In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis has proclaimed a special “Year of St. Joseph.” It is a wonderful opportunity to increase our love for St. Joseph and knowledge, “to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal" (Patris Corde).
The USCCB offers the following resources, catechetical material, and prayers/devotions to assist in your celebration of the special year. Please check this page often for new resources and materials throughout the year.
In honor of the Year of Saint Joseph, the USCCB has composed this novena to the foster father of Jesus and patron saint of the universal Church, to be prayed daily from March 10-18, 2021, the nine days that precede the Solemnity of Saint Joseph on March 19. A downloadable brochure in English and Spanish is available, and each day of the novena found below is accompanied by a reflection video from bishops across the United States.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
As the Solemnity of Saint Joseph approaches, we recall God’s divine plan,
which foresaw and led to the person of Saint Joseph.
"Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah" (Mt 1:16).
A brief period of silence is observed.
V. Praise the LORD, for he is good;
R. for his mercy endures forever.
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.
O Illustrious Son of David, obtain for us through your divine Son
the grace of abandonment to Divine Providence.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
As the Solemnity of Saint Joseph approaches, we recall Saint Joseph's vocation as husband of Mary,
in which he receives and reveres Mary as God's gift.
"The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary" (Lk 1:26-27).
A brief period of silence is observed.
V. Magnify the LORD with me;
R. and let us exalt his name together.
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.
O Spouse of the Mother of God, obtain for us through your divine Son
the grace of reverence for the human person.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
As the Solemnity of Saint Joseph approaches, we recall Saint Joseph's obedience to the angel.
"When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home" (Mt 1:24).
A brief period of silence is observed.
V. I delight to do your will, my God;
R. your law is in my inner being!
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.
O Foster-father of the Son of God, obtain for us through your divine Son
the grace of obedience to the will of the Father.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
As the Solemnity of Saint Joseph approaches, we recall the birth of our Savior,
whom Joseph and Mary are the first to adore.
"So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child" (Lk 2:16-17).
A brief period of silence is observed.
V. The LORD has made his victory known;
R. has revealed his triumph in the sight of the nations.
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.
O Watchful Defender of Christ, obtain for us through your divine Son
the grace of adoration.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
As the Solemnity of Saint Joseph approaches, we recall the service of authority which Saint Joseph carries out in the Holy Family.
"When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb" (Lk 2:21).
A brief period of silence is observed.
V. You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
R. put all things at his feet.
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.
O Head of the Holy Family, obtain for us through your divine Son
the grace to accept God's upward calling in Christ Jesus.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
As the Solemnity of Saint Joseph approaches, we recall the worship that Saint Joseph and Our Lady offer God in the temple.
"When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord and to offer the sacrifice" (Lk 2:22, 24).
A brief period of silence is observed.
V. My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD.
R. My heart and flesh cry out for the living God.
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.
O Joseph most faithful, obtain for us through your divine Son
the grace of true worship.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
As the Solemnity of Saint Joseph approaches, we recall the flight to Egypt,
in which Saint Joseph spares nothing to defend Christ and Our Lady.
"Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt" (Mt 2:14).
A brief period of silence is observed.
V. I have chosen David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him.
R. My hand will be with him; my arm will make him strong.
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.
O Protector of the Church, obtain for us through your divine Son
the grace to bravely overcome every evil.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
As the Solemnity of Saint Joseph approaches, we recall the faithfulness of Saint Joseph and Mary in the midst of confusion.
"But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart" (Lk 2:50-51).
A brief period of silence is observed.
V. Make known to me your ways, LORD;
R. teach me your paths.
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.
O Solace of the Afflicted, obtain for us through your divine Son
the grace of peace even when we do not fully understand your ways.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
As the Solemnity of Saint Joseph approaches, we recall Saint Joseph's joyful acceptance of death in God's time.
"The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them" (Wis 3:1).
A brief period of silence is observed.
V. You will show me the path to life,
R. the delights at your right hand forever.
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.
O Patron of the Dying, obtain for us through your divine Son
the grace of a happy death.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on March 19th. This occasion is an opportunity to highlight the gift of adoption by seeking the intercession of St. Joseph for the many people whose lives are touched by adoption. Resources are available to assist you with inviting others to join in prayer leading up to the solemnity, March 10-18.
Invoking the intercession of St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, we pray that the Lord will bless all who travel upon the path of adoption. Each day of the novena includes:
A prayer to Saint Joseph was composed by Pope Leo XIII in his 1889 encyclical, Quamquam pluries. He asked that it be added to the end of the Rosary, especially during the month of October, which is dedicated to the Rosary. It may be said after the customary Salve Regina and concluding prayer, and may also be used to conclude other Marian devotions.
Read here"Each of us can discover in Joseph – the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence – an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble. Saint Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation."
Bishop Peter Joseph Jugis announced that the Diocese of Charlotte will celebrate the “Year of St. Joseph” from January 1, 2020 to May 1, 2021 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph being solemnly declared Patron of the Catholic Church by Pope Pius IX in his decree Quemadmodum Deus.
His Excellency, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera has declared this year as a “Year of Saint Joseph” to be observed in the Diocese of Scranton from March 19, 2020 to March 19, 2021. Bishop Bambera states, “Just as Saint Joseph watched over and protected the Lord Jesus while he was on earth, we need Saint Joseph to watch over and provide for the Church today. His intercession on behalf of the Universal Church is vital as the world faces so much upheaval and pain, and particularly as it confronts the uncertainty and pain of the coronavirus epidemic.”
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 from the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. takes 33 days. It can be undertaken on your own or in a group.
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.
Given in Rome, at Saint John Lateran, on 8 December, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the year 2020, the eighth of my Pontificate.
