All time is meant to be devoted to God.
In Catholicism, the liturgical calendar structures the year while a specific focus is traditionally given to each month and day of the week.
Every Wednesday and the month of March are dedicated to Saint Joseph.
Additionally — as explained in a previous post — the current liturgical year is dedicated to the great saint.
When announcing a Year of St. Joseph, the Holy Father issued a decree granting plenary indulgences for specific actions.
“An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.”
“An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin.” The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead (Catechism 1471).
One of the prescribed acts is praying the Litany of Saint Joseph.
To receive this plenary indulgence attached to the Year of St. Joseph, one must:
- Pray the litany for the persecuted Church ad intra (at the interior) and ad extra (at the extremity) and for the relief of all Christians suffering all forms of persecution
- Be free from the attachment to all sin, including venial. In other words, there is no sin one is unwilling to abandon
- Participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation within 20 days or as soon as possible. If the sacrament is not available, make an Act of Contrition
- Receive Holy Communion as soon as possible. If one is ill, home bound or Mass is not available, make an Act of Spiritual Communion
- Pray for the intentions of the Pope. One Our Father and one Hail Mary are suggested
This litany is one of the six litanies approved for public use and normally has a partial indulgence attached to it.
The litany can be prayed on Wednesdays, during the month of March and during this special year.
I encourage you to pray it regularly. It’s a beautiful prayer that takes less than five minutes!
The text is below.
Let us join together in honoring St. Joseph, Terror of Demons and Hope of the Sick.
Litany of Saint 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 of 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 Offspring of David, pray for us.
Light of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Chaste Guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster-Father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Zealous Defender of Christ, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.
Joseph Most Just, pray for us.
Joseph Most Chaste, pray for us.
Joseph Most Prudent, pray for us.
Joseph Most Courageous, pray for us.
Joseph Most Obedient, pray for us. Joseph Most Faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of Patience, pray for us.
Lover of Poverty, pray for us.
Model of Workmen, pray for us.
Glory of Domestic Life, pray for us.
Guardian of Virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of Families, pray for us.
Comfort of the Afflicted, pray for us.
Hope of the Sick, pray for us.
Patron of the Dying, pray for us.
Terror of Demons, pray for us.
Protector of the Holy Church, pray for us.
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.
V. He has made him lord of his household
R. And prince over all his possessions.
Let us pray.
O God, who in Your loving providence, chose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of the most Holy Mother, grant us the favor of having him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our protector. You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.