Sometimes joy can be really damn hard to come by. Many of us runners have struggled to find joy in our runs, in our training periods, or if you’re like me in our strength training sessions (ugh!).
Patron Saint of Joy
One person we can turn to for help in difficult joy-less moments is the “Patron Saint of Joy” himself, St. Philip Neri. He was known to have a joyful heart and attracted many people through both his humility and his humor. Here is a prayer for joy for everyone, runners and non-runners alike. It comes from a popular Novena to Saint Philip Neri.
A Prayer for Joy
O holy St. Philip Neri, patron saint of joy, you who trusted Scripture’s promise that the Lord is always at hand and that we need not have anxiety about anything, in your compassion heal our worries and sorrows and lift the burdens from our hearts. We come to you as one whose heart swells with abundant love for God and all creation. Hear us, we pray, especially in this need (make your request here). Keep us safe through your loving intercession, and may the joy of the Holy Spirit which filled your heart, St. Philip, transform our lives and bring us peace. ~ Amen
