Pope Declares a Year of Saint Joseph: 8 Ways to Gain a Plenary Indulgence. This is amazing news! Pope Francis declared the new liturgical year as the Year of Saint Joseph. The year began on December 8, 2020, on the 150th anniversary of Pope Blessed Pius IX’s declaration of Saint Joseph as patron of the Catholic Church. It was also the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. This special year ends on December 8, 2021.
Obtain the Help of Saint Joseph
Pope Francis established this year "in which every faithful following [Saint Joseph’s] example can daily strengthen their life of faith in the full fulfillment of God’s will. All the faithful will thus have the opportunity to commit themselves, with prayers and good works, to obtain with the help of Saint Joseph, head of the celestial Family of Nazareth, comfort and relief from the serious human and social tribulations that today grip the contemporary world," the decree states.
The decree comes after Father Donald Calloway called for Pope Francis to declare a Year of Saint Joseph after releasing his book, Consecration to Saint Joseph. Father Calloway said he is unsure if this is a direct response, but that "there is no doubt the Pope saw and read my letter." Pope Francis also added indulgence opportunities to the decree. The decree explains four ways to obtain a plenary indulgence throughout this liturgical year.
The indulgence requires the individual to follow the three usual conditions: sacramental Confession, Holy Communion, and pray for the Pope (as well as the detachment from all sin).
Eight Ways to Gain a Plenary Indulgence
(1) Meditate for 30 minutes on the Our Father prayer.
(2) Attend a spiritual day retreat that includes a Saint Joseph meditation.
"Saint Joseph, an authentic man of faith, invites us to rediscover the filial relationship with the Father, to renew fidelity to prayer, to listen and to correspond with profound discernment to the will of God."
(3) Perform a corporal or spiritual work of mercy.
"The virtue of justice practiced in an exemplary way by Joseph is full adherence to the divine law, which is the law of mercy, because it is precisely the mercy of God that brings true justice to fulfillment. Those who, following the example of Saint Joseph, carry out a corporal or spiritual work of mercy, will be able to obtain the gift of Plenary Indulgence."
(4) Recite the Holy Rosary with your family (or if engaged, with your future spouse).
"The main aspect of Joseph’s vocation was to be guardian of the Holy Family of Nazareth, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and legal father of Jesus. So that all Christian families are stimulated to recreate the same climate of intimate communion, love, and prayer that was lived in the Holy Family."
(5) Entrust your day and/or work to Saint Joseph, invoke his protection and intercession.
"The plenary indulgence can therefore be achieved by anyone who entrusts their activity daily to the protection of Saint Joseph and any faithful who invoke the intercession of the Artisan of Nazareth with prayers, so that those looking for work can find a job and the work of everyone is more dignified."
(6) Pray to Saint Joseph for persecuted Christians.
"The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who will recite the Litanies to Saint Joseph (for the Latin tradition), or the Akathistos to Saint Joseph, in whole or at least some of it (for the Byzantine tradition), or some other prayer to Saint Joseph, proper to other liturgical traditions, in favor of the Church persecuted (ad intra and ad extra) and for the relief of all Christians who suffer every form of persecution."
(7) Recite any legitimately approved prayer or act of piety in honor of Saint Joseph.
"The Apostolic Penitentiary grants a plenary indulgence to the faithful who will recite any legitimately approved prayer or act of piety in honor of Saint Joseph, for example ‘To You, O Blessed Joseph,’ especially on the recurrences of March 19 and May 1; on the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph; on Saint Joseph’s Sunday (according to the Byzantine tradition); on the 19th of each month and every Wednesday, days dedicated to the memory of the Saint according to the Latin tradition."
(8) For the elderly, sick, dying: recite act of piety in Saint Joseph’s honor, entrust life and discomforts to him.
"In the current context of health emergency, the gift of the plenary indulgence is particularly extended to the elderly, the sick, the dying, and all those who for legitimate reasons are unable to leave the house, who with a soul detached from any sin and with the intention of fulfilling, as soon as possible, the three usual conditions, in their own home or where the impediment holds them, they will recite an act of piety in honor of Saint Joseph, comfort of the sick and patron of a happy death, offering with trust in God the pains and discomforts of your life."
Saint Joseph, patron of the Catholic Church, pray for us!
+JMJ+
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