The Jubilee of St. Joseph

THE JUBILEE OF ST. JOSEPH: Introducing the Register Special Section

BARTOLOMÉ ESTEBAN MURILLO, ST. JOSEPH WITH THE INFANT SAVIOUR (ANGELS IN THE CLOUDS), C. 17TH CENTURY
BARTOLOMÉ ESTEBAN MURILLO, ST. JOSEPH WITH THE INFANT SAVIOUR (ANGELS IN THE CLOUDS), C. 17TH CENTURY (photo: Public domain)

This past Dec. 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, marked 150 years since Pope Pius IX officially proclaimed St. Joseph patron of the universal Church. To increase the universality of devotion to the foster father of Jesus Christ, Pope Francis declared a “Year of St. Joseph.” In his apostolic letter Patris Corde (With a Father’s Heart), the Pope stated that God’s plan was at work through him. “Joseph, then, teaches us that faith in God includes believing that he can work even through our fears, our frailties and our weaknesses. He also teaches us that amid the tempests of life, we must never be afraid to let the Lord steer our course. At times, we want to be in complete control, yet God always sees the bigger picture.”

Along with the Holy Father’s declaration, the Apostolic Penitentiary issued a plenary indulgence for the Year of St. Joseph. The three conditions for receiving a plenary indulgence are sacramental confession, the reception of Holy Communion and prayer for the Pope’s intentions.

The devotional year, and the work of this special section, aims “to perpetuate the entrustment of the whole Church to the powerful patronage of the Custodian of Jesus.” It encourages people to commit themselves “with prayer and good works, to obtain, with the help of St. Joseph, head of the heavenly Family of Nazareth, comfort and relief from the serious human and social tribulations that besiege the contemporary world today.”


Read the PDF of the Register special section on the Jubilee of St. Joseph, or browse the other articles here: