Pope Francis Proclaims "Year of St. Joseph." Article from the Vatican
 

With a Father's Heart 
Year of St. Joseph: 


Church Grants Plenary Indulgence for Year of St. Joseph   Vatican News

The Year of St Joseph and the Plenary Indulgence Granted During this Year 

Pope Francis announced a special year dedicated to St. Joseph starting from 
8 December 2020 until 8 December 2021, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church, as well as the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady.

The Apostolic Penitentiary also issued a decree granting special indulgences for the duration of the special year to celebrate the anniversary and “to perpetuate the entrustment of the whole Church to the powerful patronage of the Custodian of Jesus.”

Conditions for the plenary indulgence
The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions) to Christians who, with a spirit detached from any sin, participate in the Year of St. Joseph on these occasions and manners: 

•    The plenary indulgence is granted to those who will meditate for at least 30 minutes on the Lord’s Prayer, or take part in a Spiritual Retreat of at least one day that includes a meditation on St. Joseph. 
•     The indulgence can also be obtained by those who, following St. Joseph’s example, will perform a spiritual or corporal work of mercy. 
•    The recitation of the Holy Rosary in families and among engaged couples is another way of obtaining indulgences.
•    Everyone who entrusts their daily activity to the protection of St. Joseph, and every faithful who invokes the intercession of St. Joseph so that those seeking work can find dignifying work can also obtain the plenary indulgence. 
•    The plenary indulgence is also granted to the faithful who will recite the Litany to St. Joseph,  or any other prayer to St. Joseph proper to the other liturgical traditions, for the persecuted Church,  and for the relief of all Christians suffering all forms of persecution. 
•    The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who will recite any legitimately approved prayer or act of piety in honor of St. Joseph, especially on “19 March, on 1 May, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, on the 19th of each month and every Wednesday, a day dedicated to the memory of the saint according to the Latin tradition.
•    Amid the ongoing Covid-19 health crisis, the gift of the plenary indulgence is also extended to the sick, the elderly, the dying and all those who for legitimate reasons are unable to leave their homes. They too can obtain the plenary indulgences if they are detached from any sin and have the intention of fulfilling, as soon as possible, the three usual conditions and recite an act of piety in honor of St. Joseph, offering to God the pains and hardships of their lives.

The Litany of St Joseph for the Year of St Joseph

Lord, have mercy.         Christ, have mercy. 
Lord, have mercy.         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 Spirit,                 have mercy on us. 
Holy Trinity, One God,             have mercy on us. 
Holy Mary, pray for us (after each line) 
Saint Joseph,                                 
Renowned offspring of David, 
Light of Patriarchs, 
Spouse of the Mother of God, 
Chaste guardian of the Virgin, 
Foster-father of the Son of God,   
Diligent protector of Christ, 
Head of the Holy Family, 
Joseph most just, 
Joseph most chaste, 
Joseph most prudent, 
Joseph most strong, 
Joseph most obedient, 
Joseph most faithful, 
Mirror of patience, 
Lover of poverty, 
Model of artisans, 
Glory of home life, 
Guardian of virgins, 
Pillar of families, 
Solace of the wretched, Hope of the sick, 
Patron of the dying, 
Terror of demons, 
Protector of Holy Church, 
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,     Spare us, O Lord. 
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,     
Graciously hear us, O Lord. 
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,     
Have mercy on us. 
He made him the lord of His house:             
And ruler of all His substance. 
Let us pray. 
O God, who in Thine unspeakable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thine own most holy Mother: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may deserve to have him for our intercessor in heaven, whom we reverence as our defender on earth: who lives and reigns world without end. Amen.