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On December 8, 2020, Pope Francis invited us to a year dedicated to Saint Joseph.
We were astonished to discover, while browsing through the Annales de l’Oratoire Saint-Joseph that the year 1921 had also been consecrated to Saint Joseph by Pope Benedict XV. One hundred years to the day from the call of Pope Francis.
It is in the January 1921 issue of the Annales that we read a circular from the Archbishop of Montreal, Most Rev. Paul Bruchési.
He recalls that in July 1920, Pope Benedict XV announced that as of December 8 of the same year, the entire Church was invited to celebrate « by the whole Catholic world a solemn ceremony in honor of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and patron of the Catholic Church, at a time and in a manner to be determined by each bishop” (1).
Portrait of Archbishop Paul Bruchési (1855-1939).
CADRG, 123-25_x
Portrait of Pope Benedict XV (1854-1922).
CADRG, 120-1
The Holy Father’s request was first made in the context of the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church (by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1870).
Pope Benedict XV’s motu proprio Bonum Sane expresses the desire to entrust to Saint Joseph a world wounded by years of brutal war, encouraging a return to the values of work, family and prayer to Saint Joseph (2).
Recalling the devotion to Saint Joseph since the time of New France, Archbishop Bruchési took the opportunity to underline the extent to which the presence of the Oratory is “a great honor for our diocese […] to be the center of an already famous pilgrimage in honor of Saint Joseph.” This shows how much the work of the humble Brother André played a recognized role in the Montreal Church.
Portrait of Pope Pius IX (1792-1878).
CADRG, 120b-3
Archbishop Bruchési concludes his circular with a few requests. First, that the Fathers of the Congregation of the Holy Cross hold a triduum from December 5 to 7. Second, that each parish hold a prayer triduum in March. Bishop Bruchési also asked that the month of March be given “the greatest solemnity”: that Veni Creator be sung at each Mass and that each day an exercise of piety (an instruction, a pious reading, a liturgical chant) be performed in honor of Saint Joseph.
Throughout 1921, the Annales were the relay for Bishop Bruchési’s requests. Faithful to their mission, they published songs, instructions from Blessed Father Basile Moreau, founder of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, poems, historical studies on devotion in Canada, etc. The Annals of the Holy Cross were also published in 1921.
Finally, it should be noted that although a triduum in honor of Saint Joseph has been celebrated at the Oratory during the month of March since 1909, it is in this year dedicated to Saint Joseph in 1921 that a novena of thanksgiving is celebrated for the first time… A great tradition that is still being lived today, a century later. (3)
Celebration of Mass in honour of Saint Joseph in the Crypt Church of Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal.
Photograph attributed to Brother Denis, CSC.
CADRG, 45-1b
It is recounted that during his expedition to the Hurons in 1615, Samuel de Champlain was accompanied by the Franciscan Recollet, Father Joseph Le Caron, who celebrated the first mass in Huron country on August 12, 1615 and named this first mission, at Quienonascaran, after Saint Joseph. In 1624 (around July 16 through August 15), Father Le Caron entrusted this new colony to the care of Saint Joseph as he wrote in his memoirs: “Sixteen hundred and twenty-four, we made a great solemnity…, by a vow we made to Saint Joseph whom we chose as the patron saint of the country and protector of this nascent Church.” (Annales de Saint Joseph, 13ème Année, Janvier 1924, p. 11).
Brother André, a listening heart. A man of prayer and great simplicity, he embodied John the Baptist’s words to Jesus: “He must increase but I must decrease” (Jn 3:30). His reputation as a miracle worker and saint spread quickly. Yet the humble religious man never even sought recognition, let alone glory. He never stopped calling himself “the instrument of Saint Joseph,” his companion in spiritual life.
Hope cannot be taken for granted. It’s easier to despair, to let ourselves fall into sadness or weariness. How many are discouraged? Consciously or not, we sometimes forget Hope and wonder: “What’s the point? What’s the point in going on?”