This cincture (or cord) of St. Joseph is a white hand-braided cord made of 100% cotton. The cord has a knot at one end and 7 knots at the other end. These 7 knots hang down after the cord is tied around the waist (for chastity) or across the breast (for obedience) and are in honor of the 7 Joys and 7 Sorrows of St. Joseph. A pure 100% cotton hand-braided cord comes with a pamphlet containing instructions on investiture and priest's prayers, history and prayers associated with it found in The Raccolta.
The wearing of a cord or cincture has always been a sign of chastity as well as mortification and humility for the laity as well as the religious. The wearing of a cord in honor of a saint goes back to the very early Church. We find the first instance mentioned in the life of St Monica. In a vision from the Blessed Virgin, she received a black leathern belt, and assured that those who wore it in her honor would be under her protection. And there are many other instances. The wearing a cord to honor St. Michael was general throughout France.
The Cord of St. Joseph originated in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1657 with the miraculous cure of a devout Augustinian nun named Sister Elizabeth. After a severe and painful illness lasting 3 years, the doctors gave up hope of a cure from their ministrations. They were expecting her to die. Sister Elizabeth, however, had different ideas. As she had always been devoted to St. Joseph, she made a cord and had it blessed in St. Joseph's honour and put it around her waist. A few days later, when praying in front of his statue she was suddenly freed from all pain. Her recovery was then deemed to be miraculous.
This devotion was approved by the Sacred Congregation of Rites on September 19th, 1859, by Pope Pius IX. In a rescript dated 19 September 1859 he 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. Eventually the devotion of the Cord spread around, and many special graces were obtained through this devotion. The Cord was used not only for illnesses but also spiritual aid for purity and obedience.
Graces obtained by the wearing of this Cord:
- St. Joseph's special protection.
- Purity of Soul.
- The grace of chastity.
- Final perseverance.
- Particular assistance at the hour of death.
The cord is made of cotton with seven knots at one end and should be worn around the waist. It should be blessed by a priest with the approved prayer by Pope Pius IX.
One who wears the Cord should recite the Glory be to the Father seven times daily in honor of St. Joseph, together with the Prayer for Purity as shown on St. Joseph's page.
Handmade in the USA.