Name of Saint Joseph in the Eucharistic Prayers

On May 1, 2013, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments promulgated the decree Paternas vices by the authority of the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis. The decree instructed that the name of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, be inserted into Eucharistic Prayers II, III, and IV. Already on November 13, 1962, Pope John XXIII had inserted the name of St. Joseph into the first Eucharistic Prayer (the Roman Canon), and that work was carried forward to the other three Eucharistic Prayers, initially by Pope Benedict XVI and confirmed by Pope Francis.

Pious and liturgical devotion to St. Joseph is first recorded with certainty in the seventh century, though reference to him is made in Sacred Scripture and multiple patristic texts earlier than that. A full liturgical Office was established for him on March 19 in the 13th Century, and in 1870 he was proclaimed Patron of the Universal Church. Many church writers and several Popes have written of St. Joseph, including the apostolic exhortation by Pope John Paul II entitled Redemptoris custos (August 15, 1989).

The decree Paternas vices drew some of its language from this exhortation, expressing in concise words the role of St. Joseph in the economy of salvation, stating, for example, that St. Joseph, "stands as an exemplary model of the kindness and humility that the Christian faith raises to a great destiny, and demonstrates the ordinary and simple virtues necessary for men to be good and genuine followers of Christ. Through these virtues, this Just man, caring most lovingly for the Mother of God and happily dedicating himself to the upbringing of Jesus Christ, was placed as guardian over God the Father's most precious treasures."

The Congregation also provided the Latin texts, which are considered the typical edition, as well as official translations in the major western languages, including English and Spanish.

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Saint Joseph insert to the eucharistic prayers

English

Eucharistic Prayer II

Have mercy on us all, we pray,
that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
with blessed Joseph, her Spouse,
with the blessed Apostles,
and all the Saints who have pleased you throughout the ages,
we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life,
and may praise and glorify you
through your Son, Jesus Christ.

Eucharistic Prayer III

May he make of us
an eternal offering to you,
so that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect,
especially with the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
with blessed Joseph, her Spouse,
with your blessed Apostles and glorious Martyrs
(with Saint N.: the Saint of the day or Patron Saint)
and with all the Saints,
on whose constant intercession in your presence
we rely for unfailing help.

Eucharistic Prayer IV

To all of us, your children,
grant, O merciful Father,
that we may enter into a heavenly inheritance
with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
with blessed Joseph, her Spouse,
and with your Apostles and Saints in your kingdom.
There, with the whole of creation,
freed from the corruption of sin and death,
may we glorify you through Christ our Lord,
through whom you bestow on the world all that is good.

Spanish

Plegaria Eucarística II

Ten misericordia de todos nosotros,
y así, con María, la Virgen Madre de Dios,
su esposo san José,
los apóstoles
y cuantos vivieron en tu amistad
a través de los tiempos,
merezcamos, por tu Hijo Jesucristo,
compartir la vida eterna
y cantar tus alabanzas.

Plegaria Eucarística III

Que él nos transforme en ofrenda permanente,
para que gocemos de tu heredad
junto con tus elegidos:
con María, la Virgen Madre de Dios,
su esposo san José,
los apóstoles y los mártires,
(san N.: Santo del día o patrono)
y todos los santos,
por cuya intercesión
confiamos obtener siempre tu ayuda.

Plegaria Eucarística IV

Padre de bondad,
que todos tus hijos nos reunamos
en la heredad de tu reino,
con María, la Virgen Madre de Dios,
con su esposo san José,
con los apóstoles y los santos;
y allí, junto con toda la creación
libre ya del pecado y de la muerte,
te glorifiquemos por Cristo, Señor nuestro,
por quien concedes al mundo todos los bienes.

Latin

Prex Eucharistica II

Omnium nostrum, quǽsumus, miserére,
ut cum beáta Dei Genetríce Vírgine María,
beáto Ioseph, eius Sponso,
beátis Apóstolis et ómnibus Sanctis,
qui tibi a sǽculo placuérunt,
ætérnae vitæ mereámur esse consórtes,
et te laudémus et glorificémus
per Fílium tuum Iesum Christum.

Prex Eucharistica III

Ipse nos tibi perfíciat munus ætérnum,
ut cum eléctis tuis hereditátem cónsequi valeámus,
in primis cum beatíssima Vírgine, Dei Genetríce, María,
cum beáto Ioseph, eius Sponso,
cum beátis Apóstolis tuis et gloriósis Martýribus
(cum Sancto N.: Sancto diei vel patrono)
et ómnibus Sanctis,
quorum intercessióne
perpétuo apud te confídimus adiuvári.

Prex Eucharistica IV

Nobis ómnibus, fíliis tuis, clemens Pater, concéde,
ut cæléstem hereditátem cónsequi valeámus
cum beáta Vírgine, Dei Genetríce, María,
cum beáto Ioseph, eius Sponso,
cum Apóstolis et Sanctis tuis
in regno tuo, ubi cum univérsa creatúra,
a corruptióne peccáti et mortis liberáta,
te glorificémus per Christum Dóminum nostrum,
per quem mundo bona cuncta largíris.