With the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron Saint of the Universal Church, the entire People of God is invited to undertake the interior path of the carpenter of Nazareth, so as to “increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal¹.”

¹ Pope Francis, Apostolic Letter, Patris Corde, on the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of saint Joseph as patron of the Universal Church.

We know this from having experienced it: we draw closer to God by praying to him and by being of service to our neighbour. The act of consecration inspires prayer and specifies those gestures that build up Christ’s Kingdom.
Why not let Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Guardian of the Redeemer, Patron of the Church, of workers and of a good death assist us in drawing closer to the Lord and deepen our Christian commitment? We can thus give ourselves to Jesus more wholly and deeply through Mary and Joseph.

The verb to consecrate means, to set apart something or someone in view of a sacred purpose. In this way, objects, places and people are consecrated to a cause.

By entrusting ourselves completely to the fatherly care and powerful intercession of the Church’s patron saint, we are beseeching his help in living out those same virtues he did and so grow in the likeness of Christ evermore. We consecrate our lives and all those dear to us to him as to a spiritual father who shows us the Fatherhood of God Himself and we place ourselves in his loving care so as to better witness our faith and live lives pleasing to God and in service to our sisters and brothers.

The ritual can be used in dioceses/eparchies, parishes, religious communities and families (domestic churches). Such a devotion may take place on a date chosen by the individual groups.

Click here to download the Consecration to Saint Joseph (PDF)