Year of St Joseph

Image of St. Joseph and the Child Jesus (photo credit: Vatican News)

On 8 December, 2020, Pope Francis declared that we would enter into a year dedicated to St Joseph, who loved Jesus ‘with a father’s heart.’  In his proclamation, Pope Francis described St Joseph as ‘the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence,’ just like many people today, namely the ‘men and women working to provide essential services and public safety’ as we navigate the difficulties of this year. As we grow closer to St Joseph, let us remember all those who ‘are praying, making sacrifices and interceding for the good of all. Each of us can discover in Joseph… an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble. St Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation. A word of recognition and of gratitude is due to them all.’ 

 When St Joseph embraced his roles as husband to Mary and as father to Jesus, he thus placed himself:

‘at the service of the entire plan of salvation.’ - St John Chrysostom 

How to Take Part?

1. Indulgences

‘The gift of special indulgences is granted on the occasion of the Year of St Joseph, summoned by Pope Francis to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St Joseph as patron of the Universal Church…

Below is a summary of how you can receive the special indulgences granted by the Holy See for the Year of St Joseph.

The plenary indulgence is granted under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer according to the intentions of the Holy Father) to the faithful who, with a spirit detached from any sin, participate in the Year of St Joseph on the occasions and in the manner indicated by this Apostolic Penitentiary:

• Meditate for at least 30 minutes on the Our Father 

• Participate in a spiritual retreat of at least one day that includes a meditation on St Joseph

• Perform a corporal or spiritual work of mercy

• Recite the Holy Rosary in families and between the husband and wife 

• Entrust their work daily to the protection of St Joseph and to all believers who invoke with their prayers the intercession of the worker of Nazareth

• Pray the litany of St Joseph (for the Latin tradition), or the Akathistos to St Joseph in its entirety or at least part of it (for the Byzantine tradition), or some other prayer to St Joseph, typical of the other liturgical traditions, for the persecuted Church and for the relief of all persecuted Christians

• Pray any lawfully approved prayer or act of piety in honour of St Joseph, for example ‘To you oh blessed Joseph,’ especially on: 

  • 19 March (Solemnity of St Joseph) 

  • 1 May (Feast of St Joseph the Worker)

  • 26 December (Feast of the Holy Family)

  • The Sunday of St Joseph (according to the Byzantine tradition)

  • The nineteenth day of every month 

  • Every Wednesday (a day dedicated to the memory of the saint according to the Latin tradition)

• The gift of plenary indulgence extends particularly to:

  • The elderly

  • The sick

  • The dying 

  • All those who for legitimate reasons cannot leave their home

— who, with the spirit detached from any sin and with the intention of fulfilling, as soon as possible, the three usual conditions, in your own home or wherever the impediment holds you, pray an act of piety in honour of St Joseph, consolation of the sick and patron of good death, confidently offering God the pains and difficulties of his life.

Find out more by reading the Holy See’s Decree on Year of St Joseph Indulgences.

St Joseph and the Angel | Detail from an altarpiece in the style of Bernini by Domenico Guidi in Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome (photo credit: Fr Lawrence Lew OP/flickr)

2. St Joseph’s chaplet

St Joseph is one of the most popular saints of Christianity and, because of that, countless devotions to him exist.

One such devotion is the Rosary of St Joseph that uses the regular beads of the Marian rosary, but substitutes various prayers and mysteries to honour the foster-father of Jesus. It is a beautiful devotion, one that draws a soul closer to the beloved St Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church.

Below is a detailed guide on how to pray it.

On the crucifix

O Lord, in order to honour St Joseph as he deserves, Thou hast taken him body and soul to Heaven to Crown him with glory, thus signifying to the world, both visible and invisible, that Thou hast made Joseph Thy foster-father, the supreme steward of all Thy possessions.

After saying the above prayer, skip to the large bead and say the following prayer, which will be said on each of the large beads.

We beseech Thee, O Lord, that we may find aid in the merits of the Spouse of Thy Most Holy Mother, so that what we cannot obtain by ourselves may be given us through his intercession, who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

For each decade of small beads, it is customary to meditate on events in the life of Joseph.

1.  Betrothal to Mary (Mt 1:18)

2.  Annunciation to Joseph (Mt 1:19-21)

3.  Birth and Naming of Jesus (Mt 1:22-25)

4.  Flight into Egypt (Mt 2:13-15)

5.  Hidden Life at Nazareth (Mt 2:23; Lk 2:51-52)

Other mysteries that can be substituted for these mysteries are the ‘Finding of Jesus in the Temple,’ the ‘Death of St Joseph’ and the ‘Coronation of St Joseph in Heaven.’

On each small bead the following prayer is recited.

Hail Joseph, Son of David, thou whose holiness surpasses that of all Angels and Saints, blessed art thou amongst men, thou who wert chosen to be the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary of whom was born Jesus. Glorious Saint Joseph, now reigning body and soul in Heaven, protector of the Universal Church, pray for us poor sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Similar to the typical Rosary, each decade is completed with a ‘Glory Be’ and ends with the Litany of St Joseph.

Litany of St Joseph

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
St Joseph, pray for us.
Illustrious son of David, pray for us.
Light of patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Chaste guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Watchful defender of Christ, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.

Joseph most just, pray for us.
Joseph most chaste, pray for us.
Joseph most prudent, pray for us.
Joseph most valiant, pray for us.
Joseph most obedient, pray for us.
Joseph most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of patience, pray for us.
Lover of poverty, pray for us.
Model of workmen, pray for us.
Glory of home life, pray for us.
Guardian of virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of families, pray for us.
Solace of the afflicted, pray for us.
Hope of the sick, pray for us.
Patron of the dying, pray for us.
Terror of demons, pray for us.
Protector of Holy Church, pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us!

V. He made him the lord of His household,
R. And prince over all His possessions.

Let Us Pray
O God, Who in Thine ineffable Providence didst vouchsafe to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most holy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, that he whom we venerate as our protector on earth may be our intercessor in Heaven. Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

3. Use our resource on the year of St Joseph

We have made a resource that gives background to the year of St Joseph, some prayers for different groups and some gospel reflections to read by yourself or with a group. Also available via the second button below, is the prayer of Pope Leo XIII to St Joseph.