Pope Francis Proclaims “Year of St. Joseph” December 8, 2020—December 8, 2021

From Father George – On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, Pope Francis instituted a year for St. Joseph.  The year begins December 8, 2020 and ends December 8, 2021.  The year was declared to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the decree by Pope Pius IX proclaiming St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. Along with this decree declaring this to be the year of St. Joseph, Pope Francis has written an Apostolic Letter entitled Patris Corde (With a Father’s Heart).

This letter reflects upon St. Joseph as 1) a beloved Father, 2) a tender and loving Father, 3) an obedient father, 4) an accepting father, 5) a creatively courageous father, 6) a working father, and 7) a father in the shadows.  One may find this letter by Pope Francis reflecting on St. Joseph by typing in – With a Father’s Heart. There are several websites with the complete text. I would recommend the Vatican website at www.vatican.va

During this Year of St. Joseph, the faithful will be able to obtain a plenary indulgence provided they meet the usual conditions of going to confession, receiving the Eucharist, and praying for the intentions of the pope. The plenary indulgence will be available under the following conditions:

• To those who meditate on the Our Father prayer for at least 30 minutes or take part in a spiritual retreat of a least one day that includes a meditation on St. Joseph.
• To those who perform a corporal or spiritual work of mercy.
• To families or engaged couples who recite the rosary together.
• To those who recite a prayer to St. Joseph (the litanies of St. Joseph, or any other prayer to St. Joseph) for the relief of Christians persecuted both inside and outside the Church.
• To the faithful who recite “any legitimately approved prayer or act of piety in honor of St. Joseph,” with an encouragement to do so on the March 19th and May 1st feasts of St. Joseph, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and on the 19th of every month and on every Wednesday, which has been dedicated to St. Joseph.
• To the elderly, sick, dying and those legitimately unable to leave the house, who recite an act of piety to St. Joseph under his title of Comfort of the Sick and Patron of a happy death, provided they offer their discomfort to God and fulfill the conditions for the indulgence as soon as possible.

These indulgences are available throughout this Year of St. Joseph. As the year progresses, there will be gatherings and teachings on St. Joseph here in the parish, when the opportunity presents itself.

Father George

Father Calloway posted this hour long video which gives some insight into Pope Francis declaring the year of St. Joseph. He includes information on plenary indulgence.

Additional online resources
Vatican News
Catholic News Agency
National Catholic Register

Corporal Works of Mercy
Spiritual Works of Mercy

 

 

Prayer to St. Joseph, suggested by Pope Francis, Patris Corde

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil.  Amen.

Prayer to Saint Joseph United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also. Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness. As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.

The Litany of Saint Joseph United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Formed.org has some audio and videos about St. Joseph. Lukas Story for Children St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church