St. Joseph's Cord Devotion

Jan van Helmont - Portrait of the Black Canon Augustinian Nuns in Antwerp

March is devoted to Saint Joseph and we look at the history of the Saint Joseph Cord:

This beautiful devotion began almost 400 years ago in the small town of Antwerp, Belgium. An Augustinian nun named Sr. Elizabeth was suffering from a mysterious and painful illness; doctors admitted that it would most likely lead to her death. Having a special devotion to St. Joseph, she asked that a cord be blessed in his honour. She wrapped this cord around her waist. A few days later, her pain disappeared while she was praying for St. Joseph’s intercession. Multiple doctors, including a Protestant doctor, accessed her case and proclaimed her cure to be miraculous.

Almost 200 years later, the miracle was publicised—particularly in Verona, Italy—and in March of 1842 this devotional cord was adopted by a hospital in Verona and distributed to its patients. On September 19, 1859, the devotion of St. Joseph’s cord was officially adopted; a blessing formula created; indulgences added by Pope Pius IX; widespread private use permitted.

The White Cord of St Joseph is piously used not only as a remedy against physical ailments, but as a support in living the virtues of chastity and purity of heart.

To obtain a St. Joseph cord go to shop here