The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-10-05

In a yery true and forcible article on
the !" The True Object of Life" the Phl!a-
delphia Lelqer says that many OF tue DIS
annoiutments of life arise from an errone-
ous idea of the results to be expected from
CERTAIN lines of conduct. The best men are
often the most afflicted, and the wicked the
most prosperous. Integrity feeds upon
crust. while chicanery and deceit slt AT
sumptuous tables. True genius pines
in secret, while superficial and bomoastic
knowledge wins fame and applause. COL
| eridge says:
sssEy aSssn the hat Which Ro Merits
l. or merits that which he obtains!
| The ancient prophet asked the question,
" VIII srefore doth the way OF the wicked
nrosner ~ and these seeming incongruities
have perplexed the mind of man down to
the present day. The fact is, that we are
CONTINUALLY confusing the relation between
natural or material good, ana moral OF
! sniritual excellence. That there is such a
; relation in certain cases, all experiences
, proyes; but that they should follow each
other in invariable succession Is an unwar-
j, rantable and inconsistent expectation.
Every law of our being has its own distinct
: Independence, and special happiness OF
8 misery in due proportion follows from ooe.
dience to or disregard OF tGeGe t. ia cSaracter
q and resembles the law. The effect Is IKE
!. ira cause. The benevolent man reaps the
! reward of his benevolence, but II ne vlo-
b late the law Of temperance he cannon escape
y the inevitable penalty because he is oenev,
IT oIent. The same is true Of every virtue anu
\ NJ overv vice. So all the various objects Of
g desire that are before us are mostly within
:, ~ onr reach if we are willing to pay the price
a. A vigorous and perseveriug use OF our rae
Ie mites, directed to any given end, Will gen
t. erally insure success. But tnen we III US
| reH1QI
TO onv other good that stands in the way 1
g. a man desire above all things to be rich
r nat;ent toll and close frugality may accom-
=, plish it, But he must be ready to rein
le auish leisure and ease, culture ana lrlenos
and, if necessary, he must sacrince genel
,e ositv. honor, and even integrity, II tue
a. interfere with his chosen pursuit. But J
8. he cannot stoop to this, if he will not cEal
"a down his shirt, or resign the nooler Joy
a of life, then let him not resign because
d. has not riches also. .,
ne There is kind OF greeolness IN "a
r. comnlaint that we cannot have all kln'
of of Measure at once. Some are utterly Il
ne compatible with others. Much mater
IT. GOOD must De resigned, il we would erJ'
oy the full happiness springing from NOR
n n excellence, and many spiritual Joys mo
70, he relinauished if we determine at
~ IN , r ue to Gain material advantages: 1t
~ Ill for each one to look this truth fully
~ The face. and to decide what shall be I
nermanent object of his life. Having u
decided, it is equally essential that
IA courageously accept his chosen port
os' cheerfully signing whatever advan
are ses are Incompatible with it. Many
,od from lack of just this clear;sighte on,
aSe they wish for q good name, they WI
A friends, and leisure, and ease they
ut self. Indulgence, yet they prize. heal
the strength and vigor they also wish TO
at. good Conscience, and for the joys, VIII
the Spring from o virtuous and self deny
,ht, life; but they have never Deliberately m
Sar' mn their minds as to which of all Il
tS % solved to possess at all hasards. W
cky this ia really done, and the mind II
a E~S made M to sacrifice any or all other
main vantages that may hinder the attalnn
te n of the one supreme object, life may
mn. said to be truly begun.
his Such process will not, as some
rblv think, produce q one-sided growth,
time will rather develop harmoniously all T
SCOT of our nature in their true proportions;
aim is true that there are many and varied
lest. iects in every life, none of which can bt
Our elected with impunity, but all have
that own rank in importance and wheI
then have decided which is paramount, 1t
and be a comparatively easy task to assig
nnal