Day 17: November 22nd
JOSEPH MOST PRUDENT
There is no question that St. Joseph acted with great prudence. He did not act rashly or without thought, but always with Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding. These three Gifts of the Holy Spirit collect together to guide this virtue of Prudence.
Each day, as we walk through this consecration, a particular scripture passage or story will come to mind. Most of the time, it is one of the stories, as few as there are, involving St. Joseph. This morning, however, in thinking about Prudence, something entirely different came to mind: The story of Jesus and the Disciples, when they were on the boat as it was getting tossed about in the storm.
We remember that Jesus was asleep as the disciples became terrified. They awoke their master in fear and panic, and he immediately chastised them. It's as if he were saying: Stop and think for a moment. I'm on this boat too. Do you really think that my Father is going to let me die out here?
Prudence is a virtue against fear, and often times it is the primary virtue against fear. Certainly, Faith is also a measure of calming our fears. But in leaning on the Gifts of Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding, we short-circuit many of the reasons behind our fear and uncertainty. When we feel the anxiousness rising, like the storm waters, look to prudence. The knowledge that Jesus was the Son of God and understanding that God would not lead His Son into the middle of the Sea to die, would have given them pause to not fear for their lives.
Prudence is also the virtue that will lead us and help us navigate the waters of these very difficult and uncertain times. When we act with prudence, there becomes no need to fear because even if there remains a specter of danger, it will lead us to faith and help us also to see that the virtues themselves are the guides that tell us how to live in Faith.
In our prayer to St. Joseph today, we ask for the conversion of a particular person. Before beginning these prayers, I encourage you to take a moment and think of who your intention will be, as within the prayer you will speak their name, placing their care into the prayers and hands of St. Joseph.
Each day, as we walk through this consecration, a particular scripture passage or story will come to mind. Most of the time, it is one of the stories, as few as there are, involving St. Joseph. This morning, however, in thinking about Prudence, something entirely different came to mind: The story of Jesus and the Disciples, when they were on the boat as it was getting tossed about in the storm.
We remember that Jesus was asleep as the disciples became terrified. They awoke their master in fear and panic, and he immediately chastised them. It's as if he were saying: Stop and think for a moment. I'm on this boat too. Do you really think that my Father is going to let me die out here?
Prudence is a virtue against fear, and often times it is the primary virtue against fear. Certainly, Faith is also a measure of calming our fears. But in leaning on the Gifts of Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding, we short-circuit many of the reasons behind our fear and uncertainty. When we feel the anxiousness rising, like the storm waters, look to prudence. The knowledge that Jesus was the Son of God and understanding that God would not lead His Son into the middle of the Sea to die, would have given them pause to not fear for their lives.
Prudence is also the virtue that will lead us and help us navigate the waters of these very difficult and uncertain times. When we act with prudence, there becomes no need to fear because even if there remains a specter of danger, it will lead us to faith and help us also to see that the virtues themselves are the guides that tell us how to live in Faith.
In our prayer to St. Joseph today, we ask for the conversion of a particular person. Before beginning these prayers, I encourage you to take a moment and think of who your intention will be, as within the prayer you will speak their name, placing their care into the prayers and hands of St. Joseph.
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, hear us.
Christ graciously hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world . . .
God the Holy Spirit . . .
Holy Trinity, One God . . .
Holy Mary. Pray for us.
St. Joseph . . .
Renowned offspring of David . . .
Light of Patriarchs . . .
Spouse of the Mother of God . . .
Chaste guardian of the Virgin . . .
Foster father of the Son of God . . .
Diligent protector of Christ . . .
Head of the Holy Family . . .
Joseph most just . . .
Joseph most chaste . . .
Joseph most prudent . . .
Joseph most strong . . .
Joseph most obedient . . .
Joseph most faithful . . .
Mirror of patience . . .
Lover of poverty . . .
Model of artisans . . .
Glory of home life . . .
Guardian of virgins . . .
Pillar of families . . .
Solace of the afflicted . . .
Hope of the sick . . .
Patron of the dying . . .
Terror of demons . . .
Protector of Holy Church . . .
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, O Lord.
℣. He made him the lord of his household.
℟. And prince over all his possessions.
Let us pray: O God, Who in Your ineffable providence deigned to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Your most holy Mother; grant, we beg You, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom we venerate on earth as our Protector; You who live and reign forever, unto the ages of ages.
--AMEN
PRAYER TO OBTAIN A CONVERSION
O Glorious Patriarch St. Joseph, who merited to be called “just” by the Holy Spirit, I urgently recommend to thee the soul of (Name), which Jesus redeemed at the price of His Precious Blood.
You know how deplorable is the state and how unhappy the life of those who have banished this loving Savior from their hearts, and how greatly they are exposed to the danger of losing Him eternally. Permit not, I beseech thee, that a soul so dear to me should continue any longer in its evil ways; preserve it from the danger that threatens it; touch the heart of this prodigal child and conduct him back to the bosom of the fondest of fathers. Abandon him not, I implore thee, till thou has opened to him the gates of the heavenly city, where he will praise and bless thee throughout eternity for the happiness which he will owe to thy powerful intercession.
--AMEN
ACT OF CONSECRATION
O my beloved St. Joseph, adopt me as thy child. Take charge of my salvation; watch over me day and night; preserve me from the occasions of sin; obtain for me purity of body. Through thy intercession with Jesus, grant me a spirit of sacrifice, humility, self-denial, burning love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and a sweet and tender love for Mary, my mother, Saint Joseph, be with my living, be with me dying, and obtain for me a favorable judgment from Jesus, my merciful savior.
--AMEN
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, hear us.
Christ graciously hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world . . .
God the Holy Spirit . . .
Holy Trinity, One God . . .
Holy Mary. Pray for us.
St. Joseph . . .
Renowned offspring of David . . .
Light of Patriarchs . . .
Spouse of the Mother of God . . .
Chaste guardian of the Virgin . . .
Foster father of the Son of God . . .
Diligent protector of Christ . . .
Head of the Holy Family . . .
Joseph most just . . .
Joseph most chaste . . .
Joseph most prudent . . .
Joseph most strong . . .
Joseph most obedient . . .
Joseph most faithful . . .
Mirror of patience . . .
Lover of poverty . . .
Model of artisans . . .
Glory of home life . . .
Guardian of virgins . . .
Pillar of families . . .
Solace of the afflicted . . .
Hope of the sick . . .
Patron of the dying . . .
Terror of demons . . .
Protector of Holy Church . . .
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, O Lord.
℣. He made him the lord of his household.
℟. And prince over all his possessions.
Let us pray: O God, Who in Your ineffable providence deigned to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Your most holy Mother; grant, we beg You, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom we venerate on earth as our Protector; You who live and reign forever, unto the ages of ages.
--AMEN
PRAYER TO OBTAIN A CONVERSION
O Glorious Patriarch St. Joseph, who merited to be called “just” by the Holy Spirit, I urgently recommend to thee the soul of (Name), which Jesus redeemed at the price of His Precious Blood.
You know how deplorable is the state and how unhappy the life of those who have banished this loving Savior from their hearts, and how greatly they are exposed to the danger of losing Him eternally. Permit not, I beseech thee, that a soul so dear to me should continue any longer in its evil ways; preserve it from the danger that threatens it; touch the heart of this prodigal child and conduct him back to the bosom of the fondest of fathers. Abandon him not, I implore thee, till thou has opened to him the gates of the heavenly city, where he will praise and bless thee throughout eternity for the happiness which he will owe to thy powerful intercession.
--AMEN
ACT OF CONSECRATION
O my beloved St. Joseph, adopt me as thy child. Take charge of my salvation; watch over me day and night; preserve me from the occasions of sin; obtain for me purity of body. Through thy intercession with Jesus, grant me a spirit of sacrifice, humility, self-denial, burning love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and a sweet and tender love for Mary, my mother, Saint Joseph, be with my living, be with me dying, and obtain for me a favorable judgment from Jesus, my merciful savior.
--AMEN