In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

My Lord and my God, I firmly believe that you are here, that you see me, that you hear me.

I adore you with profound reverence.

I ask your pardon for my sins and the grace to make this time of prayer fruitful.

My immaculate mother, St. Joseph, my father, and Lord, my guardian angel, and to seed for me.

Jesus, please shower your grace upon us as we contemplate your defining characteristic,

the most salient impression you give others,

especially all those individuals surrounding your infancy,

your hidden life as a worker, as a carpenter,

as a family man, son of Mary and Joseph.

And when you really went public, that's why we call it your public life,

that salient quality, people were profoundly moved by your love, your affection,

and the different components of what the church teaches

as fruits of love, fruits of the Holy Spirit.

St. Thomas Aquinas says that the main manifestation of charity is to transmit joy.

We will have that personal experience when someone greets us with sincere joy,

when someone walks in a room joyful, when a person is happy to speak with us,

when someone's spirits are lifted in our presence, we automatically feel loved.

It's not the only component of charity.

There's service, there's patience, there's understanding, there's fortitude to correct.

But we want to hone in on being sowers of peace and joy.

And why peace and joy?

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