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To you o blessed joseph

Letter for the Conclusion of the Year of Saint Joseph

To the Josephite Marellian Family

Dear Confreres and Friends,

N DIFFICULT TIMES FOR BELIEVERS, on December 8, 1870, Pope Pius IX entrusted
the Church to the special protection of St. Joseph, declaring him to be “Patron of
Ithe Catholic Church.” The faithful were exhorted to invoke the patronage of him,
who in his time, with a fatherly love, knew how to accompany Jesus who “grew in age,
wisdom and grace before God and men” (Lk 2, 52). He was also able to take care of
Him and defend Him “from the many perils which came upon the Holy Family”. In
accomplishing his mission, St. Joseph also knew persecution and exile, and his sole
recompense was to be able to love Jesus and be loved by Him.

“I Like St. Joseph”
The young Father Giuseppe Marello was witness to the proclamation of the Patronage,
and in a letter sent to a priest friend, mentioned the preparations for the event (Cf.