The Protodulia

In Catholic theological circles, there is a distinction between the honor or veneration that we give to God and that which we give to the saints. To God and to God alone belongs latria (worship); on the other hand is dulia (service) that we give to God and to the saints. For centuries now, a further distinction is made... that of dulia and hyperdulia. Hyperdulia belongs to Mary, the Mother of God. She is not God, and therefore cannot receive latria (worship); yet, she stands above all the other saints and receives hyperdulia ("super" service). Here is a good article that goes into these distinctions.

Recently, there has been a movement to make yet another distinction: protodulia (first place of service) to Joe. The Mother of God stands before him since she is the true Mother of God in every way; yet, he stands before all else as the father of God in regards to the humanity of Jesus (not in a biological sense, but in a real and relational sense). I bring this up now, because it really struck me I recently encountered this principle.

On Monday we celebrated Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues and their Companions. The second reading of the Office of Readings was taken from the spiritual diaries of St John de Brébeuf. In the entry, St. John wrote: 

... I vow before your eternal Father and the Holy Spirit, before your most holy Mother and her most chaste spouse, before the angels, apostles and martyrs, before my blessed fathers Saint Ignatius and Saint Francis Xavier – in truth I vow to you, Jesus my Saviour, that as far as I have the strength I will never fail to accept the grace of martyrdom, if some day you in your infinite mercy should offer it to me, your most unworthy servant...

Notice he begins and ends with God (latria), then he turns to Mary (hyperdulia), and then even before the angels and apostles, he places Joe "[Mary's] most chaste spouse". To place Joe before the angels and saints is a big (and dare I say 'bold') move. At the time, Joe still wasn't really recognized for his greatness. He was often still placed at least behind the angels and even John the Baptist, as is still the case in the Litany of the Saints. 

Finally, I conclude with these words that Pope Leo XIII wrote in Quamquam Pluries:

In truth, the dignity of the Mother of God is so lofty that naught created can rank above it. But as Joseph has been united to the Blessed Virgin by the ties of marriage, it may not be doubted that he approached nearer than any to the eminent dignity by which the Mother of God surpasses so nobly all created natures.