2021: Year of St Joseph

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Pope Francis has declared that from 8 December 2020 to 8 December 2021 the Church will observe the Year of Saint Joseph.  

Holy Joseph, 

Guardian of the Redeemer, 

pray for us.

The phrase "Guardian of the Redeemer" is an enduring gift from Pope St. John Paul II to the Church from his Apostolic Exhortation Redmptoris Custos. 

After each decade of the Rosary many people add various short prayers such as the Fatima Prayer: "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy." 

In a similar fashion at the end of each decade I add "Holy Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us."  Perhaps in the Year of Saint Joseph this is a practice you, dear Reader, may wish to consider adding to your prayer of the Holy Rosary.

In this painful year of 2020, I am grateful that next year will be a holy year of St Joseph, the terror of demons.  How we need his intercession!  May his venerable Cloak cover all of us in protection, health, and safety.

At the conclusion of the Pope's declaration of the Year of St Joseph Patris corde,  he offered a prayer for us to say together:

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.

There is also an older article in Crisis Magazine concerning St. Joseph that may interest you: 

"Appeal to St Joseph to Fight the Devil"

A blessed Advent Season to  all !