O wondrous pattern of Christian perfection, Saint Benedict
Joseph, from thy earliest use of reason even to thy dying day
thou didst keep unspotted the white robe of innocence, and,
forsaking all things and becoming a pilgrim on the earth,
thou didst gain naught therefrom save only suffering,
privations and reproaches. Miserable sinner that I am, I kneel
at thy feet, and return thanks to the infinite goodness of the
Most High God who hath willed to imprint on thee the living
likeness of His crucified Son. At the same time I am filled
with confusion when I consider how different is my life from
thine. Do thou, beloved Saint, have pity on me! Offer thy
merits before the throne of the Eternal, and obtain for me the
grace to follow thine example and to direct my actions
according to the precepts and teachings of our divine Master:
thus let me learn to love His sufferings and His humiliations,
and to despise the pleasures and honors of earth: so that
neither the fear of the former, nor the desire of the latter may
ever induce me to transgress His holy law. May I merit in
this manner to be acknowledged by Him and numbered
amongst the blessed of His Father. Amen. Our Father, Hail
Mary, Glory be.
V. Pray for us, O holy Benedict Joseph,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
O God, who didst cause Thy holy confessor, Benedict
Joseph, to cleave unto Thee alone by his zeal for humility
and his love for poverty: grant unto us, by the help of his
merits, to despise all things earthly and to seek evermore the
things that are heavenly. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
An indulgence of 300 days.