Day 22

Mirror of Patience, Pray for Us

Patience is a virtue that many people find hard to practice. Remaining peaceful and calm can be very challenging when you find yourself in a situation that is completely out of your control. Indeed, there are countless things in life that will test your patience. In modern times, advances in technology have put almost everything in life at our fingertips. Our meals, entertainment, music and contacts are instantly available to us. With this capability, it can be very difficult to wait and acquire the virtue of patience. If you want to be like St Joseph, however, you must learn patience. The word of God teaches us in Isaiah 30:18, “Blessed are all those who wait on the Lord.”

Speaking about St Joseph, Blessed Gabriele Allegra says, “This flower of Israel [St Joseph] had the faith of Abraham, the piety of David his ancestor, the wisdom of the prophets, a patience more heroic than that of Job and of Tobias, and a zeal greater than that of Elijah for the glory of God.' What a wonderful comparison and a beautiful and meaningful description of our spiritual father. Life was not easy for St Joseph. He exhibited heroic patience in Egypt. Taking his wife and newborn Child to a country with a different language, culture, religion and currency must have filled his heart with anxiety. Finding work in Egypt and providing food and shelter for his family could not have been easy. Yet, in every situation, St Joseph was always peaceful, kind, calm and abandoned to Divine Providence. Exercising patience does not mean that a person will be free of the anxieties of life. When Mary and Joseph lost Jesus for three days in Jerusalem, we are told that they searched for their beloved Son with great anxiety (see Lk 2:48). They were greatly concerned but had boundless confidence in Divine Providence.

A concrete area in your life where you can exercise the virtue of patience is by being merciful to others, especially when you know their faults. Ask God for the grace to love your neighbour. Be kind, peaceful and merciful. In the workplace, offer forgiveness for offences. On the highway be patient and courteous. With difficult family members and friends, be pleasant and merciful. Exercising patience and mercy always brings about good. The lovingly patient and merciful person is always victorious, in this life or the next!

Prayer

Most Patient St Joseph, teach us to model ourselves after your sublime example and help us learn to remain peaceful and tranquil in all the circumstances of life. Show us to turn each difficult and demanding situation as a means to exercise patience. And when God makes us go through situations where our patience and love are being tested, help us to accept them, with the realisation that Jesus is there to help us. For he allows such trials because he wants us to grow in virtue. St Joseph, I love you. Amen.

Litany of St Joseph

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

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.

Noble Offspring of David, pray for us.

Light of 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.

Zealous 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 Courageous, 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.

Comfort 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 the Holy Church, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

V. He has made him lord of his household,

R. And prince over all his possessions.

Let us pray. O God, who, in your loving providence, chose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most Holy Mother, grant us the favor of having him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our protector. You, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

Source: Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father, Fr. Donald Calloway MIC

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