St Alphonsus Prayer for those who suffer with arthritis

>>>As a sufferer of arthritis, I found this prayer this morning and felt great peace upon praying.  It is spiritually helpful to know that this painful disease is one I share with such a powerful Saint of the Church.

St. Alphonsus, preacher, confessor, founder, bishop, 
doctor of prayer and friend of the poor, 
you are also the special patron of all who suffer from arthritis 
and the pains of many years. 
When our fingers twist with pain, 
keep us focused on the hands of Christ pierced with ugly nails. 
When our knees knob with endless aches, 
allow us to see the knees of Jesus 
smashing to the street under the heavy cross. 
When our backs stiffen with soreness, 
let us remember the back of Christ thrown across the cold, 
rough wood of the cross. 
When our joints, hips, arms, legs and knuckles hurt so much 
that tears well up in our eyes, 
help us to recall the tears, 
the sweat and the blood that flowed from our crucified Jesus 
Who suffered so much more for each of us.
St. Alphonsus, 
afflicted with curvature of the spine 
and nailed to a wheelchair cross in your final years, 
teach us to unite all our pains 
with the dreadful sufferings of Jesus on the cross. 
We ask you to ease our pains 
but more so to enable us to be one with Jesus 
in his great act of dying and rising.

Amen.