Pope Francis’ first liturgical decree

Today the Vatican announced that Pope Francis has added the name of St. Joseph to the second, third, and fourth Eucharistic Prayers of the Roman Missal. It is the Holy Father’s first decree pertaining to the liturgy.

The text of the decree, issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments (full text here), includes a lovely meditation on St. Joseph and his indispensable role as head of the Holy Father and Patron of the Universal Church:

Exercising his paternal care over Jesus, Saint Joseph of Nazareth, set over the Lord’s family, marvelously fulfilled the office he received by grace. Adhering firmly to the mystery of God’s design of salvation in its very beginnings, he 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. Therefore he has been the subject of assiduous devotion on the part of the People of God throughout the centuries, as the support of that mystical body, which is the Church.

The revised texts in English are as follows:

In Eucharistic Prayer II:
that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
with blessed Joseph, her Spouse, with the blessed Apostles

In Eucharistic Prayer III:
with the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
with blessed Joseph, her Spouse, with your blessed Apostles and glorious Martyrs
 

In Eucharistic Prayer IV:
with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
with blessed Joseph, her Spouse, and with your Apostles