"...behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” -- Matthew 1:20-21
Picture
Holy Family by Murillo
Novena Prayer to St. Joseph
Novena / from Latin: "nine" / should be prayed for 9 consecutive days before any St. Joseph's Feast Day or any other time throughout the year.

O Glorious St. Joseph,
faithful follower of Jesus Christ,
to you do we ​raise our hearts and hands
to implore your powerful intercession
in obtaining from the Merciful Heart of Jesus
all the helps and graces
necessary for our spiritual
and temporal welfare,
particularly the grace of a happy death,
and the special favors we now implore...

(Make your request)

O Chaste Guardian of Jesus Christ,
The Word Incarnate,
we have great confidence
that your prayers on our behalf
will be graciously heard
before the throne of God.

Glorious St. Joseph,
through the love you bore
toward Jesus Christ
and for the glory of His name,
hear our prayers and obtain our petitions.

Let us pray-
O Glorious St. Joseph,
Spouse of the Immaculate Virgin Mary,
help us to be pure, humble and charitable
in body, mind, and soul,
and to have perfect resignation
to the Divine Will.
Be our guide,
our father and our model through life,
that we may merit to die in the arms
of Jesus and Mary as you did.

St. Joseph, friend of the Sacred Heart, pray for us!
[Insert parish patron, St. Mary, St. Joseph, or St. John], patron of our parish, pray for us!
How to gain A Plenary Indulgence
Granted by the Holy See from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021

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

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 Saint 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 Saint 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 Saint Joseph and to all believers who invoke with their prayers the intercession of the worker of Nazareth
  • Pray the litany of Saint Joseph (for the Latin tradition), or the Akathistos to Saint Joseph, in its entirety or at least part of it (for the Byzantine tradition), or some other prayer to Saint 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 honor of Saint Joseph, for example “To you oh blessed Joseph,” especially on:
    • March 19th (Solemnity of St. Joseph)
    • May 1st (Feast of St. Joseph the Worker)
    • December 26th (Feast of the Holy Family)
    • The Sunday of Saint Joseph (according to the Byzantine tradition)
    • The 19th 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 honor of Saint Joseph, consolation of the sick and patron of good death, confidently offering God the pains and difficulties of his life.
Source: Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte

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What the Year of St. Joseph Means
Source: DenverCatholic
What the Year of St. Joseph means, and how to gain the indulgences
By Joseph Pronechen/NCR

The announcement that many people have been anxious and longing to hear for several years finally came on Dec. 8 as Pope Francis declared the beginning of a Year of St. Joseph.

The timing was perfect, coming on the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pius IX declaring St. Joseph as Patron of the Catholic Church and on the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Joseph’s spouse.

Along with the Pope’s announcement in his apostolic letter Patris Corde (“Heart of the Father)” came a proclamation from the Apostolic Penitentiary about special plenary indulgences that are now available for this Year of St. Joseph. 

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