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Patris Corde
In his apostolic letter Patris Corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis reflects on Saint Joseph and his multifaceted role as a father. The purpose of this letter, Pope Francis writes, “is to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal.” Saint Joseph is a beloved father; a tender, loving father; an obedient father; an accepting father; a creatively courageous father; a working father; and a father in the shadows. As protector, advocate, and guardian of the Holy Family, Saint Joseph has always been venerated as a father to all Christians. With this letter, promulgated on the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis proclaimed a Year of Saint Joseph from December 8, 2020, to December 8, 2021. Patris Corde ends with a new prayer to Saint Joseph, and the OSV edition includes additional prayers and a litany to this beloved saint.
22 pages, Paperback
First published December 8, 2020
21 people are currently reading
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About the author
Pope Francis
1,328 books999 followersPope Francis (Latin: Franciscus; Italian: Francesco; Spanish: Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) was the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, a title he held ex officio as Bishop of Rome, and Sovereign of the Vatican City. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere and the first non-European pope since the Syrian Gregory III, who died in 741.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio worked briefly as a chemical technologist and nightclub bouncer before beginning seminary studies. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and from 1973 to 1979 was Argentina's provincial superior of the Society of Jesus. He was accused of handing two priests to the National Reorganization Process during the Dirty War, but the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He led the Argentine Church during the December 2001 riots in Argentina, and the administrations of Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner considered him a political rival. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March.
Throughout his public life, Pope Francis had been noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, concern for the poor, and commitment to interfaith dialogue. He was credited with having a humble, less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors, for instance choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors. In addition, due to both his Jesuit and Ignatian aesthetic, he was known for favoring simpler vestments void of ornamentation, including refusing the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election, choosing silver instead of gold for his piscatory ring, and keeping the same pectoral cross he had as Cardinal. He maintained that the church should be more open and welcoming. He did not support unbridled capitalism, Marxism, or Marxist versions of liberation theology. Francis maintained the traditional views of the church regarding abortion, euthanasia, contraception, homosexuality, ordination of women, and priestly celibacy. He opposed consumerism, irresponsible development, and supported taking action on climate change, a focus of his papacy with the promulgation of Laudato si'. In international diplomacy, he helped to restore full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio worked briefly as a chemical technologist and nightclub bouncer before beginning seminary studies. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and from 1973 to 1979 was Argentina's provincial superior of the Society of Jesus. He was accused of handing two priests to the National Reorganization Process during the Dirty War, but the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He led the Argentine Church during the December 2001 riots in Argentina, and the administrations of Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner considered him a political rival. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March.
Throughout his public life, Pope Francis had been noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, concern for the poor, and commitment to interfaith dialogue. He was credited with having a humble, less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors, for instance choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors. In addition, due to both his Jesuit and Ignatian aesthetic, he was known for favoring simpler vestments void of ornamentation, including refusing the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election, choosing silver instead of gold for his piscatory ring, and keeping the same pectoral cross he had as Cardinal. He maintained that the church should be more open and welcoming. He did not support unbridled capitalism, Marxism, or Marxist versions of liberation theology. Francis maintained the traditional views of the church regarding abortion, euthanasia, contraception, homosexuality, ordination of women, and priestly celibacy. He opposed consumerism, irresponsible development, and supported taking action on climate change, a focus of his papacy with the promulgation of Laudato si'. In international diplomacy, he helped to restore full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 22, 2021
This is the Apostolic Letter, Patris Corde (with a father's heart) of the Holy Father Francis on the 150th Anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church (8 December 2020). With this Apostolic Letter, Pope Francis convoked this year as the year of St. Joseph. In this letter, Pope Francis shares the meditation points on the Fatherhood of St. Joseph. He shared it in seven points, excellent findings on St Joseph as a father is found in this Apostolic Letter. A worth reading during the year of St. Joseph.
February 23, 2024
Excellent letter for the opening of the Year of St Joseph describing how St Joseph was a beloved, tender and loving, obedient, accepting, creatively courageous and hard working father whose life was hidden despite his importance in the life of Jesus and the Church. Most touching is how the pope reflects on how St Joseph would have influenced Jesus the man and how perhaps the father in the prodigal son could have been modelled on St Joseph. A beautiful way to start the Year of St Joseph.
December 28, 2020
Pope Francis declared this coming liturgical year as the Year of Saint Joseph, and honored this great saint through the apostolic letter Patris Corde. I was delighted by these two happenings, since I claim Saint Joseph as my patron saint.
The Pope related the attributes of Saint Joseph to our current COVID-tinted times. The holy father promoted Saint Joseph as a model for all, who was a compassionate father and an ingenious provider. Through the silent builder that was Saint Joseph, the Pope also elevated the dignity of work and highly regarded the roles of the people "working in the shadows."
As somebody who is discerning a vocation, the passage that struck me the most however is the following:
Joseph found happiness not in mere self-sacrifice but in self-gift... Every true vocation is born of the gift of oneself, which is the fruit of mature sacrifice... Whatever our vocation, whether to marriage, celibacy or virginity, our gift of self will not come to fulfillment if it stops at sacrifice; were that the case, instead of becoming a sign of the beauty and joy of love, the gift of self would risk being an expression of unhappiness, sadness and frustration.
It's quite affirming for me, who thought that the will to sacrifice is enough in pursuing a vocation. The heart must come with the head.
The Pope related the attributes of Saint Joseph to our current COVID-tinted times. The holy father promoted Saint Joseph as a model for all, who was a compassionate father and an ingenious provider. Through the silent builder that was Saint Joseph, the Pope also elevated the dignity of work and highly regarded the roles of the people "working in the shadows."
As somebody who is discerning a vocation, the passage that struck me the most however is the following:
Joseph found happiness not in mere self-sacrifice but in self-gift... Every true vocation is born of the gift of oneself, which is the fruit of mature sacrifice... Whatever our vocation, whether to marriage, celibacy or virginity, our gift of self will not come to fulfillment if it stops at sacrifice; were that the case, instead of becoming a sign of the beauty and joy of love, the gift of self would risk being an expression of unhappiness, sadness and frustration.
It's quite affirming for me, who thought that the will to sacrifice is enough in pursuing a vocation. The heart must come with the head.
March 18, 2021
Un corazón de padre es el título de ésta carta apostólica que el Papa Franciso publico en honor de San José.
El texto es breve y su objetivo es incrementar la devoción a San José, cómo camino para lograr dos fines: fomentar el recurso de su intercesión por nosotros ante Dios e imitar sus virtudes.
Me quedo con la aportación personal del papa Francisco, en dónde nos invita a "transformar un problema en una oportunidad, anteponiendo siempre la confianza en Dios". Para ello Dios nos ha concedido las facultades de PLANEAR, INVENTAR, ENCONTRAR, con las virtudes de AUDACIA y OBSTINACIÓN. El papa de menciona la "valentía creativa" que es llamada también por el como "fe creativa", una suerte de capacidad de supervivencia ante las dificultades que engarzaría a San José con los emigrantess de hoy. No hay aquí desarrollo explícito de la creatividad en el sentido de heterodoxia o innovación, pero sí en el de opción por los pobres.
El texto es breve y su objetivo es incrementar la devoción a San José, cómo camino para lograr dos fines: fomentar el recurso de su intercesión por nosotros ante Dios e imitar sus virtudes.
Me quedo con la aportación personal del papa Francisco, en dónde nos invita a "transformar un problema en una oportunidad, anteponiendo siempre la confianza en Dios". Para ello Dios nos ha concedido las facultades de PLANEAR, INVENTAR, ENCONTRAR, con las virtudes de AUDACIA y OBSTINACIÓN. El papa de menciona la "valentía creativa" que es llamada también por el como "fe creativa", una suerte de capacidad de supervivencia ante las dificultades que engarzaría a San José con los emigrantess de hoy. No hay aquí desarrollo explícito de la creatividad en el sentido de heterodoxia o innovación, pero sí en el de opción por los pobres.
February 5, 2021
"Our lives can be miraculously reborn if we find the courage to live them in accordance with the Gospel. It does not matter if everything seems to have gone wrong or some things can no longer be fixed. God can make flowers spring up from stony ground. Even if our heart condemns us, “God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (1 Jn 3:20)."
This is very brief, but every paragraph is incredibly rich. I will return to this letter often for meditation in the year of St. Joseph, 2021.
This is very brief, but every paragraph is incredibly rich. I will return to this letter often for meditation in the year of St. Joseph, 2021.
January 9, 2022
Vote: 4,00
Class: P-A1
Papa Francesco ci regala un altro piccolo gioiello e un anno per contemplarlo: l'anno dedicato a San Giuseppe, padre e signore nostro.
In poche pennellate ci delinea e ci ricorda che Dio ci ama perchè lui è buono e vuole donarci il suo amore e con tenerezza guarda ai nostri limiti e alle nostre debolezze.
Class: P-A1
Papa Francesco ci regala un altro piccolo gioiello e un anno per contemplarlo: l'anno dedicato a San Giuseppe, padre e signore nostro.
In poche pennellate ci delinea e ci ricorda che Dio ci ama perchè lui è buono e vuole donarci il suo amore e con tenerezza guarda ai nostri limiti e alle nostre debolezze.
July 15, 2021
"Ha crecido durante estos meses de pandemia, en los que podemos experimentar en medio de la crisis que nos está golpeando, que "nuestras vidas están entretejidas y apoyadas por personas comunes -generalmente olvidadas- que no aparecen en los titulares de los periódicos (...) pero sin duda, están escribiendo hoy los acontecimientos decisivos de nuestra historia: médicos, enfermeros, enfermeras (...) y muchos otros que han comprendido que nadie se salva solo". (...) Todos pueden encontrar en san José, el hombre que pasa inadvertido, el hombre de la presencia cotidiana, discreta y escondida, un intercesor, un apoyo y un guía en los momentos de dificultad. San José nos recuerda que todos aquellos que están aparentemente escondidos o en "segunda línea" tienen un protagonismo sin par en la historia de la salvación". ♥
Papa Francisco
Papa Francisco
February 9, 2021
Es una carta muy hermosa.
February 20, 2021
Uma reflexão sobre São José, sobre os diversos papéis que ele exerce na história da salvação, mas principalmente com seu papel como protetor da sagrada família. Deus confiou nele o que havia de mais precioso na Terra, pois sabia que ele era um homem justo e bom. Em todas as passagens do evangelho demonstra seu assentimento à vontade do Senhor, agindo sempre com enorme sabedoria prática e humildade. Um exemplo para todos nós.
February 20, 2025
My spiritual director told me to read this. YOWWWW
August 31, 2022
La grandeza en la discreción...
Mi corazón anhelaba leer esto y yo no lo sabía.
Ya me había propuesto comenzarlo, desde "Testigos del Señor Jesús" tenía muchas ganas de leer más de San José, y qué bueno que lo hice.
Una carta apostólica cortita, pero como ya es costumbre el Papa Francisco tiene ese particular don de ser breve pero determinante en el objetivo de sus escritos.
San José padre amado; humilde, valiente, casto...
Creo que conocemos muchas de sus virtudes, pero desconocemos el por qué de estas. En esta carta el Papa nos platica un poco de las razones por las que se le reconocen y las razones por las que se nos exhorta a imitarlo en ellas.
Aunque ya se ha bajado un poco la guardia en cuestión de pandemia, es importante reconocer el trabajo de aquellos quienes como San José; de manera discreta y silenciosa ayudaron a muchísimas personas durante la crisis pandémica, en el área de la salud, pero también en muchísimas otras áreas.
Recordar lo cruel que fue saber que a muchas personas la vida les cambió por completo al ser desempleados en medio de una crisis mundial y agradecer si no sufriste cambios o pérdidas a tal grado.
La carta nos exhorta a encomendarnos a la intercesión de San José, pero también a 《 experimentar, en medio de la crisis que nos está golpeando, que nuestras vidas están tejidas y sostenidas por personas comunes —corrientemente olvidadas— que no aparecen en portadas de diarios y de revistas, ni en las grandes pasarelas del último show, pero, sin lugar a dudas, están escribiendo hoy los acontecimientos decisivos de nuestra historia》.
Mi corazón anhelaba leer esto y yo no lo sabía.
Ya me había propuesto comenzarlo, desde "Testigos del Señor Jesús" tenía muchas ganas de leer más de San José, y qué bueno que lo hice.
Una carta apostólica cortita, pero como ya es costumbre el Papa Francisco tiene ese particular don de ser breve pero determinante en el objetivo de sus escritos.
San José padre amado; humilde, valiente, casto...
Creo que conocemos muchas de sus virtudes, pero desconocemos el por qué de estas. En esta carta el Papa nos platica un poco de las razones por las que se le reconocen y las razones por las que se nos exhorta a imitarlo en ellas.
Aunque ya se ha bajado un poco la guardia en cuestión de pandemia, es importante reconocer el trabajo de aquellos quienes como San José; de manera discreta y silenciosa ayudaron a muchísimas personas durante la crisis pandémica, en el área de la salud, pero también en muchísimas otras áreas.
Recordar lo cruel que fue saber que a muchas personas la vida les cambió por completo al ser desempleados en medio de una crisis mundial y agradecer si no sufriste cambios o pérdidas a tal grado.
La carta nos exhorta a encomendarnos a la intercesión de San José, pero también a 《 experimentar, en medio de la crisis que nos está golpeando, que nuestras vidas están tejidas y sostenidas por personas comunes —corrientemente olvidadas— que no aparecen en portadas de diarios y de revistas, ni en las grandes pasarelas del último show, pero, sin lugar a dudas, están escribiendo hoy los acontecimientos decisivos de nuestra historia》.
July 16, 2021
Creo que todos debemos saber más sobre San José. En primera por su rol tan importantísimo en la historia de la salvación y en segunda porque deberíamos darle el verdadero valor a virtudes como la discreción, la humildad, el respeto.
Puse notitas con palabras clave como fragilidad, varón respetuoso, necesitamos del Espíritu Santo, ser padre, vocación, don de sí, santos…
Debí haber hecho la reseña cuando lo terminé. No lo iba a poner pero después de ver la reseña de mi amika y pensar que es una manera de interesar a otros por esta lectura preferí hacerlo.
Puse notitas con palabras clave como fragilidad, varón respetuoso, necesitamos del Espíritu Santo, ser padre, vocación, don de sí, santos…
Debí haber hecho la reseña cuando lo terminé. No lo iba a poner pero después de ver la reseña de mi amika y pensar que es una manera de interesar a otros por esta lectura preferí hacerlo.
September 9, 2021
Recommend? Yes! Pope Francis states that the goal of this apostolic letter is to “increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession, and to initiate his virtues and zeal.” I happily report that this goal was achieved. For me, this letter served as a brief but profound way to contemplate and pray over the ways St. Joseph acted in his earthly life. It encouraged me to go forth and model his virtuous fatherhood in my everyday life.
April 29, 2021
For it's short size, it certainly does a great job of explaining what we know about St. Joseph, and different aspects of his life. I'm not a huge fan of Pope Francis' writing style, but for something so short, I can overlook it.
January 29, 2022
Great and Easy Read
I enjoyed this book in less than half and hour over a coffee at a coffee shop. It flowed really well and I felt better after reading it than I did before I started .
I enjoyed this book in less than half and hour over a coffee at a coffee shop. It flowed really well and I felt better after reading it than I did before I started .
January 4, 2026
ST JOSEPH
Pope Francis has written a powerful little booklet on St Joseph. He describes the relationship Joseph had with Mary and Jesus. Francis also shows how many things in St. Joseph's life applies to our own. I recommend it to all fathers.
Pope Francis has written a powerful little booklet on St Joseph. He describes the relationship Joseph had with Mary and Jesus. Francis also shows how many things in St. Joseph's life applies to our own. I recommend it to all fathers.
December 16, 2020
The father figure of St. Joseph in the Church well depicted by the Holy Father in this short encyclical...
February 24, 2021
“All too often, we think that God works only through our better parts, yet most of his plans are realized in and despite our frailty.”
March 23, 2021
Short, easy read from our Holy Father. Plenty of solid nuggets to contemplate relating to St Joseph, but also myself as a husband & father.
April 7, 2021
Good little reflection. St. Joseph, protect us & thank you for everything!
June 9, 2021
st. joseph, take care of us and thank you for everything
December 31, 2021
Deep and insightful
August 12, 2022
Toda una inspiración para los padres de familia....un enfoque de trascendencia!
August 17, 2022
Very clean and easy on the life of S Joseph
December 27, 2022
Awesome! Must read.
December 20, 2023
De esos libros que uno debería de leer por lo menos una vez al año,
October 29, 2024
Profound meditations on St. Joseph and the Christian meaning of fatherhood!
April 13, 2021
Cortita y muy buena, me parece que todo el mundo debería de leerla este año de la familia
April 15, 2021
Una carta sencilla y cortita con muchísimas reflexiones muy acertadas. Muy recomendable para este año de mi patrón!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews