Day 30: December 5th
HOPE OF THE SICK
Who are the sick? According to the Gospels, Jesus heals those who come to him with all kind of afflictions and infirmities: the blind, the lame, the deaf and the mute. He casts out demons from those who are possessed, cleanses lepers, heals the woman who had suffered 12 years from a mysterious blood ailment, cured Simon Peter’s mother-in law, the centurion’s young daughter, and all kinds of sickness. We can imagine among the sick, those with fevers and coughs, with cancer in its many forms, HIV and in this time, it is easy to think of those who are especially isolated and prevented from human contact, many of whom never recover or find healing. St. Joseph is the Hope of the Sick.
In hope, we find fulfillment. This is what Hope truly is: the promised fulfillment of what God has willed, promised and brought to fruition, even if it lies in the future that we have not reached yet. Sometimes sickness results in recovery and healing. For others it is endured for a long time and sometimes it ends in death. St. Joseph helps us to see God’s fulfillment. He intercedes for those to be healed, comforts the afflicted, and is the Patron of a Good Death. Our hope is that we can see God’s Will and unite ours with His, as our Beloved Saint showed on so many occasions the docility of his will and conforming to the Hope of God’s salvation for His people.
We also should remember that sickness is not only physical. The Church Fathers universally write that the importance of Christ’s miracles, while giving powerful, visible manifestations of God’s love, were primarily about the proclamation of Divine mercy, forgiveness and setting people free from the spiritual ailments that kept them bound to sin. This is also why we understand that the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, like all of the Sacraments, is not received for its physical effects, but the spiritual reality of which God’s Grace pulls us into. True sickness, the sickness that truly matters, is an infirmity and ailment of the soul, which we call sin. It is both the cause and result of sin. And so, St Joseph, Hope of the Sick, by his examples of virtue and intercessions, is a help and guide to lead us toward health and restoration in the Lord.
In hope, we find fulfillment. This is what Hope truly is: the promised fulfillment of what God has willed, promised and brought to fruition, even if it lies in the future that we have not reached yet. Sometimes sickness results in recovery and healing. For others it is endured for a long time and sometimes it ends in death. St. Joseph helps us to see God’s fulfillment. He intercedes for those to be healed, comforts the afflicted, and is the Patron of a Good Death. Our hope is that we can see God’s Will and unite ours with His, as our Beloved Saint showed on so many occasions the docility of his will and conforming to the Hope of God’s salvation for His people.
We also should remember that sickness is not only physical. The Church Fathers universally write that the importance of Christ’s miracles, while giving powerful, visible manifestations of God’s love, were primarily about the proclamation of Divine mercy, forgiveness and setting people free from the spiritual ailments that kept them bound to sin. This is also why we understand that the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, like all of the Sacraments, is not received for its physical effects, but the spiritual reality of which God’s Grace pulls us into. True sickness, the sickness that truly matters, is an infirmity and ailment of the soul, which we call sin. It is both the cause and result of sin. And so, St Joseph, Hope of the Sick, by his examples of virtue and intercessions, is a help and guide to lead us toward health and restoration in the Lord.
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 ST. JOSEPH FOR A CHASTE LOVE
St. Joseph, father and guardian of the holy family, into whose faithful keeping were entrusted innocence itself, Christ Jesus, and Mary, Mother of God and Virgin of virgins;
I pray and beseech thee through Jesus and Mary, those pledges so dear to thee, to keep me from all uncleanness, impurity of heart, and doubt;
Grant that my mind may be untainted, my body chaste, and that all of my senses be attuned to the needs and protection of the family our Lord has placed into my care;
Pray that my faith be always strong, that I may receive the gift of Wisdom to teach, fortitude to persevere in work;
May I be preserved from all temptation, dwell always with the Peace of Christ, and above all, that I may be perfected in Love with you as my guide.
--AMEN
ACT OF CONSECRATION
O dearest St. Joseph, I consecrate myself to your honor and give myself to you, that you may always be my father, my protector, and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me a greater purity of heart and fervent love of the interior life. After your example, may I do all my actions for the greater glory of God, in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. O Blessed St. Joseph, pray for me, that I may shae in the peace and joy of your holy death.
--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 ST. JOSEPH FOR A CHASTE LOVE
St. Joseph, father and guardian of the holy family, into whose faithful keeping were entrusted innocence itself, Christ Jesus, and Mary, Mother of God and Virgin of virgins;
I pray and beseech thee through Jesus and Mary, those pledges so dear to thee, to keep me from all uncleanness, impurity of heart, and doubt;
Grant that my mind may be untainted, my body chaste, and that all of my senses be attuned to the needs and protection of the family our Lord has placed into my care;
Pray that my faith be always strong, that I may receive the gift of Wisdom to teach, fortitude to persevere in work;
May I be preserved from all temptation, dwell always with the Peace of Christ, and above all, that I may be perfected in Love with you as my guide.
--AMEN
ACT OF CONSECRATION
O dearest St. Joseph, I consecrate myself to your honor and give myself to you, that you may always be my father, my protector, and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me a greater purity of heart and fervent love of the interior life. After your example, may I do all my actions for the greater glory of God, in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. O Blessed St. Joseph, pray for me, that I may shae in the peace and joy of your holy death.
--AMEN