Year of Saint Joseph

In December 2020, Pope Francis declared the forthcoming year to be the Year of Saint Joseph, to mark the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church. This year will run from the 8th December 2020, until the 7th December 2021.

Saint Joseph was, of course, the husband and protector of Our Lady here on Earth, and he was the foster father God entrusted the raising of His Son.

Pope Francis describes Saint Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows…  He presents St Joseph to us as a just and faithful man, who knew the meaning of hardship, exile and ‘worries about tomorrow’.

St Joseph shows us the way of self-denial, daily responsibility, and the silent dedication to the care and growth of family. St Joseph had an openness to God, which made it possible for him to welcome the mystery of the Incarnation. By reflecting on the attributes of St Joseph, we may learn to imitate his virtues and zeal. By praying to St Joseph for his intercession, we are asking for the help of someone who knows exactly what it means to live a life of intimacy with Jesus and Mary.

St Joseph can become for us, a faithful and unfailing friend. He can be a reliable guide to help us follow in the footsteps of Jesus, and a guide to help us seek the Face of the Living God. Whereas other Saints are destined by God to help in certain needs, St Teresa of Avila explains that St Joseph has a universal mandate to assist in any kind of need – material or spiritual.

St Joseph has Two Feast Days: 

St Joseph’s Day is celebrated on the 19th March

Feast of St Joseph the Worker is celebrated on 1st May

Click to Expand These Prayers to Saint Joseph

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer:

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.

Litany of St Joseph:

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father in heaven, Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,

God the Holy Spirit,

Holy Trinity, one God.

St Joseph – pray for us.

Renowned scion of David,

Light of patriarchs,

Husband of the Mother of God,

Chaste guardian of the Virgin,

Foster-father of the Son of God,

Watchful defender of Christ,

Head of the holy family,

Joseph, most just,

Joseph, most pure,

Joseph, most prudent,

Joseph, most valiant,

Joseph, most obedient,

Joseph, most faithful,

Mirror of patience,

Lover of poverty,

Model of artisans,

Glory of domestic life,

Guardian of virgins,

Consolation of those in trouble,

Hope of the sick,

Patron of the dying,

Terror of demons,

Protector of holy Church.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

He made him lord of his household, And ruler over all his possessions.

Let us pray.

God,

In your infinite wisdom and love

You chose Joseph to be the husband of

Mary, the mother of your Son.

May we have the help of his prayers in heaven

And enjoy his protection on earth.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

St Joseph Novena – available to download

You are invited to download this prayer to St Joseph to help you do your own Novena to St Joseph. ‘Novena’ means nine – nine days of prayer.  The best time is to finish your nine days of prayer on one of St Joseph’s Feast Days, but it can – in reality – be done at any time of year.

Novena-to-St-JosephDownload

St Joseph Novena Videos:

Use these videos to support your own Novena of prayer to St Joseph.

For the St Joseph Virtual Tour of St Marie’s Cathedral, please click here.