Pope’s prayer to St. Joseph, for how we speak

Pope Francis again concluded the December 15 general audience with a prayer to St. Joseph.

This time, the prayer focuses on the power of words:

Saint Joseph, man of silence,
you who in the Gospel did not utter a single word,
teach us to fast from vain words,
to rediscover the value of words that edify, encourage, console and support.
Be close to those who suffer from words that hurt,
like slander and backbiting,
and help us always to match words with deeds. Amen.