The New York herald., 1871-03-20
CHURCH OF sT PAIL THE APOSTLE.
Discourse on ~t. Joseph by Rev. Father
Iniir.

Discourse St. Joseph by Rev. Father
Lake.
Yesterday being the ieast OF ST. Joseph the So
emnity o. The ceremonies and the decoration OF the
sanctuary this church were carried TO an unusual
degree OF magn6cence st. Joseph's altar taste
fully iilumlned and ornameuted with flowers embe.
matte of his virtues. Gilded banners noated on
either side Of the high altar, which were In
scribed the words, ..iToiecor e9riS; itercessor
IL CItts' At the appointed hour the acolytes,
robed In purple soutanes and rich satin surpices,
HE'D from The Sestry and were followed by the
fauist Fathers, who always assist at last mass I'm
the sanctuary. Solemn high mass was celebrated
by Father Spencer at the close OF which the re
Deunt was chanted in Thanksgiving for The dccla-
ration that ~. Joseph Is patrsn or the universal
Church.
The sermon was preached by Father Lake, the
gospel OF the day furnishing an ample text-Matthew
l., lg2i. on have been long expecting this festival,
he observed, on which We honor St. Joseph as pa
nron OF the universal Church What does this title
sigDifyg Not that he is claimed by particular
country, ST. Patrick Is by Ireland, as Bonayenure
b. Germany or Augustine by England: not by a
partlcuar community, like I9natius and Dominick
not that lie is The patron of youth alone but that
patronage extends throughout the entire world The
Church has declared that no except the Blessed
Virgin
has SO GhsAT POWER WITH COP.
Anc lt ii IN reality that, except her he alone
is, above all creatures, more holy than the bishops
ana martyrs WHO nave gone before NJ. On thus &c.
count 1t Is meet that We should consider his char
acter which has placed him above the other saints.
Entering INTO ihe spirit OF the Church we find that
Whatever claim made for ST. Joseph finds founda.
tion ia he Scriptures. and We may rest assured
, that whatever claim the Church makes for him is
subsantated Dy the Inspiration of God himself.
Aud let NE say at once, tie Observed that al first
sight there is nothing III particular wnch challenges
our admiration In st. J0seph. He wrought no
miracles converted none OF ms conntrymen But
Apostles who converted their mutudcs ana be-
came heroic martyrsS NO. l. proves that MS mis-
sion was secret one, and
He FOUND HONOR WITH COP.
Soue men nash on the world IKE sunrise at sea.
Their glories ,teir sufYerings ana the spiendor OF
their virtues stamp them masterpieces OF Gods
workmanship. Not so, however, with oil the saints.
There are some whose sanctity and heroic virtues
are concealed nuggets ana precious stones
hidden by ne smooth current OF peaceful river.
How many Professionals have read the life OF ST.
Joseph and never thought him noller than the rest
OF men2 How many Catholics, even, have studied
his earthly career aud rallied 10 perceive at Joseph
that seven hundred years lad elapsed before de-
votion to him commenced. And II Is only to-day that
the Church has, with hcr. ioyin: hands, placed on
his head that crown which
SHALL EEvEi BE TAKEN AWAY
So long the Church shall exist. There arc some
pictures with which we are pleased at 1rst. bus
afterwards their excelencc seems 10 vanish FROM
our view There are others, on the contrary. whose
beauties seem to grow with each successive glance.
So IT is in the supernatural world. While there bo
some saints who have labored brilliantly and wei
for the crown which they now enjoy, In the
case OF Joseph the Church has found his sanctiy
more beautiful than was az first supposed. His first
work was 10 conceal the miraculous conception OF
the Blessed Virgin Mary: "for ne was minded to
put her away privately At the Angels command
he was obedient. tie hesitated not TO take Mary to
wife, and thus he shielded her from unjust suspi-
cl0n.
HE WAS THE CLoTsTEH
built around the innocence OF Mary. He alone, 100
shared the secrets which she knew. other saints
have carried the name OF Jesus TO the remotest
corners OF the earth. 81. Joseph dld the reverse.
His mission not 10 reveal Christ, but TO conceal
Him. and his glory IN heaven Is In proportion TO what
his 0bscurity was EARTH lie took part m all the
secret labors OF our Lord's life; he worshlpped our
Lord before the shepherds; be was there when the
kings came 10 adore the Redeemer. and by saving
Jesus from the hands Of ero1 he became the saviour
OF hia own saviour ueicasiied the chd into tEypi,
where he lei q lie harder than that OF any other
exile. lie Is prompt 100, an bringing back Jesus at
the bidding OF the angel. Obedience was Que OF has
crowuing virtues. Or
sT. JosEpH's DEATH
We know comparatively little; bat tradition tells
us that he died about the time or our Lords bap-
tism. so long az Joseph lived the Son OF Man
could not say tnat "Ae had not where to lay His
head.p Tor Joseph always o1nd h0me Tor uila.