St. John Chrysostom is known as one of the great Doctors of the Church, and wrote extensively on all aspects of the spiritual life.
His own life was full of many trials, including a final exile before his death. Through it all, Chrysostom maintained his patience and drew spiritual strength from his trials.
Here is the collect prayer from his feast, asking God to inspire us by his “invincible patience.”
O God, strength of those who hope in you,
who willed that the Bishop Saint John Chrysostom
should be illustrious by his wonderful eloquence and his experience of suffering,
grant us, we pray, that, instructed by his teachings,
we may be strengthened through the example of his invincible patience.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
