WHILE THE POPE IS IN IRAQ - YOU MAY OFFER THE LITANY OF ST JOSEPH FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS - AND GAIN A PLENARY INDULGENCE

In this year of St Joseph, the Vatican's Apostolic Penitentiary issued a decree which lists 15 distinct acts of piety which you may do to gain a Plenary Indulgence. One which you may consider doing at this time is to recite the Litany of St Joseph for the intentions of persecuted Christians. 

May I suggest you make it an urgent priority to offer the Litany for persecuted Christians in Iraq? Pope Francis is in Iraq for his papal visit, and today he was in Baghdad's Cathedral where he held forth, "We are gathered in this cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation hallowed by the blood of our brothers and sisters who here paid the ultimate price of their fidelity to the Lord and His Church." When Francis uses "hallowed", he means that the ground he stood on was sanctified by the river of blood that ran through it. Many Catholics were massacred in that same cathedral in August, 2010. It was Sunday evening, a congregation of ordinary people were assisting at Mass when jihadists stormed the Church and opened fire. Those Catholics who were shot dead might all be martyrs. 

It is for the Christians of Iraq who may face the same or a similar death that you may consider offering the Litany of St Joseph. And you may gain a Plenary Indulgence in the process! 

You do not have to do all the 15 acts at the same time to gain one Plenary Indulgence; you may do one act in the hope of gaining one Plenary Indulgence. You will need to fulfill "the three usual conditions" which are confess, receive the Holy Eucharist and offer prayers in union with the Holy Father's intentions.

The Litany to St Joseph 

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us .
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Illustrious son of David, pray for us.
Light of the patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Chaste guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster-father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Watchful defender of Christ, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.
Joseph most just, pray for us.
Joseph most chaste, pray for us.
Joseph most prudent, pray for us.
Joseph most valiant, pray for us.
Joseph most obedient, pray for us.
Joseph most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of patience, pray for us.
Lover of poverty, pray for us.
Model of workmen , pray for us.
Glory of domestic life, pray for us.
Guardian of virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of families, pray for us.
Solace of the afflicted, pray for us.
Hope of the sick, pray for us.
Patron of the dying, pray for us.
Terror of demons, pray for us.
Protector of Holy Church, pray for us. 

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

V. He made him the lord of His household,
R. And prince over all His possessions.

Let Us Pray.

O God, Who in Thine ineffable providence didst choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most Holy Mother, grant that as we venerate him as our protector on earth, we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in Heaven, Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever. R. Amen.