Dear Editor, Without doubt the two most powerful prayers of the Catholic faith are the Angelus and the Rosary. Both are of very long standing and recited all around the world, so what could possibly be missing from them?
The exact same thing that had been missing from the Eucharistic prayers of the Mass, i.e. any mention of the name Saint Joseph.
The Vatican has confirmed that a reference to St Joseph will be permanently included at most Masses. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has said Pope Francis confirmed a decision made by Benedict XVI to include the reference after he had received petitions from Catholics around the world.
A trip to the Holy Land is a great way to fully understand what the real meaning behind the formation of the Rosary and the Angelus is all about. In the Church of St Catherine in Bethlehem there is a chapel dedicated to St Joseph, where legend has it, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and commanded him to flee to Egypt to insure the safety of the Child Jesus from the threat by King Herod.
This was an event of major significance and is worthy of inclusion in a decade of the rosary. It could well become the fourth Joyful Mystery and the existing Presentation and Finding be combined as the fifth mystery.
The inclusion of St Joseph is also worthy of consideration in the Angelus. This is not a very difficult thing to do and small changes in the wording would mean a huge difference in the meaning of this prayer.
Yours etc.
Philip Brennan
Glasnevin,
Dublin 11.