Feast Day: May 9th
& October 11th – Synaxis of the Elders of Optina Monastery
The Life of Saint Joseph: The next day, Orayers for the Departure of the Soul were read for him, and people came to bid him farewell. A Novice, sitting behind a screen, heard Father Joseph Praying aloud. Peering through a slit in the screen, he saw Father Joseph gazing at an Icon of Christ and lifting up his hands. This Novice went to the infirmary later and heard someone behind the screen say, “Be patient, my dear one, only a little remains.” He looked behind the screen, but saw no one there except Father Joseph. Later, Father Ambrose told people that Father Joseph had seen the Mother of God during his illness. Though he had been quite near death, he got well…
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Prayers
Saint Joseph Pray to God for us.
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“Prayer is food for the Soul. Do not starve the Soul, it is better to let the body go hungry. Do not judge anyone, forgive everyone. Consider yourself worse than everyone in the world and you will be saved. As much as possible, be more quiet.”
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“Try not to be idle. Because idleness is the mother of every vice, including despondency and despair.”
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“We ourselves aggravate our sorrows when we begin to complain.”
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“The Lord knows better than us, to whom it is useful: health or illness.”
