Pope Francis Proclaims “Year of St. Joseph” December 8, 2020—December 8, 2021
Although the Consecration may be done at any time, it is often preferred to schedule the study so the Consecration occurs on a Feast Day. Please feel free to do this study independently. Consecration to St. Joseph emulates the tried-and-true preparation method employed by St. Louis de Montfort in his Marian consecration, highlighting many of St. Joseph’s titles, privileges, and heroic virtues.
Books are available on Amazon, Walmart, shopmercy.org and many other online vendors.
Let us Pray. O God, who in your loving providence, chose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most Holy Mother, grant us the favor of having him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our protector. You, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
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. Vatican 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
CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY & The Saints
Feed the Hungry: St. Maximilian Kolbe. St. Vincent de Paul. Give Drink to the Thirsty: St. Peter Claver, St. Marianne Cope. Clothe the Naked: St. Martin of Tours. Visit the Sick: St. Vincent de Paul, St. Samson. Shelter the Homeless: St. Benedict, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Visit the Imprisoned: St. Peter Nalasco, St. Saturus. Bury the Dead: St. Joseph of Arimathea, St. Catherine of Siena.
SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY:
Comfort the afflicted: St. Thomas Merton, St. Dorothy Day. Counsel the doubtful: St. John Vianney, St. Francis de Sales, St. Padre Pio. Admonish sinners: St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Thomas Aquinas. Forgive offenses willingly: St. Maria Goretti, St. Stephen. Teach the Ignorant: St. Francis Xavier, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Bear wrongs patiently: St. Bernadette of Lourdes, St. Maximilian Kolbe. Pray for the living and the dead: St. Simeon Stylites, St. Mary of Egypt.
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.
Why Do We Honor St. Joseph
“He is Holy Joseph, because according to the opinion of a great number of doctors, he, as well as St. John Baptist, was sanctified even before he was born. He is Holy Joseph, because his office, of being spouse and protector of Mary, specially demanded sanctity. He is Holy Joseph, because no other Saint but he lived in such and so long intimacy and familiarity with the source of all holiness, Jesus, God incarnate, and Mary, the holiest of creatures.” St. John Henry Newman
Available from Amazon
We are encouraged to start the book at any time. Fr. Calloway suggests dates to begin the consecration journey to corresponds with feast days of St. Joseph.
Start on December 22nd to complete the consecration on January 23rd, the Feast of the Holy Spouses.
Start on January 1st to complete the consecration on February 2nd, the Presentation of the Lord.
Start March 30th and conclude on May 1st for the feast of St. Joseph the Worker.
Start on April 11th to coincide with Our Lady of Fatima on May 13th.
Start on July 20th to coincide with August 21st the feast of Our Lady of Knock.
Start on September 30th and conclude on November 1st for the feast of All Saints.
Start on November 8th for the feast of Our Lady of Lorreta on December 10th.
Start on Thanksgiving Day to coincide with the Solemnity of the Holy Family.
Father Calloway’s book, Consecration to St. Joseph, is helpful in understanding the Church’s declaration of St. Joseph as Father of the Universal Church. It was written prior to Pope Francis declaring December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021 the Year of St. Joseph.
As per his video, he has encouraged devotion to St. Joseph on multiple fronts for a few years. In the book, he notes the importance of St. Joseph’s role in the human nature of Our Lord, Jesus during his formative years here on earth. The book is broken into three parts. Part one contains the 33 daily devotions, for consecration, and are conveniently accessible in chapter style. Part two’s chapters are broken down into the 10 Wonders of St. Joseph. Part three is filled with prayers to St. Joseph. Fr. Calloway’s writings seem to be meant to enrich our knowledge of just who St. Joseph is and how he demonstrated holiness through obedience, prayer, and humility.
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.
Memorare to St. Joseph Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession were left unassisted. Full of confidence in your power I fly unto you and beg your protection. Despise not O Guardian of the Redeemer my humble supplication, but in your bounty, hear and answer me. Amen.
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.
