Word of te Day: Archconfraternity of the Cord of Saint Joseph, With the Blessing of the Cord

Archconfraternity of the Cord of Saint Joseph. The miraculous cure of an Augustinian nun at Antwerp in 1657 from a grievous illness, through the wearing of a cord in honour of Saint Joseph, gave rise to the pious practice of wearing it to obtain the grace of purity through his intercession. The devotion soon spread over many countries of Europe, and in the 19th century was revived at Rome in the Church of Saint Roch and in that of Saint Nicolas at Verona, Italy. Blessed Pope Pius IX, in a rescript dated 19 September 1859, approved a special formula for the blessing of the cord of Saint Joseph, and in his brief "Expositum nobis nuper" (14 March 1862) enriched the confraternity with many indulgences.

In 1860, several new indulgences were granted to the confraternity erected in the church of St. Nicholas at Verona and by the brief Universi Dominici gregis, 23 September 1862, the Confraternity of the Cord of Saint Joseph was raised to an archconfraternity.

The members are obliged to wear a cord having seven knots, and are exhorted to recite daily seven Glorias in honour of St. Joseph. The White Cord of Saint Joseph can be worn around the waist for purity or around the shoulders for obedience. Any priest can bless the girdle, after which when worn for the first time, enrols one in the Archconfraternity of the Cord of Saint Joseph. 

Confraternities of the Cord of Saint Joseph must be aggregated to the archconfraternity in the Church of St. Roch at Rome in order to enjoy its spiritual favours and indulgences.

From the Rituale Romanum:

22. Blessing of a Cincture to be worn in honor of St. Joseph, spouse of our Lady

 (Approved by the Congregation of Sacred Rites, Sept. 19, 1859) 

The priest, vested in surplice and white stole, says: 

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord. 

All: Who made heaven and earth. 

P: The Lord be with you. 

All: And with your spirit. 

Let us pray. 

Lord Jesus Christ, who inculcated the counsel and love of virginity, and gave the precept of chastity, we appeal to your kindness, asking that you bless and hallow this cincture as a token of purity. Let all who gird themselves with it as a safeguard of chastity be enabled, by the prayers of St. Joseph, spouse of your holy Mother, to practice that continence which is so pleasing to you, and to live in obedience to your commandments. May they also obtain pardon of their sins, health in mind and body, and finally attain everlasting life. We ask this of you who live and reign with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. All: Amen. Let us pray. Almighty everlasting God, grant, we pray, that those who revere the inviolate virginity of the most pure Virgin Mary and of Joseph, her spouse, may by their prayers be pure in mind and body; through Christ our Lord. All: Amen. Let us pray. 

Let us pray.

Almighty everlasting God. who committed the boy Jesus and the most pure Mary, ever a Virgin, to the care of the chaste man Joseph, we humbly entreat you that those who are girded with this cincture in honor of St. Joseph and under his patronage may, by your help and his prayers, persevere in holy chastity for all time; through Christ our Lord. 

All: Amen. 

Let us pray. 

God, the lover and restorer of innocence, we pray that your faithful who are to wear this cincture may, by the prayers of St. Joseph, spouse of your holy Mother, have their loins girded and hold burning lamps in their hands, and thus be likened to men who wait for their Lord when He shall return for a wedding, that when He comes and knocks they may open to Him, and be found worthy of being taken into everlasting joys; through you who live and reign forever and ever. 

All: Amen. 

Then the priest puts incense into the censer, sprinkles the cincture with holy water, saying: 

Sprinkle me with hyssop, Lord, and I shall be clean of sin. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

After this he incenses the cincture, and then continues: 

P: Save your servants. 

All: Who trust in you, my God. 

P: Lord, send them aid from your holy place. 

All: And watch over them from Sion. P: Lord, heed my prayer. All: And let my cry be heard by you. 

P: The Lord be with you. 

All: And with your spirit. 

Let us pray. 

O God of mercy, God of goodness, who are pleased with all good things, and without whom no good work is begun, no good work is finished; kindly hear our prayers, and defend your faithful, who are to wear this blessed cincture in honor of St. Joseph and under his protection, from the pit-falls of this world and all its lusts. Help them to persist in their holy resolution and to obtain pardon of their sins, and thus merit to be numbered among your elect; through Christ our Lord. All: Amen.