In Bible quotes about patience, we’ve already talked about beginning our day with prayer as a means to battle impatience and I think this verse is the perfect compliment. Starting the morning with prayer and putting on our clothes is a natural beginning to our day. Now, what if when we’re putting on our clothes for the day we also put on compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness and patience? Sounds like a great way to start the day! Let’s look at Colossians 3:12, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience.” I love some of the other translations, “Put on therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;” That’s from the American Standard Version and did you notice what word it uses instead of patience? Longsuffering. And the Bible in Basic English translation, “As saints of God, then, holy and dearly loved, let your behaviour be marked by pity and mercy, kind feeling, a low opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and a power of undergoing all things;” Again, look at the word in place of patience, “undergoing” but it doesn’t just say “undergoing” it states “a power of undergoing all things.” That is a powerful translation.
Look at the Good News translation, “You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” That sounds very commanding, “You must.” I also like how this translation begins by reminding us who we are, “the people of God” and what God has done for us, chose us for his own. Really, if we choose to put on anything less than compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, or figuratively choose to put on nothing at all–what a disregard of our Creator and His love for us.
So how do we put on these intangible things? I think a great place to start would be to say as we were dressing, “Lord, I put on Your compassion. Lord, I put on Your kindness. Lord, I put on Your humility. Lord, I put on Your gentleness. Lord, I put on Your patience.” I am a firm believer in what we say to ourselves–Daily Affirmations. And doesn’t that sound like a beautiful practice to get dressed in the morning praying this scripture over yourself?
I’m not sure if this is still the practice, but I know in the Traditional Rite, the priest would say prayers while vesting for Mass. As he put on the Amice, he would pray, “Place upon me, O Lord, the helmet of salvation, that I may overcome the assaults of the devil.” While putting on the Alb, “Purify me, O Lord, and cleanse my heart; that, being made white in the Blood of the Lamb, I may come to eternal joy.” While placing the Cincture around his waist, “Gird me, O Lord, with the girdle of purity, and extinguish in me all evil desires, that the virtue of chastity may abide in me.” While putting the Maniple on his arm, “Grant, O Lord, that I may so bear the maniple of weeping and sorrow, that I may receive the reward for my labors with rejoicing.” Placing the Stole around his neck, “Restore unto me, O Lord, the stole of immortality, which was lost through the guilt of our first parents: and, although I am unworthy to approach Your sacred Mysteries, nevertheless grant unto me eternal joy.” And finally the Chasuble, “O Lord, Who said: My yoke is easy and My burden light: grant that I may bear it well and follow after You with thanksgiving. Amen.” Even if these prayers are no longer obligatory (but neither are they prohibited) by the Missal of the ordinary form promulgated by Paul VI, their use is recommended since they help in the priest’s preparation and recollection before the celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice.[note]Vesting Prayers[/note] These were prayers in preparation for the Holy Sacrifice.
On a different level, our daily life is a sacrifice and we are in constant need to seek all things holy. What if we posted this verse from Colossians in our closet or on our bathroom mirror? This verse could become our “vesting” prayer as we prepare for our day. I think this is such a great idea, I’ve made a free printable for that purpose! Also, when you sign up to receive The Littlest Way in your inbox, there is a whole resource library of printables: calendars, printable prayers for your prayer journal, and a Daily Advent Devotional. But this one? Just save it to your computer and print. Not only do we need to start our day with prayer, we need to clothe ourselves with and in prayer.
Judi says
Hi Jenny, I haven’t written to you before but feel the need to today.
You give me hope. You certainly follow the inspiration of the Holy Spirit! I thank you and admire that a busy young mother would take the time to encourage the rest of us!! You give me hope. As a mother of two adult children. Neither of whom practice their Catholic faith it does my heart good to read your posts and know the next generation isn’t completely without a love for God. I look forward to praying this morning prayer you are suggesting and to continue to follow your inspirational posts!! God bless you and your family Jenny! Your sister in Christ~Judi
Jenny says
I’m so glad you took the time to stop in and say “Hi!” Prayers for you and your children…all is not lost yet.