St. Joseph, Papal Symbols, and the SHJ (LT 02) Poster

This splendid devotional print is engraved and surrounded by an intricate pattern in lacework. Such perforated, die-cut paper lace prayer- or holy cards known as dévotes dentelles were a 19th-century French speciality. + Here St. Joseph, his eyes raised to heaven, holds a spray of lilies representing purity in his right hand. His left hand is raised to his chest in an almost “Who me?” gesture as he assumes the awesome responsibility of serving as Protector of The Church under the aegis of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the foreground, the triregnum, the three-tiered crown or tiara of the Pope, and two crossed keys—the "keys to the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 16:19)--rest on a plump cushion in the shadow of the Vatican. Beneath the whole, a text reads: “St. Joseph Patron de L’Église / Puissant intercesseur, obtenz de l’auteur de tout bien les gráces nécessaires à son église”, that is, “St. Joseph Patron of the Church / Powerful Intercessor, obtain from the author of everything good / the graces necessary for his church”. + Blessed Pope Pius IX solemnly declared St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church on 8 December 1870; Pope Leo XIII, his successor, consecrated the entire human race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on 11 June 1899. No doubt this devotional print was issued to celebrate the latter event. + Principal Feast of St. Joseph: March 19; Feast of St. Joseph the Worker: May 1 + Image Credit (LT 02): Antique lace holy card of St. Joseph, Emblems of the Papacy, and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, originally published by L. Turgis, Paris, France, No. 1009, c. 1900, from the designer’s private collection of religious ephemera.