Pope Francis Proclaims “Year of St. Joseph”
With the Apostolic Letter “Patris corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”) , Pope Francis has proclaimed a “Year of St. Joseph” from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021.
In his Apostolic Letter, Pope Francis describes Saint Joseph as “a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father , an accepting father , a courageous father , a working father and a father in the shadows.”
The Holy Father released “Patris corde” during the COVID-19 pandemic to emphasize our realization of the importance of so called “ordinary” people who, although not in the limelight, “exercise patience and offer hope every day.” These are the people who most resemble St. Joseph, ”the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, and hidden presence, who nonetheless played “an incomparable role in the history of salvation.
As you know , St. Jeanne Jugan turned to St. Joseph, head of the Holy Family and its provider to obtain all she needed to care for the elderly poor. St. Joseph is the protector of the Little Sisters of the Poor. To this day, the Little Sisters of the Poor continue to confide their needs to St. Joseph, seeing him in the likeness of our heavenly Father, “whose Providence watches over the little ones.”
At the conclusion of his Letter, the Holy Father adds a prayer to St Joseph, which he encourages all of us to pray:
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.
In our lobby is a beautiful poster of St Joseph and the baby Jesus proclaiming the Year of St Joseph. The poster was given to the Little Sisters by Br. Michael Gillen form Kellenberg Memorial High School. We thank Br. Michael for generosity and constant concern for our spiritual well-being.
Year of St. Joseph