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Plenary
Indulgences Available for the Year of Saint Joseph The Apostolic
Penitentiary issued a decree announcing that Pope Francis declared
the Year of St. Joseph through December 8, 2021. There are special
opportunities to receive a plenary indulgence attached to this year,
subject to the usual conditions. For those who are unable to go to
Mass or confession due to COVID they can defer reception of those
two sacraments until they are able to do so. Someone who is sick,
suffering, or homebound may also receive the plenary indulgence by
fulfilling as much as they are able and by offering their sorrows
and sufferings to God through Saint Joseph, consoler of the sick and
patron saint for receiving a good death. Please see the suggestions
listed below as well as the attached PDF entitled, “USCCB Prayers
for the Year of St. Joseph.”
The following prayers and activities have been enriched with a
plenary indulgence: • meditate for at least 30 minutes on the Lord’s
Prayer (“Our Father”) or 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, inspired by the
life and example of Saint Joseph;
• pray the Rosary together as a family or a couple, modeling the
virtues of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph;
• dedicate with confidence their daily work to the protection of
Saint Joseph the Worker, including the efforts of those who are
unemployed, underemployed, or seeking more dignified work;
• devoutly recite the Litany of Saint Joseph (from the Latin
Church; available at
USCCB.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/litanies/litany-of-saint-joseph),
1) some or all of the Akathistos hymn to Saint Joseph (from
the Byzantine Churches), or another suitable prayer in each
liturgical tradition, especially for the intentions of
persecuted Catholics in the Church and around the world, and for
the relief of all Christians who suffer persecution; or
• devoutly recite another approved prayer to Saint Joseph, for
example the “To you, O blessed Joseph” (available at
USCCB.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/prayers/prayer-tost-joseph-after-rosary),
2) especially on various feasts of Saint Joseph: March 19 (his
solemnity), May 1 (St. Joseph the Worker), the Sunday after
Christmas (Holy Family), St. Joseph’s Sunday (Byzantine
Catholics), or on the 19th day of each month, or each Wednesday,
traditionally dedicated to honor his memory with pious
devotions.
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