Day 29: December 4th
SOLACE OF THE AFFLICTED
“To thee do we cry poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping
in this valley of tears.
Turn then Most Gracious Advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us.”
These words may come from one of the most ancient prayers of the tradition to our Blessed Mother, like so many other things that we offer to her, we can offer them also to her Holy Spouse, our Blessed St. Joseph. He too, is our Defender, Protector and Guardian. And he is also our Solace in affliction. We are reminded that there are times when we are asked to bear and endure through hardships, suffering and affliction. Indeed, the Psalms and Sacred Scripture throughout, give us God’s promise, not that there will be no hardship in this life, or that we would not walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, but that He would remain with the faithful. His Spirit would be upon us and we would have no cause to be afraid—even in the very midst of the storm and waves.
We may think of those afflicted by sickness or disease, poverty, despair and loneliness, oppression, hatred, hunger, or those afflicted by childhood abuse and other trauma. Our affliction may come as the result of our own sin or of the sins of others, that we may participate and aid in their redemption. But if it is our sin, then in his solace, St. Joseph will help us to see the cause so that we may turn toward our heavenly Father to seek healing and freedom.
To give solace is the character and work of St. Joseph that we give our attention to today. Perhaps we may conjure to mind a vision of the Beloved Disciple resting his head near the heart of Jesus on the night he was arrested. Affliction, as it did for the disciples, will come and in Joseph, we are promised solace, one to whom we can turn and flee toward and find that comforting peace that restores in us Faith in the Son of God, gives assurance of God’s continued Love and affords us the strength, in turn, to offer what we bear for the salvation and conversion of those we love.
Beloved St. Joseph; Holy and Blessed Spouse of the Mother of God; Most merciful, Most strong and compassionate Foster Father of the Son of God; To thee do we cry poor banished sons and daughters of Adam. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then Hope of the Sick and Solace of the Afflicted, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us your adopted son, Jesus.
To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping
in this valley of tears.
Turn then Most Gracious Advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us.”
These words may come from one of the most ancient prayers of the tradition to our Blessed Mother, like so many other things that we offer to her, we can offer them also to her Holy Spouse, our Blessed St. Joseph. He too, is our Defender, Protector and Guardian. And he is also our Solace in affliction. We are reminded that there are times when we are asked to bear and endure through hardships, suffering and affliction. Indeed, the Psalms and Sacred Scripture throughout, give us God’s promise, not that there will be no hardship in this life, or that we would not walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, but that He would remain with the faithful. His Spirit would be upon us and we would have no cause to be afraid—even in the very midst of the storm and waves.
We may think of those afflicted by sickness or disease, poverty, despair and loneliness, oppression, hatred, hunger, or those afflicted by childhood abuse and other trauma. Our affliction may come as the result of our own sin or of the sins of others, that we may participate and aid in their redemption. But if it is our sin, then in his solace, St. Joseph will help us to see the cause so that we may turn toward our heavenly Father to seek healing and freedom.
To give solace is the character and work of St. Joseph that we give our attention to today. Perhaps we may conjure to mind a vision of the Beloved Disciple resting his head near the heart of Jesus on the night he was arrested. Affliction, as it did for the disciples, will come and in Joseph, we are promised solace, one to whom we can turn and flee toward and find that comforting peace that restores in us Faith in the Son of God, gives assurance of God’s continued Love and affords us the strength, in turn, to offer what we bear for the salvation and conversion of those we love.
Beloved St. Joseph; Holy and Blessed Spouse of the Mother of God; Most merciful, Most strong and compassionate Foster Father of the Son of God; To thee do we cry poor banished sons and daughters of Adam. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then Hope of the Sick and Solace of the Afflicted, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us your adopted son, Jesus.
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
THE 7 SORROWS AND 7 JOYS OF ST. JOSEPH
I. The doubt of St. Joseph when Mary was with child / The message of the Angel.
II. The poverty of Jesus’ birth / The Angelic Hymn and birth of the Savior.
III. The Circumcision and first spilling of Jesus’ Most Precious Blood / The Holy Name of Jesus.
IV. The prophecy of Simeon / The effects of the Redemption.
V. The flight into Egypt / The overthrow of the idols of Egypt.
VI. The return from Egypt / Life with Jesus and Mary in Nazareth.
VII. The loss of the child Jesus for 3 days / Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple.
--AMEN
ACT OF CONSECRATION
My Father and my Guardian, I give myself entirely to you, and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore, O good Father, since I am your own, keep me and guard me as your property and possession.
--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
THE 7 SORROWS AND 7 JOYS OF ST. JOSEPH
I. The doubt of St. Joseph when Mary was with child / The message of the Angel.
II. The poverty of Jesus’ birth / The Angelic Hymn and birth of the Savior.
III. The Circumcision and first spilling of Jesus’ Most Precious Blood / The Holy Name of Jesus.
IV. The prophecy of Simeon / The effects of the Redemption.
V. The flight into Egypt / The overthrow of the idols of Egypt.
VI. The return from Egypt / Life with Jesus and Mary in Nazareth.
VII. The loss of the child Jesus for 3 days / Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple.
--AMEN
ACT OF CONSECRATION
My Father and my Guardian, I give myself entirely to you, and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore, O good Father, since I am your own, keep me and guard me as your property and possession.
--AMEN