Prayers in honor of San Giuseppe Moscati to ask for an important grace
PRAYERS IN HONOR OF ST. JOSEPH MOSCATI
Antonio Tripodoro YES
Gesu Nuovo Church - Naples
PREFACE
We Christians know well that God is our Father and that we receive everything from him: being, life and what is necessary in this world.
In the prayer of our Father, Jesus Christ taught us how to approach the Father and what to ask him.
God is the Father not only of us living, but also of those who have preceded us; for this now, all together, in the expectation of the coming of the Lord, we form a single family: we who are still in the world, those who are purifying themselves and others who enjoy glory, contemplating God.
The latter, the Saints, - says Vatican Council II - "admitted to the homeland and present to the Lord, through him, with him and in him do not cease to intercede for us with the Father, offering the merits acquired on earth (...). Our weakness is therefore greatly helped by their fraternal concern "(Lumen Gen-tium, n. 49).
St. Giuseppe Moscati, who "by indole and vocation ... was first and foremost the doctor who cures", as John Paul II defined him in the Homily proclaimed during the Canonization Mass (25 October 1987 ), not only in life did he take an interest in the suffering and those who resorted to him, but he continued and continues to do so especially after his death. The testimonies that they have are many and uninterrupted is the skin-grating to his grave. The fingers of the saint's right hand, in the central panel of the bronze urn that contains his remains, are being consumed due to the numerous kisses they receive from those who pray him (see photo on page 99).
For this reason, we have collected some prayers in this booklet and, believing that we are doing something pleasing to those who know S. Giuseppe Moscati and trust in his intercession, we offer it as a subsidiary for personal reflection and prayer.
PREFACE TO THE III EDITION
This prayer book in honor of St. Giuseppe Moscati was published for the first time in May 1988. Once the 5.000 copies were sold out in less than a year, in May 1989 a second edition was published with the addition of some prayer and some thoughts of the Saint.
The request not only did not end, but grew significantly, so it was necessary to make various reprints with over 25.000 copies.
Since there are still many requests, I thought it appropriate to make a third edition, leaving the structure of the book substantially unchanged, adding brief notes on the life of the Saint, other prayers, some other thoughts taken from the letters and significantly improving the photo-graphic apparatus.
The purpose that prompted me to publish this third edition is always what I had from the first moment: to contribute to spreading the devotion to the Holy Doctor and, through him, to make the Lord love more and more.
THOUGHTS OF GIUSEPPE MOSCATI
For a first knowledge of the Saint to whom these prayers are addressed, we report, in a few pages, some of his thoughts, taken from the letters. They are sufficient to make us discover his faith and his love for the Lord and for his brothers and sisters, especially if they are sick and suffering.
As a boy I looked with interest at the Incurabili Hospital, which my father pointed to me away from the terrace at home, inspiring me feelings of pity for the nameless pain, soothed in those walls. A salutary bewilderment seized me, and I began to think of the transience of all things, and the illusions passed, as the orange blossom flowers fell, which surrounded me.
Then, including everything in my literary studies, I did not suspect and did not know that, one day, in that white building, whose stained glass windows could distinguish the sick housed on pain as white ghosts, I would have covered the highest clinical degree.
A crowd of memories, the dearest ones that swell my heart, drag words of thanks, of due re-knowledge, so little bureaucratic to my lips.
I will try, with the help of God, with my minimum strength to correspond to the trust placed in me, and to collaborate in the economic reconstitution of the old Neapolitan hospitals, so praiseworthy for charity and culture, and today so much miserable.
(From a letter to Sen. Giuseppe D'Andrea, President of the Ospedali Riuniti di Napoli. July 26, 1919).
I believed that all deserving young people, who started among the hopes, sacrifices, anxieties of their families, to the most noble way of medicine, had the right to perfect themselves, reading in a book that was not printed in black on white characters, but which covers hospital beds and laboratory rooms and for content the painful meat of men and the scientific material, a book that must be read with infinite love and great sacrifice for others.
I thought it was a matter of conscience to educate young people, abhorring from the habit of keeping jealously mysterious the fruit of their own experience but to reveal it to them, so that, then dispersed for Italy, they would truly bring relief to the suffering our university and our country.
(From a letter to Prof. Francesco Pentimalli, Professor of General Pathology in various Universities of Italy. 11 September 1923).
I tell you immediately with conviction that your mother has not left you and your sisters: she watches over her creatures invisibly, she who has experienced, in a better world, the mercy of God, and who prays and asks for comfort and resignation for those who they mourn her on earth.
I also lost, boy, my father, and then, adult, my mom. And my father and mother are by my side, I feel the sweet company of him; and if I try to imitate them, which were righteous, I have encouraged them, and if it seems that I deviate, I have inspired them to the good, as once the advice with the heart of the voice.
I understand his agony and sisters; it is the first real pain; it is the first time that his dreams are broken; it is the first reference of his thought of youth to the reality of the world.
But life was called a flash in the eternal. And our humanity, thanks to the pain of which it is pervaded, and of which the One who clothed our flesh is satisfied, descends from matter, and leads us to aspire to happiness beyond the world. Blessed are those who follow this tendency of conscience, and look to the "beyond" where earthly affections which seemed prematurely broken will be reunited.
(From a letter to Ms Carlotta Petravella, who had lost her mother. January 20, 1920).
Enhance life! Don't waste your time in lost happiness recriminations, in ruminations. Serve Domino in laeti-tia.
... You will be asked for every minute! - "How did you spend it?" - And you will reply: "Plorando". He will oppose: "You had to spend it imploring, with good works, overcoming yourself and the demon melancholy."
… And so! Up to work!
(From a ticket, undated, addressed to Mrs. Enri-chetta Sansone).
Let's practice ca-rity daily. God is charity: whoever is in charity is in God and God is in him. Let us not forget to do every day, indeed every moment of offering our actions to God, doing everything for his love.
(From a letter to Miss E. Picchillo).
But it is indebted that true perfection cannot be found except by extraneousing itself to the things of the world, serving God with a continuous love, and serving the souls of one's brothers and sisters with prayer, by example, for a great purpose, for the only purpose which is their salvation.
(From a letter to Dr. Antonio Nastri of Amalfi: March 8, 1925).
There is only a glory, a hope, a greatness: that which God promises to his faithful servants.
Please remember your childhood days, and the feelings your loved ones, your mother handed down to you; go back to observance and I swear to you that, beyond your spirit, your flesh will be nourished: you will heal with your soul and body, because you will have taken the first medicine, the infinite Love ».
(From a letter to Mr. Tufarelli of Norcara: June 23, 1923).
Beauty, every enchantment of life passes ... Love remains eternal, the cause of every good work, love that survives us, which is hope and religion, because love is God. Even earthly love Satan tried to pollute ; but God purified him through Death. Grandiose death, which is not an end, but is the beginning of the sublime and divine, in whose presence these flowers and beauty are nothing!
(From a letter to the notary De Magistris of Lecce, written on the occasion of the death of his daughter: March 7, 1924).
PRAYERS COMPOSED BY ST. JOSEPH MOSCATI
PRAYERS TO JESUS CHRIST
«My Jesus love! Your love makes me sublime; your love sanctifies me, turns me not only towards one creation, but towards all creatures, to the infinite beauty of all beings, created in your image and likeness! »
«Your love, Jesus, turns me not towards a single creature, but towards all beings created in your image and likeness».
PRAYERS TO THE SS. VIRGIN
«Virgin Mary [...] now for me life is the duty, you gather my scarce forces to convert them into an apostolate. Too much the vanity of things, perhaps ambition, have diverted me, made me appear stronger than intellect and science than I am!
The memories of my family's past delights and sorrows strengthen me in this prayer, in this abandonment to God ».
"To avoid distractions and to recite the Ave Maria with greater transport and fervor, I would like to bring my thoughts to an image of the Blessed Virgin, while I pronounce the various verses of the pre-
ferrule contained in the Gospel of St. Luke.
And I pray like this:
Ave Maria, gratia plena ...: my thoughts go to the Madonna delle Grazie, as it is represented in the Church of S. Chiara.
Dominus tecum ... -: I am reminded of the SS. Virgin under the title of the Rosary of Pompeii.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus et bene-dictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus -: I have an impulse of tenderness for Our Lady under the title of the Good Council, which smiles at me as it is portrayed in the Church of the Sacramentists. Before this image of her and in this Church I made an abjuration of impure earthly affections.
Bless you by mulieribus -. And if I stay before the Holy Custody, I turn to the SS. Sacramento: benedictus fruc-tus ventris tui, Jesus -.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei ... -: flight with affection for Our Lady under the privilege of the Porziuncula of St. Francis of Assisi. She implored the forgiveness of sinners from Jesus Christ and Jesus replied that he could not deny her anything, because his Mother!
ora pro nobis peccatoribus -: I look at the Madonna when she appeared in Lourdes, saying that we had to pray for sinners ...
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae -. I think of the Madonna, who allows it to be venerated under the title of Carmine, protector of my family; I trust in the Virgin who, under the title of Carmel, enriches the dying with spiritual gifts and liberates the souls of the dead in the Lord ».
ACCEPTANCE OF DEATH
«Lord God, as of now, spontaneously and willingly, I accept from your hand any kind of death, with which you will like to strike me, with all the pains, pains and worries that will accompany it».
PRAYERS obtained by paraphrasing some writings of S. Giuseppe Moscati
PRAYERS FOR EVERYONE
O God, whatever the events may be, you do not abandon anyone. The more I feel lonely, neglected, vilified, misunderstood, and the more I will feel like succumbing to drink under the weight of a serious injustice, give me the feeling of your arcane strength, which supports me, which makes me comfortable of good and manly purposes, whose might I will marvel at, when I will return serene. And this strength be you, my God!
O God, may I understand that one science is unshakable and unrolled, that revealed by you, the science of the beyond. In all my works, let me aim at Heaven and the eternity of life and soul, in order to orient myself very differently from how human considerations might suggest me. That my business is always inspired by good.
O Lord, life was called a flash in the eternal. Grant me that my humanity, through the pain of which it is pervaded, and of which you satiated yourself, that you dressed our flesh, transcends from matter, and leads me to aspire a happiness beyond the world. May I follow this tendency of consciousness, and look "to the afterlife" where earthly affections which seem prematurely broken will be reunited.
O God, infinite beauty, make me understand that every enchantment of life passes ..., that love remains eternal, the cause of every good work, which survives us, which is hope and religion, because the love is you. Even earthly love Satan tried to pollute; but you, God, purified him through death. A grand death that is not an end, but a principle of the sublime and divine, in whose presence these flowers and beauty are nothing!
O God, let me love you, infinite truth; who can show me what they really are, without pretense, without fear and without regard. And if the truth costs me persecution, let me accept it; and if the torment, that I can bear it. And if in truth I were to sacrifice myself and my life, conceide me to be strong in sacrifice.
O God, let me always realize that life is a moment; that honors, triumphs, wealth and science fall, in front of the realization of the cry of Genesis, of the cry thrown by you against the guilty man: you will die!
You have assured us that life does not end with death, but continues in a better world. Thanks for having promised us, after the redemption of the world, the day that will reunite us with our dear extinct, and that will bring us back to you, supreme Love!
O God, allow me to love you without measure, without measure in love, without measure in pain.
O Lord, in the life of responsibility and work, allow me to have some fixed points, which are like a glimpse of blue in a clouded sky: my Faith, my serious and constant commitment, the memory of dear friends.
O God, since it is undoubted that true perfection cannot be found except by extracting itself from the things of the world, let it serve you with a continuous love, and serve the souls of my brothers with prayer, by example, for a great purpose, for the only purpose which is their salvation.
O Lord, allow me to understand that not science, but charity has transformed the world in some periods; and that only very few men have gone down in history for science; but that everyone can remain imperishable, a symbol of the eternity of life, in which death is only a stage, a metamorphosis for a higher ascent, if they dedicate themselves to good.
PRAYERS FOR DOCTORS
O Lord, never make me forget that the sick are your figures and that many wretched, delinquents, blasphemers-bulls come to hospital for the disposal of your mercy, who wants to save them.
In hospitals my mission is to collaborate in this infinite mercy, helping, forgiving, sacrifi-candomi.
O God, always assist me: You who have given me everything and who will ask me for an account of how I spent your gifts!
Grant that I doctor, so often unable to ward off a disease, can remind me that besides bodies, I have immortal, divine souls in front of me, for which I am urged by the Gospel precept to love them as myself: find here -disfaction and not in hearing myself proclaim the healer of a physical illness.
O Lord let me remind you that not only do I have to deal with the body, but with the groaning souls that resort to me. May I ease the pain more easily with the advice, and going down to the spirit, rather than with the cold prescriptions to be sent to the pharmacist! Certainly my reward will be great, if I give an example to those around me, of my elevation to you.
O Lord, always allow me to treat the pain not as a flicker or a muscular contraction, but as the cry of a soul, to which I doctor, his brother, run with the ardor of love, charity.
O God, may he always remind me that by following medicine, I have taken responsibility for a sublime mission.
Grant that you always persevere with You in your heart, with the teachings of my father and my mother always in memory, with love and pity for the derelict, with faith and enthusiasm, deaf to praise and criticism, tetragon to envy, willing only to the good.
PRAYERS FOR EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK
Sunday
Almighty God, thank you for giving St. Joseph Moscati to the Church and to all of us.
His figure is a wonderful example of how you can see yourself in brothers and brothers in you, in every circumstance of life. Today, day dedicated to you, I want to remember his words: «Let us practice charity daily. God is charity: whoever is in charity is in God and God is in him ». Please stay with me this week. Amen.
MONDAY
Lord Jesus, who enriched St. Joseph Moscati with your favors in life and after death,
allow me to imitate his examples. Let him put into practice his exhortation: «Valorize life! Don't waste your time in lost happiness recriminations, in ruminations. Serve Domino in laetitia! ». Amen.
TUESDAY
Thank you, Lord, for making me meet the figure of St. Giuseppe Moscati, faithful observant of your law. Following his example, may he remind me of what he wrote: "Let us not forget to make every day, indeed every moment, the offer of our actions to God, doing everything for love". I want to do everything for you, o Lord! Amen.
WEDNESDAY
Merciful Father, who always makes holiness flourish in the Church, may I not only admire, but also imitate St. Joseph Moscati. With your help, I want to remind you of his exhortation: "Don't be sad! Remember that living is mission, it is duty, it is pain.
Each of us must have his own fighting place ». In this place, O God, I want to have you by my side. Amen.
THURSDAY
Holy Father, who guided S. Giuseppe Moscati in the way of perfection, making him sensitive to the cry of the suffering, in life and after death, grant me also the conviction that "pain should be treated not as a flicker or muscle contraction, but like the cry of a soul, to whom another brother ..., rushes with the ardor of love, charity ». Amen.
FRIDAY
Jesus, source of light and love, who illuminated the mind of St. Joseph Moscati and gave him a living and constant desire for you, help me to orient my life according to your will.
Like him, let him take me away from the vises, the ambushes and the nagging things, which press me like a nightmare and would raise my peace, if I did not divert this peace from the things here below, and I did not put it in (you , hate". Amen.
Saturday
I thank you, God of kindness for the life you have given me, for the supernatural gifts granted to my soul, for the Saints you brought me to meet, for the Most Holy Virgin you gave me as a mother. Today, Saturday, dedicated to Mary, with S. Giuseppe Moscati I tell you that "She implored the forgiveness of sinners from Jesus Christ and Jesus replied that he could not deny her anything, because his Mother!". This forgiveness now I ask you at the end of this week. Amen.
TRIDUAL IN HONOR OF ST. JOSEPH MOSCATI to obtain graces
I day
O God come to save me. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father and the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, and now and always over the centuries. Amen.
From the writings of S. Giuseppe Moscati:
«Love the truth, show yourself who you are, and without pretense and without fear and without regard. And if the truth costs you persecution, and you accept it; and if the torment, and you bear it. And if in truth you had to sacrifice yourself and your life, and be strong in the sacrifice ».
Pause for reflection
What is the truth for me?
St. Giuseppe Moscati, writing to a friend, said: "Persevere in love for Truth, for God who is the same Truth ...". From God, infinite Truth, he received the strength to live as a Christian and the ability to overcome fear and accept persecutions, torments and even the sacrifice of one's existence.
Seeking the Truth must be for me an ideal of life, as it was for the Holy Doctor, who always and everywhere acted without compromise, self-forgetful and sensitive to the needs of the brothers.
It is not easy to always walk in the ways of the world in the light of the Truth: for this reason now, with humility, through the intercession of St. Giuseppe Moscati, I ask God, infinite truth, to enlighten and guide me.
Prayer
O God, eternal Truth and strength of those who resort to you, rest your benign gaze on me and illuminate my path with the light of your grace.
By the intercession of your faithful servant, St. Giuseppe Moscati, give me the joy of serving you faithfully and the courage not to retreat in the face of difficulties.
Now I humbly ask you to grant me this grace ... I trust in your goodness, asking you to look not at my misery, but at the merits of St. Giuseppe Moscati. For Christ our Lord. Amen.
II day
O God come to save me. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father and the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, and now and always over the centuries. Amen.
From the writings of S. Giuseppe Moscati:
«Whatever the events, remember two things: God does not abandon anyone. The more you feel lonely, neglected, cowardly, misunderstood, and the more you feel you are close to succumbing to the weight of a serious injustice, you will have the sensation of an infinite arcane force, which supports you, which it makes us capable of good and virile purposes, whose strength you will marvel at when you return serene. And this force is God! ».
Pause for reflection
Prof. Moscati, to all those who found insertion into professional work difficult, advised: "courage and faith in God".
Today he also says it to me and suggests to me that when I feel alone and oppressed by some injustice, the strength of God is with me.
I have to convince myself of these words and treasure them in the various circumstances of life. God, who dresses the flowers of the field and feeds the birds of the air, - as Jesus says - will certainly not abandon me and will be with me in the moment of trial.
Even Moscati, at times, has experienced loneliness and had difficult moments. He was never discouraged and God supported him.
Prayer
Almighty God and strength of the weak, support my poor strength and do not let me succumb in the moment of trial.
In imitation of S. Giuseppe Moscati, may he always overcome difficulties, confident that you will never abandon me. In external dangers and temptations sustain me with your grace and illuminate me with your divine light. I beg you now to come and meet me and grant me this grace ... The intercession of St. Giuseppe Moscati may move your fatherly heart. For Christ our Lord. Amen.
III day
O God come to save me. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father and the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, and now and always over the centuries. Amen.
From the writings of S. Giuseppe Moscati:
«Not science, but charity has transformed the world, in some periods; and only very few men have gone down in history for science; but everyone can remain imperishable, a symbol of the eternity of life, in which death is only a stage, a metamorphosis for a higher ascent, if they dedicate themselves to good ».
Pause for reflection
Writing to a friend, Moscati affirmed that "one science is unshakable and uncollected, that revealed by God, the science of the beyond".
Now he does not want to devalue human science, but reminds us that this, without charity, is very little. it is love for God and for men that makes us great on earth and much more in future life.
We also remember what St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians (13, 2): «And if I had the gift of prophecy and knew all the mysteries and all science, and possessed the fullness of faith so as to transport the mountains, but I did not have charity , they are nothing ».
What concept do I have of myself? Am I convinced, like S. Giuseppe Moscati and S. Paolo, that without charity they are nothing?
Prayer
O God, supreme wisdom and infinite love, which in intelligence and in the human heart make a spark of your divine life shine, also communicate to me, as you did for S. Giuseppe Moscati, your light and your love.
Following the examples of this holy protector of mine, may he always seek you and love you above all things. By his intercession, come to meet my wishes and grant me to ..., so that together with him he can thank you and praise you. For Christ our Lord. Amen.
NOVENA IN HONOR OF ST. JOSEPH MOSCATI to obtain thanks
I day
O Lord, enlighten my mind and strengthen my will, so that I can understand and put into practice your word. Glory to the Father and the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning and now and always through the ages. Amen.
From the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians, chapter 4, verses 4-9:
Always be glad. You belong to the Lord. I repeat, always be happy. They all see your goodness. The Lord is near! Do not worry, but turn to God, ask him what you need and thank him. And the peace of God, which is greater than you can imagine, will keep your hearts and thoughts united with Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, take into consideration all that is true, that which is good, that is just, pure, worthy of being loved and honored; what comes from virtue and is worthy of praise. Put into practice what you have learned, received, heard and seen in me. And God, who gives peace, will be with you.
Points of reflection
1) Whoever is united to the Lord and loves him, sooner or later experiences a great inner joy: it is the joy that comes from God.
2) With God in our hearts we can easily overcome anguish and taste peace, "which is greater than you can imagine".
3) Filled with the peace of God, we will easily love truth, goodness, justice and all that "comes from virtue and is worthy of praise".
4) S. Giuseppe Moscati, precisely because he was always united to the Lord and loved him, had peace in his heart and could say to himself: "Love the truth, show yourself who you are, and without pretense and without fear and without regard ..." .
Prayer
O Lord, who have always given joy and peace to your disciples and afflicted hearts, give me serenity of spirit, willpower and light of intelligence. With your help, may he always seek what is good and right and direct my life towards you, infinite truth.
Like S. Giuseppe Moscati, may I find my rest in you. Now, through his intercession, grant me the grace of ..., and then thank you together with him.
You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
II day
O Lord, enlighten my mind and strengthen my will, so that I can understand and put into practice your word. Glory to the Father and the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning and now and always through the ages. Amen.
From the first letter of St. Paul to Timothy, chapter 6, verses 6-12:
Of course, religion is a great wealth, for those who are happy with what they have. Because we have not brought anything into this world and we will not be able to take anything away. So when we have to eat and dress, we are happy.
Those who want to get rich, however, fall into temptations, are caught in the trap of many stupid and disastrous desires, which make men fall into ruin and perdition. In fact, the love of money is the root of all evils. Some had such a desire to possess that they went away from faith and tormented themselves with many pains.
Points of reflection
1) Whoever has a heart full of God, knows how to content himself and be sober. God fills the heart and mind.
2) The craving for wealth is a "trap of many stupid and disastrous desires that make men fall into ruin and perdition".
3) The immoderate desire for the goods of the world can make us lose faith and take peace from us.
4) S. Giuseppe Moscati has always kept his heart detached from the money. "I have to leave that little money to beggars like me," he wrote to a young man on February 1927, XNUMX.
Prayer
O Lord, infinite wealth and source of all consolation, fill my heart with you. Free me from greed, selfishness and anything that can take me away from you.
In imitation of S. Giuseppe Moscati, let me evaluate the goods of the earth with wisdom, without ever attaching myself to money with that greed that upsets the mind and hardens the heart. Eager to seek only you, with the Holy Doctor, I ask you to meet this need of mine ... You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
III day
O Lord, enlighten my mind and strengthen my will, so that I can understand and put into practice your word. Glory to the Father and the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning and now and always through the ages. Amen.
From the first letter of St. Paul to Timothy, chapter 4, verses 12-16:
Nobody should have little respect for you because you are young. You must be an example for believers: in your way of speaking, in your behavior, in love, in faith, in purity. Until the day of my arrival, pledge to read the Bible publicly, teach and exhort.
Do not neglect the spiritual gift that God has given you, which you received when the prophets spoke and all the leaders of the community laid their hands on your head. These things are your concern and your constant commitment. So everyone will see your progress. Pay attention to yourself and what you teach. Don't give in. By doing so, you will save yourself and those who listen to you.
Points of reflection
1) Every Christian, by virtue of his baptism, must be an example to others in speaking, in behavior, in love, in faith, in purity.
2) To do this requires a particular constant effort. it is a grace that we must humbly ask God.
3) Unfortunately, in the world we feel many contrary thrusts, but we must not give up. Christian life requires sacrifice and struggle.
4) St. Giuseppe Moscati has always been a fighter: he has won human respect and has been able to manifest his faith. On March 8, 1925 he wrote to a medical friend: "But it is undoubted that true perfection cannot be found except by extraneousing itself to the things of the world, serving God with constant love, and serving the souls of one's brothers with prayer, by example, for a great purpose, for the only purpose that is their salvation ».
Prayer
O Lord, strength of those who hope in you, make me live my baptism fully.
Like St. Joseph Moscati, may he always have you in his heart and on his lips, to be, like him, an apostle of faith and an example of charity. Since I need help in my need ..., I turn to you through the intercession of St. Giuseppe Moscati.
You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
IV day
O Lord, enlighten my mind and strengthen my will, so that I can understand and put into practice your word. Glory to the Father and the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning and now and always through the ages. Amen.
From the Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians, chapter 2, verses 6-10:
Since you have accepted Jesus Christ, the Lord, continue to live united with him. Like trees that have their roots in him, like houses that have their foundations in him, hold on to your faith, in the way you have been taught. And thank the Lord continually. Pay attention: nobody deceives you with false and mischievous reasons. They are the result of a human mentality or come from the spirits that dominate this world. They are not thoughts that come from Christ.
Christ is above all the authorities and all the powers of this world. God is perfectly present in his person and, through him, you too are filled with it.
Points of reflection
1) By the grace of God, we lived in faith: we are grateful for this gift and, with humility, we ask that it never fail us.
2) Do not let go of difficulties and no argument can strain us. In the current confusion of ideas and plurality of doctrines, we maintain faith in Christ and remain united to him.
3) Christ-God was the continuous aspiration of St. Giuseppe Moscati, who in the course of his life never let himself be shivered by thoughts and doctrines contrary to religion. He wrote to a friend on March 10, 1926: «... whoever does not abandon God will always have a guide in life, safe and straight. Deviations, temptations and passions will not prevail to move the one who made his ideal of work and science of which the initium est timor Domini ".
Prayer
O Lord, always keep me in your friendship and in your love and be my support in difficulties. Free me from everything that could take me away from you and, like St. Joseph Moscati, let me follow you faithfully, without ever being flattered by thoughts and doctrines contrary to your teachings. Now please:
for the merits of St. Giuseppe Moscati, meet my desires and grant me this grace in particular ... You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
XNUMXth day
O Lord, enlighten my mind and strengthen my will, so that I can understand and put into practice your word. Glory to the Father and the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning and now and always through the ages. Amen.
From the second letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, chapter 9, verses 6-11:
Keep in mind that those who sow little will reap little; whoever sows a lot will reap a lot. Therefore, each one should give his contribution as he has decided in his heart, but not reluctantly or out of obligation, because God likes those who give with joy. And God can give you every good abundantly, so that you always have the necessary and are able to provide for every good work. As the Bible says:
He generously gives to the poor, his generosity lasts forever.
God gives the seed to the sower and the bread for his nourishment. He will also give you the seed you need and multiply it to make its fruit grow, that is, your generosity. God gives you everything with ab-bondance to be generous. Thus, many will thank God for your gifts transmitted by me.
Points of reflection
1) We must be generous with God and our brothers, without calculations and without ever skimping.
2) Furthermore, we must give with joy, that is, with spontaneity and simplicity, desiring to communicate happiness to others, through our work.
3) God does not allow himself to be overcome in general and will certainly not make us miss anything, just as he does not make us miss "the seed of the sower and the bread for his nourishment".
4) We all know the generosity and availability of S. Giuseppe Moscati. Where did it draw so much strength from? We remember what he wrote: "We love God without measure, without measure in love, without measure in pain". God was his strength.
Prayer
O Lord, who never lets you win in generosity from those who turn to you, allow me to always open my heart to the needs of others and not to lock myself in my selfishness.
How St. Joseph Moscati can love you without measure to receive from you the joy of discovering and, as far as I can, satisfy the needs of my brothers. Now let the valid intercession of St. Joseph Moscati, who consecrated his life to the good of others, obtain this grace that I ask of you ... You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
VI day
O Lord, enlighten my mind and strengthen my will, so that I can understand and put into practice your word. Glory to the Father and the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning and now and always through the ages. Amen.
From the first letter of St. Peter, chapter 3, ver-setti 8-12:
Finally, brothers, there is perfect harmony between you: have compassion, love and mercy towards one another. Be humble. Do not harm those who harm you, do not respond with insults to those who insult you; on the contrary, respond with good words, because God also called you to receive his blessings.
it's like the Bible says:
Who wants to have a happy life, who wants to live peaceful days, keep your tongue away from evil, with your lips do not say lies. Escape from evil and do good, seek peace and always follow it.
Look to the Lord to the righteous, listen to their prayers and go against those who do evil.
Points of reflection
1) Both the words of St. Peter and the biblical quotation are significant. They make us reflect on the harmony that must reign between us, on mercy and mutual love.
2) Even when we receive evil we must respond with good, and the Lord, who looks at the depths of our hearts, will reward us.
3) In every man's life, and therefore also in mine, there are positive and negative situations. In the latter, how do I behave?
4) St. Joseph Moscati acted as a true Christian and resolved everything with humility and goodness. To an officer of the army who, misinterpreting one of his sentences, had challenged him to a duel with an insolent letter, the Saint replied on 23 December 1924: «My dear, your letter has not shaken my serenity at all: I am so much older than you and I understand certain moods and I am a Christian and I remember the maximum of charity (...] After all, in this world only in-gratitude is gathered, and one should not be surprised at anything ».
Prayer
O Lord, who in life and especially in death, you have always forgiven and manifested your mercy, allow me to live in perfect harmony with my brothers, not to hurt anyone and to know how to accept with humility and kindness, in imitation of S. Giuseppe Moscati, the ingratitudes and indifference of men.
Now that I need your help to ..., I interpose the intercession of the Holy Doctor.
You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
VII day
O Lord, enlighten my mind and strengthen my will, so that I can understand and put into practice your word. Glory to the Father and the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning and now and always through the ages. Amen.
From the first letter of St. John, chapter 2, verses 15-17:
Do not yield to the charm of the things of this world. If one lets himself be seduced by the world, there is no place left in him for the love of God the Father. This is the world; wanting to satisfy one's selfishness, lighting oneself with passion for all that is seen, being proud of what one possesses. All this comes from the world, it does not come from God the Father.
But the world goes away, and everything man wants in the world doesn't last. Instead, those who do God's will live forever.
Points of reflection
1) St. John tells us that either we follow God or the charm of the world. In fact, the mentality of the world does not agree with the will of God.
2) But what is the world? St. John contains it in three expressions: selfishness; passion or immoderate desire for what you see; pride for what you have, as if what you have did not come from God.
3) What is the use of letting oneself be overcome by these realities of the world, if they are passers-by? Only God remains and "whoever does the will of God always lives".
4) St. Giuseppe Moscati is a shining example of love for God and detachment from the sad realities of the world. Significant are the words that on March 1, 8 he wrote to his friend Dr. Antonio Nastri:
"But it is undoubted that true perfection cannot be found except from the things of the world, serving God with continuous love and serving the souls of one's brothers and sisters with prayer, by example, for a great purpose, for the sole purpose which is their salvation ».
Prayer
O Lord, thank you for giving me in S. Giuseppe Moscati a point of reference to love you above all things, without letting me win by the attractions of the world.
Do not allow me to separate you from you, but direct my life towards those goods that lead to you, supreme Good.
Through the intercession of your faithful servant S. Giuseppe Moscati, grant me now this grace which I ask of you with living faith ... You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
VIII day
O Lord, enlighten my mind and strengthen my will, so that I can understand and put into practice your word. Glory to the Father and the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning and now and always through the ages. Amen.
From the first letter of St. Peter, chapter 2, ver-setti 1-5:
Remove all forms of evil from you. Enough with cheating and hypocrisy, with envy and slander!
As newborn babies, you want pure, spiritual milk to grow towards salvation. You really have proved how good the Lord is.
Draw close to the Lord. He is the living pie that men have thrown away, but that God has chosen as the precious stone. You too, like living stones, form the temple of the Holy Spirit, you are priests consecrated to God and offer spiritual sacrifices that God willingly welcomes, through Jesus Christ.
Points of reflection
1) We often complain about the evil that surrounds us: but then how do we behave? Cheating, hypocrisy, envy and slander are evils that continually beset us.
2) If we know the Gospel, and we ourselves have experienced the goodness of the Lord, we must do good and "grow towards salvation".
3) All of us are the stones of the temple of God, indeed we are "priests consecrated to God" by virtue of the baptism received: we must therefore support one another and never be an obstacle.
4) The figure of St. Giuseppe Moscati stimulates us to be good operators and never to harm others. The words he wrote to a colleague of his on February 2, 1926 are to be meditated: «But I never cross the path of practical activity of my colleagues. I have never, from which an orientation of my spirit has dominated me, that is, for long years, I have never said bad things about my colleagues, their work, their judgments ».
Prayer
O Lord, allow me to grow in the spiritual life, without letting me be seduced by the evils that undermine humanity and contradict your teachings. As a living stone of your holy temple, may my Christianity live faithfully in imitation of St. Joseph Moscati, who always loved you and loved you whom he approached in you. For his merits, grant me now the grace that I ask of you ... You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
IX day
O Lord, enlighten my mind and strengthen my will, so that I can understand and put into practice your word. Glory to the Father and the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning and now and always through the ages. Amen.
From the first letter to the Corinthians of St. Paul, chapter 13, verses 4-7:
Charity is patient, charity is benign; charity is not envious, does not boast, does not swell, does not disrespect, does not seek its interest, does not get angry, does not take account of the evil received, does not enjoy injustice, but welcomes the truth. Everything covers, believes, everything hopes, everything endures.
Points of reflection
1) These sentences, taken from the Hymn of the love of St. Paul, need no comment, because they are more than elo-quent. I am a life plan.
2) What feelings do I have in reading and meditating on them? Can I say I find myself in them?
3) I must remember that, whatever I do, if I don't act with sincere charity, everything is useless. One day God will judge me in relation to the love with which I have acted.
4) St. Giuseppe Moscati had understood the words of St. Paul and put them into practice in the exercise of his profession. Speaking of the sick, he wrote: "Pain should be treated not as a flicker or muscle contraction, but as the cry of a soul, to whom another brother, the doctor, rushes with the ardor of love, charity" .
Prayer
O Lord, who made St. Joseph Moscati great, because in his life he always saw you in his brothers, grant me a great love for your neighbor too. May he, like him, be patient and caring, humble and selfless, long-suffering, just and lover of the truth. I also ask you to grant this wish of mine ..., which now, taking advantage of the intercession of St. Joseph Moscati, I present to you. You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
PRAYERS FOR VARIOUS PEOPLE
PRAYER FOR ALL
O S. Giuseppe Moscati, a distinguished physician and scientist, who in the exercise of your profession cared for the body and spirit of your patients, look also at us who now resort to your intercession with faith.
Give us physical and spiritual health and once again be the dispenser of divine favors. Relieves the pains of the suffering, gives comfort to the sick, consolation for the afflicted, hope for the disheartened.
Young people find in you a model, workers an example, the elderly a comfort, the dying hope of the eternal reward.
Be for all of us a sure guide of industriousness, honesty and charity, so that we fulfill our duties in a Christian way and give glory to God our Father. Amen.
FOR A SICK
O holy doctor Giuseppe Moscati, who, enlightened by God, in the exercise of your profession, you have given many the health of the body together with that of the spirit, grant to…,
who in this moment needs your intercession, to find again the material health and the serenity of the soul.
May he soon return to his work and, together with you, thank God and praise him with the sanctity of life, always mindful of the benefit received. Amen.
FOR A SERIOUS SICK
Many times I have turned to you, O holy doctor, and you have come to meet me. Now I beg you with sincere affection, because the favor I ask of you requires your particular intervention. NN is in serious condition and medical science can do very little. You yourself said, "What can men do? What can they oppose to the laws of life? Here is the need for refuge in God ». You, who healed so many diseases and helped many people, accept my entreaties and obtain from the Lord to see my wishes fulfilled. Also grant me to accept the holy will of God and a great faith to accept the divine dispositions. Amen.
FOR A DYING
I come with confidence to you, or S. Giuseppe Moscati, to recommend you NN, which is now found
on the threshold of eternity.
You, who have always been so solicitous for those who were about to pass from life to death, rush to the aid of this person dear to me and support them at this decisive moment. Risen Jesus is his strength, his hope and the prize for life that will never end. Together with you may praise God eternally. Amen.
FOR A DRUG
I entrust to you, S. Giuseppe Moscati, this young man…, who needs more than ever help and human warmth.
In the loneliness and despair in which he finds himself, he needs willpower, enduring commitment and understanding.
You who saved many who resorted to you, do not abandon him and give him back soon, healed in body and spirit, to the affection of those who silently suffer and fear for his return to life. Amen.
FOR YOUR OWN CHILDREN
I turn to you, S. Giuseppe Moscati, to be the protector of my children.
In a world full of dangers and selfishness, guide them constantly and, with your intercession, obtain from them physical and mental health, righteousness of life, goodwill in the fulfillment of their duty. May they live their years of formation in serenity and peace, without encountering bad companies that could upset their ideas, make them deviate from the right path and upset their life. Amen.
FOR FAR AWAY CHILDREN
Distressed by the remoteness of my children, who are now deprived of my care, I beg you, O S. Giuseppe Moscati, to help and protect them.
Be their guide and comforter; it gives them light in their decisions, wisdom in their actions, comfort in moments of solitude. Do not allow them to deviate from the right path and keep them away from any bad encounter.
Let them soon return to me, rich in human and supernatural experience, to continue their work honestly and joyfully. Amen.
FOR PARENTS
With you I thank the Lord, or St. Giuseppe Moscati, for giving me loving, caring and good parents.
As you have loved dearly the father and the mother, who had guided you towards the path of good, ensure that I too always correspond to their concern and give them joy and consolations. Get to them, with your intercession, physical and spiritual health, serenity and wisdom and what they desire for their and my happiness. May the smile and friendliness of my loved ones always brighten my life. Amen.
FOR A DEAR PERSON
S. Giuseppe Moscati, who in your life have worked and cared for the people dear to you, helping them, advising them and praying for them, protect, please, ... particularly close to me (a). Be his guide and his comfort and oriental (a) towards the way of good, so that he can act righteously, he can overcome any difficulty and live peacefully in joy and peace. Amen.
FOR STUDENTS
You too, like me, or S. Giuseppe Moscati, have attended the various types of school, you have trembled, you have had bitterness and joys.
With commitment and constancy you prepared yourself for the exercise of your profession. Also allow me to commit myself seriously; guide my sensitivity and let science and faith grow together in your example.
May you always remind me of your exhortation: "Persevere, with God in your heart, with the teachings of your father and your mother always in memory, with love and pity for the derelict, with faith and enthusiasm". How you, in the realities of creation, can see God, infinite wisdom. Amen.
PRAYER OF YOUNG PEOPLE
You, or S. Giuseppe Moscati, have always had a particular fondness for young people.
You defended them and you wrote that it was "conscientious debt to instruct them, abhorring from the habit of keeping the fruit of their experience mysteriously jealous, but revealing it".
Please help me and give me strength in the struggles of life.
Enlighten me in my work, orient me in my choices, support me in my decisions. Allow me to live these years as a gift from God, had to help my brothers. Amen.
PRAYER FOR BOYFRIENDS
We turn to you, Holy Doctor, in this important period of our life.
You, who have had a very high and holy concept of love, help us to realize our dream of spending life together in sincere affection and harmony Illuminate our intellects, because we can know each other deeply and love each other selflessly, knowing how to accept, understand and to help.
Make our life an interchangeable gift and that the union we will achieve is a source of perennial joy for us and for all who will live with us Amen.
PRAYER OF THE YOUNG BRIDE
We resort to you, or S. Giuseppe Moscati, to implore your protection over us, who have recently united our lives in a common plan of love.
We dreamed of living together and in the sacrament of marriage we swore eternal fidelity. Support our intentions and help us to achieve common aspirations in harmony, fidelity and with mutual help.
Called to communicate life, make us worthy of this privilege, aware of so much responsibility, available to the grace of God.
Never allow selfishness to obscure our relationships, but obtain the joy of always living in harmony and peace. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE ELDERLY
You, or San Giuseppe Moscati, have not had the joy of living long, having flown to heaven in the full force of your strength, but you have always cared for and protected the elderly and those who, over the years, suffered in body and spirit. I turn to you, to always live in serenity and peace; because, aware of the gift of life, which the Lord grants me, continue to do good, happy if I can still work, but grateful for what I have been able to do. Allow me to spread joy in my environment and to be an example, a stimulus and help to those who live with me. Amen.
FOR YOUR OWN DEAD
Or S. Giuseppe Moscati, who, for your merits, you had the prize of eternal life, intervene with God so that my deceased relatives enjoy eternal rest.
If they have not yet reached the beatific vision because of their fragility, be their lawyer
and present my pleas to God. Together with you, these my loved ones are my protectors and my family and guide us in the decisions and choices we make. By living in a Christian and holy way, we can one day reach you to praise God our joy together. Amen.
PRAYERS FOR VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES
FOR YOUR OWN HEALING
O holy and compassionate doctor, S. Giuseppe Moscati, nobody knows my anxiety more than you in these moments of suffering. With your intercession, support me in enduring the pain, enlighten the doctors who treat me, make effective the drugs they prescribe me. Grant that soon, healed in body and serene in spirit, I can resume my work and give joy to those who live with me. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE PARTURANT
I resort to your intercession, or St. Joseph Moscati, to entrust to you the child whom God sent me, who still lives from my own life and whose presence I feel with immense joy. Keep it safe and when I have to give birth to it, be next to me to help and support me. As soon as I hold it in my arms I will thank God for this immense gift and I will entrust it to you again, so that it grows healthy in body and spirit, under your protection. Amen.
TO OBTAIN THE GIFT OF MATERNITY
O S. Giuseppe Moscati, I beg you to intercede for me with God, father and author of life, so that he may grant me the joy of motherhood.
As several times in the Old Testament, some women thanked God, because they had the gift of a son, so I, having become a mother, may soon come to visit your grave to glorify God with you. Amen.
TO GET AN IMPORTANT THANK YOU
I appeal to you, St. Giuseppe Moscati, now that I await divine help to obtain this grace ... With your powerful intercession, make my wishes come true and I soon find calm and tranquility.
May the Virgin Mary help me, of whom you wrote: "And may she, benign mother, protect my spirit and my heart in the midst of the thousand dangers, in which I sail, in this horrible world!". My anxiety is calmed and you support me in waiting. Amen.
TO OVERCOME A PARTICULAR DIFFICULTY
O S. Giuseppe Moscati, faithful interpreter of the will of God, who in your earthly life have repeatedly overcome difficulties and contradictions,
supported by faith and love, help me in this particular difficulty ... You who know my desires in God, at this important moment for me, do it that can act with righteousness and prudence, can find a solution and keep in my spirit serenity and peace. Amen.
THANKSGIVING PRAYER FOR A RECEIVED THANK YOU
Grateful for the help received, I come to thank you, O S. Giuseppe Moscati, who did not abandon me in my time of need.
You who knew my needs and listened to my request, always stay by my side and make me worthy of the benevolence you have shown me.
Like you, may I faithfully serve the Lord and see him in my brothers, who, like me, need divine and even human help.
O holy doctor, always be my comforter! Amen.
TO OBTAIN THE REVIEW
Driven by trust in your intercession, or S. Giuseppe Moscati, I appeal to you in this moment of despair. Oppressed by afflictions and contrarieties, I experience loneliness, while many thoughts distress me and disturb me.
Give me your peace of mind: "When you feel lonely, neglected, vilified, misunderstood, and the more you feel close to succumbing to the weight of a serious injustice, you will have the feeling of an infinite arcane force that supports you, which makes you capable of good and virile purposes, whose power you will marvel at, when you will return serene. And this strength is God! ». Amen.
FOR AN EXAM OR A COMPETITION
In the anxiety in which I find myself overcoming…, I appeal to you, or S. Giuseppe Moscati, imploring your intercession and special help.
Get from God to me: security, mastery and light for intelligence; to those who will have to judge me: equanimity, benevolence and that understanding that gives confidence and courage.
Grant that soon, having regained your serenity, you can thank the Lord for the success achieved and remember your words: "There is only a glory, a hope, a greatness: that which God promises to his faithful servants". Amen.
FOR A FAMILY MOURNING
Experienced by pain due to the loss of ..., I turn to you, S. Giuseppe Moscati, to find light and comfort.
You who have accepted the disappearance of your loved ones in a Christian way, obtain resignation and serenity from God. Help me to fill solitude, to strengthen faith in the beyond and to live in the hope that ... awaits me to enjoy God together eternally. May these words of yours console me: «But life does not end with death, it continues in a better world.
After the redemption of the world, everyone was promised the day that will reunite us with our dearly departed, and that will bring us back to supreme Love! ». Amen.
VISIT TO THE TOMB OF ST. GIUSEPPE MOSCATI
The visit can be done in a group or even alone. In the latter case, recite in the singular.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
AMEN.
The priest introduces the visit with short words:
Fratelli e sorelle,
with emotion and joy we find ourselves in the church of Gesù Nuovo, where St. Joseph Moscati frequently stayed in prayer, participated in the celebration of Mass, received Communion and implored the help of the Imma-colata Madonna, whose statue towers over the high altar.
Now his holy body rests here, in front of us, in this bronze urn, which in three panels represents him in the chair while teaching, while exercising charity towards a poor mother, while visiting the sick in hospital.
He is ready to welcome us, to listen to our desires and to intercede for us with God.
Layman, doctor, university professor and high school scientist, as Pope Paul VI defined him, he lived from 1880 to 1927 and in forty-seven years he reached the top of holiness, loving in an extraordinary way God and brothers.
We renew our faith and prepare our hearts to listen to the Word of God. It is the same divine Word that some decades ago penetrated the intimate of the Saint and pushed him to dedicate his life for the benefit of others.
Let's praise the Lord together. All:
We give thanks to God.
After a short pause for reflection, the priest reads:
From the Gospel of St. Matthew, chapter XXV, verses 31-40:
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples:
«When the Son of man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his glory. And all the nations will be brought together before him, and he will separate from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right: Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. Because I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink: I was a stranger and you hosted me, naked and you dressed me, sick and you visited me, prisoner and you came to find me.
Then the righteous will answer him: Yes, sir, when did we ever see you aff-famed and feed you, thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, naked and see you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and come to visit you? In reply the king will say to them: every time you have done these things to one of these younger brothers of mine, you have done it to me ».
Word of the Lord.
All: We thank God:
Everyone sits down and the Priest reads:
Points of reflection
1) The words we have heard are the Christian's practical program, under which one day we will be judged.
No one can delude himself that he loves God if he does not love his neighbor.
We remember when he wrote S. Giu-seppe Moscati: «Valorize life! Do not waste time in recriminations of lost happiness, in lucubrations. Serve Domino in laetitia.
... You will be asked for every minute! - «How did you spend it? »- And you will answer:« Plorando ». He will object: "You had to spend it imploring, with good works, overcoming yourself and the demon melancholy."
… And so! Up to work! »
We also think of what he said and which was his rule of life: "Pain must be treated not as a flicker or a muscular contraction, but as the cry of a soul, to which another brother, the doctor, rushes with 1 ardor of love, charity ».
2) But who's next?
They are our most needy brothers, in-dicatic from the Gospel of St. Matthew.
St. Giuseppe Moscati chose the medical profession to meet the need-needs and there are countless episodes in which he exercised charity.
To a medical friend he wrote: «Not science, but charity has transformed the world, in some periods; and only very few men have gone down in history for science; but all will remain imperishable, symbol of the eternity of life, in which death is only a stage, a metamorphosis for a higher ascent, if they dedicate themselves to good ».
3) What can we say, after listening to the word of God and the reflections of St. Giuseppe Moscati?
Should we review some of our attitudes and above all some of our ideas?
The exhortations that the Holy Doctor made to himself can help us: «Love the truth, show yourself what you are, and without pretense and without fear and without regard. And if the truth costs you persecution, and you accept it; and if the torment, and you bear it. And if in truth you had to sacrifice yourself and your life, and be strong in the sacrifice ».
Intercessory prayer
At this moment our thoughts are turned to the Lord and we all feel the need to manifest our desires to Him. Let's do it, imploring the help of St. Joseph Moscati, and with confidence we say: By the intercession of the Holy Doctor, hear us, O Lord.
Everyone repeats:
By the intercession of the Holy Doctor, hear us, O Lord.
1. For the Pope, for the Bishops and for the Priests, so that by virtue of the Holy Spirit they will guide the People of God on the ways of the Lord and strengthen them in holiness.
All: By the intercession of the Holy Doctor, listen to us, Lord.
2. For lay Christians scattered throughout the world, so that they may live their baptismal consecration and give everyone the testimony of the Lord's charity. Let's pray.
All: By the intercession of the Holy Doctor, listen to us, Lord.
3. For science lovers, because they open themselves to the light of eternal wisdom; for doctors, and all those who dedicate themselves to the sick, so that they may see Christ in suffering brothers. Let's pray.
All: By the intercession of the Holy Doctor, listen to us, Lord.
4. For all those who suffer and for those closest to us, so that they may accept the cross of Jesus with faith and offer their sufferings for the salvation of the world. Let's pray.
All: By the intercession of the Holy Doctor, listen to us, Lord.
5. For us gathered here to glorify God who raises the Saints in his Church, so that He may renew and sanctify us, alleviate our sufferings and give consolations to our hearts. Let's pray.
All: By the intercession of the Holy Doctor, listen to us, Lord.
We ask God's blessing through the intercession of St. Giuseppe Moscati. Almighty God and our Father, who in S. Giuseppe Moscati gave us a miraculous example of holiness and a powerful intercessor, for his merits bless all of us who today, in this church and before his holy body, are collected in prayer.
Help us throughout life, give us the health of the body and the health of the spirit and fulfill our wishes.
May you also bless those dear to us, who recommend themselves to the Saint, and to all manifest your paternal protection.
Finally, we ask you that, returning to our homes, we can resume your usual occupations with serious commitment and with your joy in your heart, to live healthily and with renewed fervor.
May Almighty God bless you Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
Everyone: Amen.
MASS IN HONOR OF ST. GIUSEPPE MOSCATI
LAY
Entrance antiphon
Mt XXXV 34.36.40
«Come blessed of my Father» says the Lord; «I was sick and you visited me. Truly I say to you: every time you have done these things to one of these younger brothers of mine, you have done it to me ».
Collect prayer
Let's pray.
O God, who in San Giuseppe Moscati, a distinguished physician and scientist, offered us a sublime model of love for you and for your brothers and sisters, let us too, through his intercession, living authentic faith, know how to recognize in men the face of Christ the Lord, to serve you alone in them.
By our Lord you manage Christ, your Son, who is God, and lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for all ages.
Amen.
Prayer on the offers
Welcome our gifts, Father, in this memorial of the infinite love of your son, and, through the intercession of San Giu seppe Moscati, confirm us in the gene-pink dedication to you and your brothers.
For Christ our Lord. Amen.
Communion antiphon
Jn. XII, 26
"If anyone wants to serve me, follow me, and where I am, my servant will also be there."
Prayer after communion Let us pray.
O Father, who nourished us at your table, give us to imitate the example of St. Junius Moscati, who consecrated himself to you with all your heart and worked tirelessly for the good of your people.
For Christ our Lord. Amen.
First reading
From the book of the prophet Isaiah LVIII, 6-11: Thus says the Lord: «Untie the unfair chains, remove the bonds of the yoke, postpone
free the oppressed and break every yoke. Does not fasting consist in sharing bread with the hungry, in introducing the poor, homeless into the house, in dressing the naked, without taking your eyes off those of your people? Then your light will rise like the dawn, your wound will heal soon. Your righteousness will walk before you, the glory of the Lord will follow you. Then you will call on him and the Lord will answer you; you will beg for help and he will say, "Here I am!" If you take away from you the op-pressure, the pointing of the finger and the wicked speaking, if you offer the bread to the hungry, if you satisfy the fast, then your light will shine in the darkness, your darkness will be like the noon. The Lord will always guide you, he will satisfy you in arid terrains, he will strengthen your bones; you will be like. an irrigated garden and like a spring whose waters do not dry up ».
God's word.
Responsorial Psalm:
From Psalm CXI
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord.
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord
and finds great joy in his commandments. His lineage will be powerful on earth,
the offspring of the righteous will be blessed. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord.
Honor and wealth in his home, his justice remains forever. Check into the darkness
as light for the righteous, good, merciful and just. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord.
Happy the compassionate man who borrows, administers his goods with justice. He will not waver forever: the righteous will always be remembered. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord.
Second reading
From the first letter of St. Paul the Apostle to Corinthians XIII, 4-13:
Brothers, charity is patient, charity is benign; charity is not envious, does not boast, does not swell, does not lack respect, does not seek its interest, does not get angry, does not take into account the evil received, does not enjoy injustice, but is pleased with the truth. Everything covers, believes everything, hopes everything, endures everything.
Charity will never end. The prophecies will disappear; the gift of tongues will cease and science will vanish. Our knowledge is imperfect and imperfect our prophecy. But when what is perfect comes, what is imperfect will disappear.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child, I reasoned as a child. But, having become a man, what was a child I abandoned. Now we see as in a mirror, in a confused way; but then we'll see face to face. Now I know imperfectly, but then I will know perfectly, as I too am known.
So these are the three things that remain: faith, hope and charity; but of all greater is charity!
God's word.
Song to the Gospel
Matt V, 7
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Blessed are the merciful, says the Lord, because they will find mercy. Alleluia.
Gospel
From the gospel according to Matthew XXV, 31-40 At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: «When the Son of man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his glory. And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate one from the other, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right: Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. Because I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you hosted me, naked and you dressed me, sick and you visited me, prisoner and you came to visit me.
Then the righteous will answer him: Yes, sir, when did we ever see you aff-famed and feed you, thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and host you, or naked and dress you? And how much did we see you sick or in prison and come to visit you? In reply, the king will say to them: In truth I say to you: every time you have done these things to one of these little brothers of mine, you have done it to me ».
Word of the Lord.
or:
From the Gospel according to Luke X, 25-37: At that time a lawyer got up to test Jesus:
«Master what do I have to do to inherit eternal life? ». Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read about it? ». He replied: "You will love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself." And Jesus: «You have answered well, do this and you will live». But those wishing to justify themselves, said to Jesus: «And who is my neighbor? ».
Jesus continued: «A man came down from Jerusalem to Jericho and stumbled upon the bribes who stripped him, beat him and then left, leaving him half dead. By chance, a priest went down that same road and when he saw him he passed on the other side.
Even a Levite, who came to that place, saw him and passed by. Instead a Samari-tano, who was traveling, passing by, saw him and was sorry for him. He came up to him, bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; then loaded him on his garment, he took him to an inn and took care of him. The following day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the hotelier, saying: Take care of him and what you will spend more, I will refund you on my return. Which of these three do you think was the neighbor of the one who stumbled upon the brigands? ».
He replied, "Who has had compassion on him." Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same as well."
Word of the Lord.
Prayer of the faithful:
Cel .: Obedient to the word of Jesus, who invites us to be perfect like Heavenly Father, let us pray to God, that the holiness that derives from him will renew the Church and transform the world. The intercession of San Giuseppe Moscati, hasten the fulfillment of these desires by the Lord.
Let us pray together and say: Hear us, O Lord.
1. - For the Holy Father… .., for Bishops and Priests, so that, by virtue of the Holy Spirit, they guide the People of God on the ways of the Lord and strengthen them in health. Let's pray. Hear us, O Lord.
2. - For lay Christians, scattered throughout the world, to live their baptismal consecration and to give everyone the testimony of the Lord's charity. Let's pray. Hear us, O Lord.
3. - For science lovers, so that, by opening themselves to the light of eternal wisdom, they will find God in the wonders of his creation and with their discoveries and their teachings they contribute to the glorification of the Holy Trinity. Let's pray. Hear us, O Lord.
4. - For doctors and all those who dedicate themselves to the sick, so that they may be animated by a profound reverence for life and serve Christ in their suffering brothers. Let's pray. Hear us, O Lord.
5. - For all those who suffer, so that in spirit of faith they accept the cross of Jesus and offer their sufferings for the salvation of the world. Let's pray. Hear us, O Lord.
6. - For all of us gathered here to celebrate the Eucharist and to glorify God who raises the Saints in his Church, so that He may renew and sanctify us for His glory and for the greater good of humanity. Let's pray. Hear us, O Lord.
Cel .: The intercession of St. Joseph Moscati always support, O Lord, your Church in prayer. Grant her fully what she asks in faith. For Christ our Lord.
Amen.
BRIEF NEWS ON THE LIFE OF ST. GIUSEPPE MOSCATI
The Moscati family comes from S. Lu-cia di Serino (AV), where the saint's father, Francesco, was born, who graduated in law and brilliantly followed the career of the judiciary. He was judge at the Cassino court, president of the tri-court of Benevento, councilor of the Court of Appeal in Ancona and, lastly, president of the Court of Appeal in Naples. In Cas-sino he married Rosa De Luca, -of the Marquis of Roseto and the wedding was blessed by the abbot of Montecassino P. Luigi Tosti, a famous historian and remembered in the Italian re-emergence events: in 1849 he exhorted Pius IX to renounce temporal power.
The Moscati spouses had nine children: Giuseppe was the seventh and was born in Bene-vento on July 25, 1880.
The Moscati had moved to this city in 1877, when Francesco was promoted to president of the court, and took lodging in via S. Diodato, near the hospital. After a few months they changed their home and went to an apartment in via Port'Aurea, near the Arco di Traiano, in the Andreotti palace, then purchased by the Leo family, the current owner.
In Benevento, the Moscati spouses brought their faith and constant loyalty to their principles and took care to give their children a healthy religious education.
A year after the birth of Giuseppe, the magistrate Francesco was transferred to An-cona and in 1884 to the Court of Appeal of Naples.
On 8 December 1898 Giuseppe made his first communion in the church of the Ancells of the Sacred Heart, he regularly attended the course of studies and when, in 1897, he obtained his high school diploma at the Vittorio Emanuele II high school, he was the first among the 94 students. In the report card there is only one eight in mathematics and nine and ten in the other subjects.
Having recently enrolled in the faculty of medicine, his father, struck by cerebral hemorrhage, flew to heaven. It was December 21, 1897.
The young Giuseppe received confirmation in 1898, he graduated on 4 August 1903 and since then constantly engaged in studies, research and hospital practice, he won competitions, collaborated in scientific journals, but above all he came in contact with human pain in hospital wards. All biographers remember the assi
stenza lent to the sick during the eruption of Vesuvius (1906), in cholera (1911) and in the period of the First World War.
In 1911, in a troubled competition as ordinary coadjutor in the re-united hospitals of Naples, he was the first among the competitors and in May of the same year he obtained the free teaching of physiological chemistry.
If Prof. Moscati had an enviable didactic and scientific curricu-lum, he could have obtained the university chair, but he renounced it in favor of his friend Prof. Gaetano Quagliariello and for the love of the incurable hospital, where the his work and where in 1919 he was appointed director of the III men's room.
After this conscious and conscious choice, he is definitively oriented towards hospital work and in the hospital wards he commits time, experience, human capacities and supernatural gifts. The sick with their diseases and physical and spiritual miseries will always be at the top of his thoughts, because "they are the figures of Jesus Christ, immortal souls, di-vine, for which the evangelical precept of loving them is urgent ourselves".
Countless are the testimonies of pupils and colleagues who present him as a great clinician and admired professor. By unanimous declarations, as a doctor he had an extraordinary intuition. Often his diagnoses aroused surely, but after the results, this bewilderment turned into wonder and admiration. Some colleague, envious of Moscati's successes and fame, dared to criticize him and speak out of his rash diagnoses, but he had to surrender before the evidence of the facts and recognize his superiority.
In the face of human pain, especially if aggravated by poverty, Moscati showed himself extremely sensitive and did his utmost to alleviate suffering and help needs. But in the sick he saw above all the souls to be saved and for this his concern had no limits. The Lord, whom he daily entered into communion, opened his heart to the understanding of both physical and moral pain.
He had experienced the suffering himself with the loss of his brother Alberto in 1904 and his mother in 1914. Furthermore, his sensitive soul did not remain
indifferent to the injustices, misunderstandings and envy he frequently noticed around him.
Moscati is the man who knew how to reconcile science and faith, who loved the Lord and the Virgin Mary uninterruptedly, who carried out his duty daily with consistency and love.
On his death, which took place on April 12, 1927, at the age of just under forty-seven, an unknown hand wrote in the register of signatures: «He did not want flowers or even tears: but we cry him, because the world has lost a saint, Naples a specimen of all virtues, the poor sick have lost everything! ».
Giuseppe Moscati was soon raised on the altars: a saint 60 years after his death and 107 since his birth. The esteem and veneration that had surrounded him in life literally exploded after his death and soon the pain and tears of those who had known him turned into emotion, enthusiasm, prayer.
On November 16, 1930, at the request of his sister Nina and following the request of various personalities of the clergy and the laity, Cardinal A. Ascalesi granted the transport of the body from the cemetery to the church
of the New Jesus. The following year the information processes began in view of the sanctification and on November 16, 1975, Paul VI proclaimed Blessed Prof. Moscati, after the positive examination of two miracles.
On the day of the sanctification, which took place in St. Peter's Square on 25 October 1987, Pope John Paul II said in the homily of the Mass: "Giuseppe Moscati, primary hospital doctor, distinguished researcher, university professor of human physiology and physiological chemistry , lived its many tasks with all the commitment and seriousness that the exercise of these delicate lay professions requires.
From this point of view, Moscati is an example not only to be admired, but to be imitated ... ».
In the prayers that we address to him, ask him also for the joy of always having him as an example and of imitating his virtues.
NB In order to know the life of S. Giu-seppe Moscati we recommend the book of Fr. Antonio Tripodoro SI, Giuseppe Moscati. The Holy Doctor of Naples seen through his writings and the testimonies of his contemporaries, Naples 1993.