aid from the saints who dwell in heaven, and principally from the august Virgin Mother of God, by whose patronage she knows that support in her trials will chiefly be afforded; for the fruit of such pious prayers and of hope in the divine bounty will sooner or later become manifest.

    Now, venerable brethren, you have learned to understand the present age, hardly less calamitous to the Christian commonwealth than the very worst the world has hitherto experienced.  Around us We behold faith, the foundation of all Christian virtues, perishing almost everywhere; We see charity waxing cold; youth growing up corrupted in morals and in doctrine; the Church of Jesus Christ attacked on every side with violence and rage; and a vicious war waged against the papacy.  We behold, in fact, the very groundwork of religion overthrown by assaults that increase in violence from day to day.  As for the depths of this catastrophe of our age and the ulterior schemes of the agitators, you yourselves know more than it behooves Us to put into words.
    Amid such difficult and lamentable conditions the evils of our day have grown too great for human remedies.  The only course left open is to seek a total cure through the divine power.  Because of this, therefore, We deemed it advisable to call upon the piety of the faithful that they may implore the aid of Almighty God with greater earnestness and perseverance.  But particularly, with the month of October now approaching--which elsewhere We have decreed should be dedicated to the Virgin Mary of the Rosary--We urgently exhort that during the present year the entire month be spent in the greatest possible devotion and piety.  We know that a refuge for us is ever ready in the maternal bounty of the Virgin; and with no less certainty We know that our hopes in her are not in vain.  If she has come a hundred times to aid the Christian commonwealth in times of need, why should we doubt that she will give new examples of her power and favor provided that humble and continued public prayers be offered?  Asuredly, We believe that she will help us all the more wonderfully the longer the period is during which she desires us to implore her.

    But still another proposal remains to be made, venerable brethren, well aware as We are that you will diligently cooperate with Us here as you have always done in the past.  In order, then, that God may show Himself more willing to grant our petitions and that He may aid His Church more promptly and bountifully in proportion as more numerous voices are raised to Him, We have deemed it highly expedient that the faithful should become accustomed to implore with special piety and trust, the aid of the Virgin Mother of God, associating with this devotion their upplication for the aid of Blessed Joseph, her most chaste spouse.  Indubitable evidence exists for us to conclude that such a method of approach will be desirable and pleasing to the Virgin herself.
    In this connection, concerning which We are about to make Our first public pronouncement, We are aware that the piety of the people is not only favorably inclined but is advancing, as it were, along a course already entered upon.  For in times past, the endeavor of Roman Pontiffs has been gradually to extend the veneration of Joseph further and further, and to propagate it widely.  In these latter days, however, We have seen that same veneration taking on everywhere unquestionably new stature, particularly after Our predecessor, Pius IX of happy memory, comformably with the requests of numerous Bishops had declared this holy patriarch the Patron of the Universal Church.  But precisely because it is highly advantageous that veneration for him be deeply rooted in Catholic morals and practices, We desire that the faithful be moved thereto no less by Our own voice and authority.
    There are special reasons why Blessed Joseph should be explicitly named the patron of the Church and why the Church in turn should expect much from his patronage and guardianship.  For he, indeed, was the husband of Mary and the father, as was supposed, of Jesus Christ.
    From this arise all his dignity, grace, holiness and glory.  The dignity of the Mother of God is certainly so sublime that nothing can surpass it; but none the less, since the bond of marriage existed between Joseph and the Blessed Virgin, there can be no doubt that more than any other person he approached that supereminent dignity by which the Mother of God is raised far above all created natures.
    For marriage is the closest possible union and relationship whereby each spouse mutually participates in the goods of the other.  Consequently, if God gave Joseph as a spouse to the Virgin, He assuredly gave him not only as a companion in life, a witness of her virginity, and the guardian of her honor, but also a sharer in her exalted dignity by reasons of the conjugal tie itself.
    Likewise, Joseph stands out in august dignity because he was the guardian of the Son of God by the divine appointment, and in the opinion of men was His father.  As a consequence the Word of God was modestly obedient to Joseph, was attentive to his commands, and paid to him every honor that children should render their parent.
        From this double dignity, moreover [of husband and father], such duties arose as are prescribed by nature for the head of a household, so that Joseph was at once the legitimate and the natural guardian, preserver, and defender of the divine household over which he presided.  These duties he fulfilled as long as he lived.  Zealously he watched over his spouse and her divine offspring with the most ardent love and constant solicitude.  By his labor he regularly provided for both of them such necessities of life as food and clothing.  In seeking a place of refuge he warded off that danger to their lives which had been engendered by the jealousy of a king.  Amid the inconveniences of the journey and the bitterness of exile he continually showed himself the companion, the helper, the consoler of the Virgin and of Jesus.

    Moreover, the divine household, which Joseph governed just as with paternal authority, contained the beginnings of the new Church.  The Virgin most holy is the mother of all Christians since she is the mother of Jesus and since she gave birth to them on the mount of Calvary amid the unspeakable sufferings of the Redeemer.  Jesus is, as it were, the first-born of all Christians, who are His brothers by adoption and redemption.  From these considerations we conclude that the blessed patriarch must regard all the multitude of Christians who constitute the Church as confided to his care in a certain special manner.
    This is his numberless family, scattered throughout all lands, over which he rules with a sort of paternal authority, because he is the husband of Mary and the father of Jesus Christ.  Thus, it is conformable to reason and in every way becoming to Blessed Joseph that as once it was his sacred trust to guard with watchful care the family of Nazareth, no matter what befell, so now, by virtue of his heavenly patronage he is in turn to protect and to defend the Church of Christ.

    The statements made here, venerable brethren, as you will readily perceive, are confirmed by what We shall further set forth.  Conformably, namely,. with the Church's sacred liturgy the opinion has been held by not a few Fathers of the Church that the ancient Joseph, son of the patriarch Jacob, foreshadowed both in person and in office our own Joseph.
        By his glory he was a prototype of the grandeur of the future guardian of the Holy Family.  In addition to the circumstances that both men bore the same name--a name by no means devoid of significance--it is well known to you that they resembled each other very closely in other ways as well.  Notable in this regard are the facts that the earlier Joseph received special favor and benevolence from his lord, and that when placed by him as ruler over his household, fortune and prosperity abundantly accrued to the master's house because of Joseph.
    There was even a more evident similarity when by the king's order he was given supreme power over the entire kingdom.  When calamity brought on a deficient harvest and a scarcity of grain, he exercised such excellent foresight in behalf of the Egyptians and their neighbors that the king decreed he should be styled "savior of the world."  Thus, in that ancient patriarch we may recognize the distinct image of Saint Joseph.  As the one was prosperous and successful in the domestic concerns of his lord and in an exceptional manner was set over the whole kingdom, so the other, destined to guard the name of Christ, could well be chosen to defend and to protect the Church, which is truly the house of God and kingdom of God on earth.

    This is the reason [namely, Joseph's position as head of the Holy Family] why all the faithful of all places and ranks commend and confide themselves to the guardianship of Blessed Joseph.  In Joseph fathers of families have an eminent model of paternal care and providence.  Married couples find in him the perfect image of love, harmony, and conjugal loyalty.  Virgins can look to him for their pattern and as the guardian of virginal integrity.  With the picture of Joseph set before them, those of noble lineage can learn to preserve their dignity even under adverse circumstances.  Let the wealthy understand what goods they should chiefly seek and earnestly amass, while with no less special right the needy, the laborers and all possessed of modest means should fly to his protection and learn to imitate him.  Joseph was of royal blood, he was espoused to the greatest and the holiest of all womankind; he was the father, as was supposed, of the Son of God.  Nevertheless, he devoted his life to labor, and by his hands and skill produced whatever was necessary for those dependent on him.
    Therefore, if truth be sought, the condition of those reduced to slender means is not disgraceful.  The labor of craftsmen, far from being dishonorable, can by virtue be even greatly ennobled.  Joseph, content with what was his own, little as it doubtless was, bore with calm and dignified spirit the straitened circumstances necessarily connected with his meager means of livelihood.  This was conformable to the example of his son, who having accepted the form of a servant, while being Lord of all, willingly subjected Himself to the utmost indigence and poverty.
    Considerations such as these will serve to encourage and tranquilize the poor and all those who live by the labor of their hands.  Nevertheless, although it is permitted them to rise from a condition of want to one of well-being, provided violation of justice is excluded, yet both justice and reason forbid the destruction of that order which divine providence has ordained.  On the contrary, it is foolish to have recourse to violence, and to seek to better existing conditions by sedition and revolt.  In most cases these produce only greater evils than those which they were meant to cure.  If the poor wish to act wisely, let them not believe the promises of seditious men, but let them trust in the example and patronage of Saint Joseph, and in the maternal care of the Church, which daily becomes more solicitious for their welfare.
    Accordingly, venerable brethren, relying mainly on your episcopal authority and zeal, and confident that the truly good and pious will of their own desire and volition perform more numerous and signal acts than such merely as are demanded of them, We decree that during the month of October a prayer to Saint Joseph shall be added to the recitation of the Rosary.
     Concerning the Rosary, We have elsewhere already legislated, but a copy of the prayer to Saint Joseph is sent to you along with this letter.  We decree that this order shall be observed in future years in perpetuity.

    (At this point the Holy Father granted a partial indulgence to all who piously recite the prayer.)

    Salutary and deserving of highest commendation is the practice of consecrating the month of May by daily exercises of piety in honor of the holy patriarch.  That indeed has already been observed in many places.  But wherever it cannot readily be accomplished, We desire that preceding the feast of Saint Joseph, a triduum of prayers should be held in the principal church of each city.  In localities where the nineteenth day of March, sacred to Blessed Joseph, is not included among the feasts of obligation, We exhort all voluntarily to keep holy this day by private exercises of devotion in honor of our heavenly patron, and to do this with the same zeal as if they were obeying a precept.
    Meanwhile, as a promise of heavenly favors and as a testimony of Our benevolence toward you, venerable brethren, and toward your clergy and your people, We most lovingly bestow on you the apostolic blessing in the Lord.

    Given at Rome at Saint Peter's, the fifteenth day of August, 1889, the twelfth year of Our pontificate.  Leo XIII.

    To you, O blessed Joseph we have recourse in our tribulations and having implored the help of your most holy spouse we confidently invoke your patronage also.  By that love wherewith you were united to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by the fatherly affection with hich you embraced the Child Jesus we humbly pray you to look more graciously upon the inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased with His blood, and to assist us in our need by your power and strength.  O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family protect the chosen people of Jesus Christ; keep far from us, most loving father all blight of error and corruption; mercifully assist us from heaven, most mighty defender, in our present conflict with the powers of darkness; and as of old you rescued the Child Jesus from the supreme peril of His life, so now defend God's holy Church from the snares of the enemy and all adversity.  Keep us one and all under your continual protection, in order that by your example and supported by your help, we may be enabled to lead a holy life, die a happy death, and come at last to possess eternal blessedness in heaven.  Amen.

    As Peter was given a new name so does the new Supreme Pontiff become known by another.  After the election he extends his first blessing to the people -- a Benediction which was not given in the open for years until Pope Pius XI established the custom.
    The Coronation, one of the most magnificent of Vatican Ceremonies, takes place shortly after the election.  With the Pope carried high in a golden chair and attended by brilliantly attired chamberlains and soldiers, the Coronation Mass is an unrivaled spectacle of beauty, dignity, and ancient pageantry.  At the Coronation, in the midst of the pomp and splendor, a master of ceremonies recites in Latin: "Holy Father, thus does the glory of the world pass away."  As the first Cardinal Deacon places the three-crowned Tiara on the head of the Pope, he says: "Receive the three-crowned Tiara, and know that thou art the Father of Princes and Kings, the Pastor of the earth, and Vicar of Jesus Christ, to whom be honor and glory forever.  Amen."
    The CORONATION of Pope Pius XII took place on the balcony of St. Peter's in March, 1939.  (From the book "The Vatican and Holy Year" by Stephen S. Fenichell & Phillip Andrews. -- 1950 edition.)

    (Tradition is an equal part [with the Bible] of the authoritative teaching of the Church -- From the book "The Immaculate Way" by Brian Farrelly, S.M.M. -- 1963 edition.)

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