Pope Francis has announced the Year of Saint Joseph, in honor of the 150th anniversary of the saint’s proclamation as patron of the Universal Church. The Year of St Joseph began on December 8, 2020 and concludes on December 8, 2021
Pope Francis also reminds us, God told Saint Joseph. “Get up, take the child and his mother” (Mt 2:13).
As Saint Joseph is the Protector of the Church and Holy Family, we are urging Hibernians to pray the Cloak of Saint Joseph Novena for the Protection of the Unborn. Begin the prayer on February 18th and conclude on March 19th, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph.
The Holy Cloak of Saint Joseph is a series of prayers meant to be prayed for 30 days, commemorating the earthly thirty years which St. Joseph spent in the company of our Lord. (You can pray along with a recording here)
St Teresa of Avila tells us, “As he himself [Jesus] was subject to St. Joseph while on earth, recognizing in him the authority of foster father and guardian, so now in heaven he is pleased to grant all his requests.” In the Year of St Joseph decree, the Apostolic Penitentiary said that, “to reaffirm the universality of St. Joseph’s patronage in the Church,” it would grant a plenary indulgence to Catholics who recite any approved prayer or act of piety in honor of St. Joseph, especially on March 19, the saint’s solemnity, and May 1, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.