Redemptoris Custos
Encyclopedia
Redemptoris Custos is the title of an Apostolic exhortation
by Pope John Paul II
on Saint Joseph
. It was delivered on August 15, 1989 in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome
on the occasion of the centenary of Pope Leo XIII's Encyclical Epistle Quamquam Pluries
.
This exhortation is part of the "redemption documents" issued by Pope John Paul II, and refers to the Marian encyclical Redemptoris Mater
. It discusses the importance of Saint Joseph in the Holy Family, and presents the pope's view of Saint Joseph's role in the plan of redemption. John Paul II positions Saint Joseph as breaking the old vice of paternal familial domination, and suggests him as the model of a loving father.
The exhortation has six main parts:
In this document, John Paul II reemphasized key elements of Quamquam Pluries
regarding the position of St. Joseph in the Church and his connection to Mary, which he had already acknowledged in his encyclical Redemptoris Mater
. He wrote:
Recalling Quamquam Pluries, Pope John Paul II again stressed that the Church has implored the protection of St. Joseph on the basis of "that sacred bond of charity which united him to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God," and that the Church has commended to Joseph all of her cares, including those dangers which threaten the human family.
In 1999, the Oblates of St. Joseph
named their new Shrine Saint Joseph the Guardian of the Redeemer after this Apostolic exhortation
Apostolic exhortation
An apostolic exhortation is a type of communication from the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. It encourages a community of people to undertake a particular activity, but does not define Church doctrine...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
on Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
. It was delivered on August 15, 1989 in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
on the occasion of the centenary of Pope Leo XIII's Encyclical Epistle Quamquam Pluries
Quamquam Pluries
Quamquam Pluries is an encyclical on Saint Joseph by Pope Leo XIII. It was issued on August 15, 1889 in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.As a background, the pope stated the challenges facing the Church, such as the growing depravity of morals in the young generation:Now, Venerable Brethren, you know...
.
This exhortation is part of the "redemption documents" issued by Pope John Paul II, and refers to the Marian encyclical Redemptoris Mater
Redemptoris Mater
Redemptoris Mater is the name for certain Roman Catholic seminaries which operate under the auspices of the Neocatechumenal Way and claim as their mission the formation of priests for the "New Evangelization". These seminaries are distributed worldwide, with nearly 1,500 seminarians currently in...
. It discusses the importance of Saint Joseph in the Holy Family, and presents the pope's view of Saint Joseph's role in the plan of redemption. John Paul II positions Saint Joseph as breaking the old vice of paternal familial domination, and suggests him as the model of a loving father.
The exhortation has six main parts:
- I. The Gospel Portrait
- II The guardian of the mystery of God
- III. A just man, a husband
- IV. Work as an expression of love
- V. The primacy of the interior life
- VI. Patron of the Church in our day
In this document, John Paul II reemphasized key elements of Quamquam Pluries
Quamquam Pluries
Quamquam Pluries is an encyclical on Saint Joseph by Pope Leo XIII. It was issued on August 15, 1889 in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.As a background, the pope stated the challenges facing the Church, such as the growing depravity of morals in the young generation:Now, Venerable Brethren, you know...
regarding the position of St. Joseph in the Church and his connection to Mary, which he had already acknowledged in his encyclical Redemptoris Mater
Redemptoris Mater
Redemptoris Mater is the name for certain Roman Catholic seminaries which operate under the auspices of the Neocatechumenal Way and claim as their mission the formation of priests for the "New Evangelization". These seminaries are distributed worldwide, with nearly 1,500 seminarians currently in...
. He wrote:
Together with Mary, Joseph is the first guardian of this divine mystery. Together with Mary, and in relation to Mary, he shares in this final phase of God's self-revelation in Christ and he does so from the very beginning. Looking at the gospel texts of both Matthew and Luke, one can also say that Joseph is the first to share in the faith of the Mother of God and that in doing so he supports his spouse in the faith of the divine annunciation. He is also the first to be placed by God on the path of Mary's "pilgrimage of faith." It is a path along which - especially at the time of Calvary and Pentecost - Mary will precede in a perfect way.
Recalling Quamquam Pluries, Pope John Paul II again stressed that the Church has implored the protection of St. Joseph on the basis of "that sacred bond of charity which united him to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God," and that the Church has commended to Joseph all of her cares, including those dangers which threaten the human family.
In 1999, the Oblates of St. Joseph
Oblates of St. Joseph
The Oblates of St. Joseph is a Catholic religious order founded in 1878 by St. Joseph Marello. In 1999 their Shrine of Saint Joseph the Guardian of the Redeemer was named after the Apostolic exhortation Redemptoris Custos.-External links:* *...
named their new Shrine Saint Joseph the Guardian of the Redeemer after this Apostolic exhortation
See also
- JosephologyJosephologyJosephology is the theological study of Saint Joseph, the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Records of devotions to Saint Joseph go back to the year 800 and Doctors of the Church since Saint Thomas Aquinas have written on the subject. With the growth of Mariology, the theological study of Saint...
- Quamquam PluriesQuamquam PluriesQuamquam Pluries is an encyclical on Saint Joseph by Pope Leo XIII. It was issued on August 15, 1889 in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.As a background, the pope stated the challenges facing the Church, such as the growing depravity of morals in the young generation:Now, Venerable Brethren, you know...
- Redemptoris MaterRedemptoris MaterRedemptoris Mater is the name for certain Roman Catholic seminaries which operate under the auspices of the Neocatechumenal Way and claim as their mission the formation of priests for the "New Evangelization". These seminaries are distributed worldwide, with nearly 1,500 seminarians currently in...
- Redemptoris MissioRedemptoris MissioRedemptoris Missio , subtitled On the permanent validity of the Church's missionary mandate, is a Papal encyclical by Pope John Paul II published on December 7, 1990 devoted to the subject of "the urgency of missionary activity" and in which he wished "to invite the Church to renew her missionary...
Sources
- Vatican website: Redemptoris Custos http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_15081989_redemptoris-custos_en.html