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 December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021.
In August of 1989, Saint John Paul II gave an exhortation on the person and mission of Saint Joseph in the life of Christ and of the Church. Read his exhortation by clicking the button below.
In the video above, Bishop Fabre shares a Christmas reflection about Saint Joseph and his ongoing decision to love.
(This video was posted December 2020)
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.
Excerpted from Patris Corde, Pope Francis' letter on St. Joseph | December 8, 2020, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Prayer to St. Joseph | Bishop Fabre
O good St. Joseph, Guardian of Jesus and Mary, I place myself under your faithful protection.
You were always attentive to the voice of the Lord and never ceased to follow wherever God led you.
Help me to hear and respond to God’s voice with the same humble fidelity.
O St. Joseph, Terror of demons, protect me from all that might tempt me away from abiding in communion with Jesus.
Chaste Spouse of the Blessed Virgin, grant me a pure heart that I may see as God sees, and love as God loves.
With deep tenderness you cared for Mary and held the sleeping child Jesus, the Son of God, in your arms.
O dear St. Joseph, pray for me that I might have a mind and heart to receive that same love from my Father in heaven.
St. Joseph, intercede for me always so that under your care I might be found worthy to rejoice forever with Jesus and you in heaven. Amen.
Bishop Shelton Fabre | March 19, 2021, Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Litany of St. Joseph
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
God our Father in heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Noble son of the House of David, pray for us.
Light of patriarchs, pray for us.
Husband of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Faithful guardian of Christ, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.
Joseph, chaste and just, pray for us.
Joseph, prudent and brave, pray for us.
Joseph, obedient and loyal, pray for us.
Pattern of patience, pray for us.
Lover of poverty, pray for us.
Model of workers, pray for us.
Example to parents, pray for us.
Guardian of virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of family life, pray for us.
Comfort of the troubled, pray for us.
Hope of the sick, pray for us.
Patron of the dying, pray for us.
Terror of evil spirits, pray for us.
Protector of the Church, pray for us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
God made him master of his household, And put him in charge of all that he owned.
Let us pray.
O God, who in your inexpressible providence
were pleased to choose Saint Joseph
as spouse of the most holy Mother of your Son,
grant, we pray,
that we, who revere him as our protector on earth,
may be worthy of his heavenly intercession.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Learn more about this Litany at: usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/litanies/litany-of-saint-joseph