With the Apostolic Letter “Patris corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis recalls the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the Holy Father has proclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph” from today, 8 December 2020, to 8 December 2021.
What does it mean to consecrate yourself to St. Joseph?
What does it mean for a person to be consecrated to St. Joseph? Well, it basically means that you acknowledge that he is your spiritual father, and you want to be like him. To show it, you entrust yourself entirely into his paternal care so that he can help you acquire his virtues and become holy. Total consecration to St. Joseph means you make a formal act of filial entrustment to your spiritual father so that he can take care of your spiritual well-being and lead you to God. The person who consecrates himself to St. Joseph wants to be as close to their spiritual father as possible, to the point of resembling him in virtue and holiness. Saint Joseph, in turn, will give those consecrated to him his undivided attention, protection, and guidance.
Program Overview
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.
The program of preparation and consecration takes 33 days.
It can be undertaken on your own or in a group.
How to make your consecration as an individual
Choose a consecration date. (See Consecration Chart here.)
It’s recommended to choose a day that coincides with a liturgical feast of St. Joseph. Your consecration date is day 33 of the program.
You’ll spend about 20-30 minutes a day on a short exposition on one of the invocations in the powerful Litany of St. Joseph, followed by a reading on St. Joseph, concluding with the recitation of the Litany of St. Joseph.
If you miss a day, just make it up and continue your preparation.
On the day of your consecration, feel free to use whichever act of consecration you like best; you can also make up your own, if you like.
Church grants plenary indulgence for year of St. Joseph
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.”
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 indicated by the Apostolic Penitentiary.
33 Days with St Joseph
To download the entire 33-days program, click HERE.
Novena to St Joseph
We know Joseph was a man of faith, obedient to whatever God asked of him without knowing the outcome. When the angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him the truth about the child Mary was carrying, Joseph immediately and without question or concern for gossip, took Mary as his wife. When the angel came again to tell him that his family was in danger, he immediately left everything he owned, all his family and friends, and fled to a strange country with his young wife and the baby. He waited in Egypt without question until the angel told him it was safe to go back.
Day One: Foster Father of Jesus
Day Two: Virginal Husband of Mary
Day Three: Man Chosen By The Blessed Trinity
Day Five: Patron of the Church
Day Eight: Friend In Suffering
Day Nine: Patron of a Happy Death
Apostolic Vicariate in Brunei Darussalam 