Year of St. Joseph

Q It is my understanding that Pope Francis declared this year the “Year of St. Joseph.”  Why did he do this and what does it mean to me?
A Basically, Pope Francis did this to honor St. Joseph and remind us that he is an intercessor for us in heaven.  The decree from Rome, dated Dec. 8, stated: “To perpetuate the entrustment of the whole church to the powerful patronage of the guardian of Jesus, Pope Francis has established that, from today’s date … until Dec, 8, 2021, a special Year of Saint Joseph will be celebrated, in which all faithful, after his example, may daily reinforce their own life of faith in complete fulfillment of God’s will.  All the faithful will thus have the opportunity 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.”
This decree included ways to receive a plenary indulgence.  In case you don’t remember, a plenary indulgence removes all temporal punishment due to sins that have already been forgiven; it purifies our soul before we can obtain heaven.  The decree also states: “The Plenary Indulgence is granted under the customary conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharist communion and prayers according to the Holy Father’s intentions) to the faithful who, with a soul detached from any sin, shall participate in the Year of St. Joseph, in the occasions and with the modalities (moral qualities) indicated by this Apostolic Penitentiary.”  
There are basically six ways to obtain a plenary indulgence in the Year of St. Joseph:
Meditate and contemplate the Lord’s Prayer for at least 30 minutes, or participate in a spiritual retreat of at least one day that includes mediation on St. Joseph because St. Joseph “invites us to rediscover our filial (loving) relationship with the father, to renew our devotion to prayer, to dispose ourselves to listen and correspond with profound discernment to the will of God.
Complete an act of corporal or spiritual act of mercy.  The corporal acts of mercy include feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the imprisoned, visiting the sick and burying the dead.  The spiritual acts of mercy include comforting the sorrowful, counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant, admonishing the sinner, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving injuries and praying for the living and the dead.
Also, pray the rosary with your family.  Engaged couples can also obtain this indulgence by praying the rosary together.  
Entrust your daily life (work and daily activity) to the protection of St. Joseph or pray to St. Joseph that all of those in search of work may find employment and that the work of all people may be more dignified.  On May 1, 1955, Pope Pius XII instituted the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker so that “the dignity of work be recognized by all.”
Pray the “Litanies of St. Joseph” in its entirety, or some other prayer to St. Joseph, for the church persecuted and the relief of all Christians who are being persecuted.  God will help us “where man is in danger, where man suffers, where he runs away, where he experiences rejection and abandonment.”
Pray an approved prayer or act of piety (such as “To you, O Blessed Joseph”) in honor of St. Joseph especially on days dedicated to St. Joseph’s memory, such as his feast days (March 19 and May 1), on the 19th day of every month and every Wednesday.
“The gift of the Plenary Indulgence extends particularly to the elderly, the sick, the suffering and all those who for legitimate reasons are unable to leave the house, and who with a soul detached from any sin and with the intention to fulfill, as soon as possible, the three customary conditions in their own home or wherever the impediment detains them, shall recite an act of piety in honor of St. Joseph, Comfort of the Sick and Patron of a Happy Death, faithfully offering to God their suffering and the hardships of their life.”
Quotations above come from the actual Decree on Year of St. Joseph Indulgences issued in Rome on Dec. 8, 2020.

Deacon Hooper is a deacon assistant at Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs. He can be reached at [email protected].