Year of St. Joseph begins locally and worldwide Dec. 8, includes opportunities for indulgences

In a decree read at a Dec. 8 Mass, Archbishop Bernard Hebda consecrated the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to St. Joseph and included opportunities for a partial indulgence, as the archdiocese recognized the need for the saint’s “fatherly strength and tender care, especially in these days of suffering and isolation.”

The archdiocese acted in union with Pope Francis, who on Dec. 8 declared a Year of St. Joseph for the universal Church. Archdiocesan plans to consecrate the archdiocese to St. Joseph and hold a special Year of St. Joseph locally — in part to enrich the process of preparing for an Archdiocesan Synod in 2022 — were announced in October.

During his homily at the Mass, Archbishop Hebda said that in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic several people in the archdiocese approached him separately about holding a Year of St. Joseph, and it resonated with him, in part because he had been considering the blessings it might bring to seek St. Joseph’s intercession as the archdiocese prepares for an Archdiocesan Synod in 2022.

The archbishop also noted the pope’s action, saying he brings “more firepower” to the year.

“Who knew that Pope Francis would have the same idea?” Archbishop Hebda said. “I wonder if the same faithful emailed him who emailed me.”

In an apostolic letter making the announcement for the universal Church, “Patris Corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis said Christians can discover in St. Joseph, who often goes unnoticed, “an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble.”

“St. Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation. A word of recognition and of gratitude is due to them all,” he said.

The Year of St. Joseph declaration and the archdiocese’s consecration to St. Joseph marked the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX declaring the foster father of Jesus patron of the Church. They also took place on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, when the Church celebrates that Mary was conceived without original sin.

Susan Mulheron, chancellor for Canonical Affairs for the archdiocese, read the archdiocesan decree at the beginning of Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul. The Mass closed with Archbishop Hebda and others processing to the Chapel of St. Joseph during a litany to the saint and praying there. The chapel was specially decorated for the Mass with 150 flowers.

The decree from the archdiocese also offers the grace of a partial indulgence to anyone living in or physically present in the archdiocese whenever they offer the archdiocesan Year of St. Joseph Prayer before any image of the saint. Those praying also must have at least inward contrition for sin and the general intention of receiving the indulgence.

Plenary (full) and partial indulgences are granted by the Church to remove the temporal, or earthly, punishments of sin. To help people prepare for the grace of an indulgence, the Church prescribes spiritual practices, such as receiving the sacraments and special prayers.

Also Dec. 8, the Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican tribunal that deals with matters of conscience, issued a decree stating that plenary indulgences will be granted to Catholics during the Year of St. Joseph, not only through prayer and penance, but also through acts of justice, charity and piety dedicated to the foster father of Jesus.

Among the conditions for receiving a plenary indulgence are a spirit detached from sin, receiving sacramental confession as soon as possible, receiving Communion as soon as possible and praying for the Holy Father’s intentions.

However, the decree also highlighted several ways to obtain the plenary indulgence throughout the year, including to those who “meditate on the prayer of the ‘Our Father’ for at least 30 minutes or take part in a spiritual retreat of at least one day that includes a meditation on St. Joseph.”

In the archdiocese, all of the faithful were invited to celebrate the Mass, either registering to attend at the Cathedral and observing COVID-19-related safety protocols, or livestreaming on the Cathedral’s Facebook page.

Before the Mass, Father Tom Margevicius, director of worship for the archdiocese, said participating in the liturgy was important because everyone is part of the body of Christ.

“If I am a member of the body of Christ, then I never act independently of that corporate identity,” he said. “The more I join myself to the corporate prayer, the more perfect my expression of oneness in the body of Christ.”

Father Margevicius also encouraged people to call on St. Joseph.

“God’s two most precious gifts on the earth were his son Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary,” he said. “If God could entrust these two most precious gifts to the patronage of St. Joseph, then entrusting myself to St. Joseph will bring great blessing.”

Catholic News Service contributed to this report

---

The Year of St. Joseph Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Who gave St. Joseph to Jesus and Mary

As protector and guide,

Grant that our Archdiocesan Synod,

Under his protection and guidance,

May help us discern your direction for our Church.

May we listen as he listened,

Trust as he trusted,

Obey as he obeyed,

Receive as he received,

Love as he loved,

And share in his life of devotion to Jesus and Mary.

Amen.

St. Joseph, pray for us.