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DAY 18:  Prudence, the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason, is an extremely important virtue. Like St. Joseph, we need to be prudent in all our decisions and actions.

DAY 18:  Joseph Most Prudent, Pray for Us

What prudence was required to educate a God become a child, who willed to obey him [St. Joseph] for thirty years! — Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

What is prudence? In modern times, many people consider it to be a vice or a flaw. If a person is cautious or circumspect in moral matters, they are quite often called a prude. Prudence, however, is a virtue — an extremely important virtue.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides a concise definition of prudence. It states:

Prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it ... It is not to be confused with timidity or fear, nor with duplicity or dissimulation. It is called auriga virtutum (the charioteer of the virtues); it guides the other virtues by setting rule and measure.

Saint Thomas Aquinas taught that prudence is the “principal of all the virtues.” Its role is to govern the other cardinal (preeminent) virtues: temperance, justice, and fortitude. Without prudence, a person will be either too lenient or too harsh. Prudence serves as a guide and a “charioteer,” helping the soul to avoid erroneous extremes.

Prudence is the virtue of kings and rulers. Without prudence, no leader can exercise temperance, justice, and fortitude. Saint Joseph, king of the Holy Family and your spiritual father, is (after Jesus) the most prudent of all men. In every situation in life, he is a model of prudence. He prayed and waited on the Lord to reveal the mysteries of his wife’s pregnancy to him. He educated the God-Man and, in every situation, allowed prudence to govern his actions.

The prudence of St. Joseph was a supernatural prudence.— Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

Supernatural prudence is different from human prudence. Human prudence guides a person to avoid difficulty, suffering, and hardship. Supernatural prudence, on the other hand, does not seek to avoid suffering. Supernatural prudence embraces the cross out of love and always strives for the greater good. By God’s grace, St. Joseph’s prudence was supernatural and heroic. Before the wisdom of the cross was revealed to the world, St. Joseph willingly and voluntarily embraced suffering for the good of others. Before the mystery of co-redemptive suffering was unveiled to souls, St. Joseph lived it out of love.

Saint Joseph will increase in you the virtue of prudence. Saint Joseph will help you exercise supernatural prudence. In every situation, he will teach you to allow prudence to be your charioteer, guiding you to always do what is right for the sake of love of God and neighbor, no matter how much you have to suffer for it.

Saint Joseph teaches us that prudence is correct knowledge about things to be done or, more broadly, the knowledge of things that ought to be done and of things that should be avoided. — Servant of God John A. Hardon

A man of human prudence would never arise from sleep and flee to Egypt with his spouse and child in response to a dream. A man of human prudence would quickly rebuke any man who informed his wife that her heart would be pierced with a sword and his Son be a cause of division. But St. Joseph is no ordinary man. By the power of the Holy Spirit, he is a man of supernatural prudence. He ponders, prays, discerns, and acts. Prudence is his charioteer. With St. Joseph, the virtue of supernatural prudence will be your charioteer as well.

Master that he [St. Joseph] is, he remains always the prudent and faithful servant. Saint Joseph, of the family of the kings of Judah, leads a poor and hidden life. Because he was destined to become, as it were, the governor and father of a weak and humble God, it was fitting that he should resemble him. — Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys

Because St. Joseph was associated with Mary in her glorious privileges, he also had to suffer like her and his heart too was pierced by seven swords. — St. Peter Julian Eymard

In the 16th century, a devotion to St. Joseph began in the Church called the Seven Sorrows of St. Joseph. No one seems to know the exact origins of the devotion, but it parallels a popular devotion to Our Lady called the Seven Sorrows of Mary.

As a devotion, the Seven Sorrows of St. Joseph consists of meditation on biblical passages from the life of St. Joseph that caused him sorrow. When meditating on the biblical passages, it is customary to pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be.

Saint Joseph was such a great lover of God, but was afflicted by much suffering which he endured with a wonderful fortitude. — St. Joseph Sebastian Pelczar

In the 18th century, Blessed Januarius Maria Sarnelli took the Seven Sorrows of St. Joseph devotion and added another dimension to it: the Seven Joys of St. Joseph. In his preaching, Blessed Januarius told the story of how two shipwrecked Franciscans had been lost at sea for several days, clinging to a plank so as not to drown. Suddenly, a man appeared to them and guided them safely to shore. When the Franciscans asked the man who he was, the man responded that he was St. Joseph. After revealing his identity, St. Joseph asked the Franciscans to honor his Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys on the Seven Sundays leading up to his feast on March 19. As a result of Blessed Januarius’ preaching about the shipwrecked Franciscans, the Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys of St. Joseph devotion became known as the Seven Sundays Devotion to St. Joseph and quickly spread throughout the entire Church.

O most faithful saint who shared the mysteries of our redemp-tion, glorious St. Joseph, the prophecy of Simeon regarding the sufferings of Jesus and Mary caused thee to shudder with mortal dread, but at the same time filled thee with a blessed joy for the salvation and glorious resurrection which, he foretold, would be attained by countless souls. — Blessed Januarius Maria Sarnelli

The Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys of St. Joseph, the biblical references that go with them, and their order according to the Seven Sundays devotion are as follows:

1ST SUNDAY
1st Sorrow: Saint Joseph Resolves to Leave Mary Quietly (Mt 1:19)
1st Joy: Saint Joseph’s Annunciation (Mt 1:20)

2ND SUNDAY
2nd Sorrow: The Poverty of Jesus’ Birth (Lk 2:7)
2nd Joy: The Birth of the Savior (Lk 2:10-11)

3RD SUNDAY
3rd Sorrow: The Circumcision (Lk 2:21)
rd Joy: The Holy Name of Jesus (Mt 1:25)

4TH SUNDAY
4th Sorrow: The Prophecy of Simeon (Lk 2:34)
4th Joy: The Effects of the Redemption (Lk 2:38)

5TH SUNDAY
5th Sorrow: The Flight into Egypt (Mt 2:14)
5th Joy: The Overthrow of the Idols of Egypt (Is 19:1)

6TH SUNDAY
6th Sorrow: The Return from Egypt (Mt 2:22)
6th Joy: Life with Jesus and Mary at Nazareth (Lk 2:39)

7TH SUNDAY
7th Sorrow: The Loss of the Child Jesus (Lk 2:45)
7th Joy: The Finding of the Child Jesus (Lk 2:46)

May he [St. Joseph] take charge of the affair of your salvation. Just as he led the Son of God in his travels, may he be your guide on the voyage of this life until you arrive at the haven of eternal happiness. —  Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

Pray the 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.
Guardian of the Redeemer, 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.
Servant of Christ, pray for us.
Minister of Salvation, 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.
Support in Difficulties, pray for us.
Comfort of the Afflicted, pray for us.
Hope of the Sick, pray for us.
Patron of Exiles,  pray for us.
Patron of the Afflicted, pray for us.
Patron of the Poor, 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.

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