Prudence, the first cardinal virtue, has nothing to do with being careful before crossing a road… well, maybe it does a little bit. This virtue is more about exercising self-control in each of our actions and sayings. This can be achieved thanks to “three elements that constitute the very essence of prudence: the remembrance of past events, the wisdom of present events, and the foresight of future events”.

(Card. Lépicier, http://livres-mystiques.com/partieTEXTES/Lepicier/StJoseph.html)

St. Thomas of Aquinas reminds us that "Prudence is a virtue most necessary for human life [...] It is right reason about things to be done”.

Let us pray today that fathers may be able to reconcile their lives as husbands and fathers with their faith and commitments, especially during moments of doubt or despair. May they be able to assist other dads going through the same ordeal.

Lectio divina: Mt 2:19-23 (NABRE)

 When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead”. He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled. “He shall be called a Nazarene”.

Prayer:

O Good St. Joseph,

You who were a model of composure, you who were prudent, just and strong, and swift to dominate all fear to protect the Son of God:

Protect God within me,

Grant me the grace to control myself better, to serve as you did, to never be idle when answering God's call, to accomplish the small heroic tasks of daily life before dreaming of dangerous enterprises!

May my ascetical efforts bring to me humility and joy!

O glorious St. Joseph, who mastered your body and thoughts with gentleness and obedience, grant me to observe austerity: in this training support me, grant me to live through love only, grant me the courage to give, the discretion of sacrifice, temperance and balance, sobriety and sanctity.

O gentle St. Joseph, grant me to spread, as the fruit of temperance,  the divine joy of the Gospel. Grant me, by my acts and my sayings  to emulate Jesus in everything, just as you did.

(Josepha Petersky, http://www.saintjosephduweb.com/Priere-a-Saint-Joseph-pour-obtenir-la-maitrise-de-soi_a759.html)

Practical action:

I take the decision to reach out to God through prayer, through the intercession of St. Joseph, when doubt or despair arises in my couple, my family, my life as a dad. I also suggest this same action to another dad I know.