The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-05-05
Our May Lesson.


that the Church has ever framed for the use
and guidance of man. When it was seen that
the wine had failed and there was only water
to place before the guests, Mary spoke to her
Divine Son and although she received an ap-
parent reproof, her maternal and generous
heart was satisfied with the reply, for going to
the walters she gave them this simple, ever
memorable instruction "Whatsoever He shall
say to you, do ye."
Now, as the Christians 3 life consists in obey
ing all that our divine Lord taught while on
earth, it follows that no one can aid rs so well
in this sublime lesson, as she who knew His Sa-
cred Heart so perfectly to interpret for us its
first miraculous manifestation of divine power
and goodness. 1t is for this reason then that
the Catholic world draws near to Mary during
this month Of May, 30 as to learn from her
words and her example how to do all "whatso-
ever He shall say"
For thirty days the Church unfolds to us the
life and heroic virtues of this Most Blessed
Virgin, this bright exemplar OF all woman
hood, this perfect model Of all Christian souls,
this most faithful follower of the divine Mas
ter's teachugs; and if we will but enter into
the epirit of the Church, and treasure up it's
precious counsels and instructions our sub.
of faith and virtue, that our hearts will over.
flow with that wine of gladness we'll typi-
fed by the miraculous drink given to the bri-
dal guests of Cana.
This lesson comprises in its few brief words,
food for many thoughts. and subject for many
meditations. Every word might form text for
sermon, while the whole furnishes nstruc-
tiou as complete as it is beautiful, and as sub
lime as it is simple and exploit.
Thatsoerer! In great or small things, in lit
tie virtues or heroic deeds, in trifing actions
| or important events, tvhatsoever it is He bids
| us do, we have but to look confdingly towards
the Blessed Virgin, and she will direct our
| course aud guide us in the path Of virtue.
lie shall say to you Ah if we know that the
order comes from Him, if we are only sure that
He has spoken, there will be no murmurin 6
| nor delay in our obedience to His will Like
the water. carriers in the Gospel, we have only
to attend to Mary's directions and all will be
| well.
| He said, speak no evil, think no harm, do no
iujustice'-but we must go to Mary to learn
| from her how to practice the sublime lessons
| taught by His sacred lips.
| DO ye! Be not satisfied with idly talkin 6
about the duties of ones state in life, nor with
|
| love and duty; but bravely do all that must be
| done. Life does not consist of words but of
actions; and we must do our part upon its
varied field of thought and enterprise if we
would please our heavenly Master, and Mary
| is the one who can interpret for us His wishes
and intentions.
| Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye. This is
the one great rule which constitutes all Chris
kI,oA NJ
| do in every particular of our lives To old and
young, to rich and poor, to wise and simple, He
has given rules of action and motives of perse.
verance, He has truly said all that man can
wish to know, OF needs to learn. But Mary ia
the bright exemplar in which all His lessons
shine with 30 much brightness, clearness,
beauty, that we have but to gaze upon the
shining page in order to learn their true mean
ing and fully understand their sublime adapta-
tion to our daily lives.
Whatsoever He shall tell you, do ye." This
is the lesson which the Saints learned 80 well
from the lips of Mary; and which, by constant
repetition, won for them the undying fame
and the unfading crown reserved for them II
the bridal halls of heaven.
The same lesson, if properly learnt, will alst
make Us saints, and will secure for us the ssm'
glorious 1nnerlEAuCoJ nO ono O0u ASiP IA
} learn the lesson go effcaciously and 30 perfect
ly, ss She who taught the world Itself that, ii
; order to draw the wine of gladness, it m us
do all Whatsoever He shall say"
May, the most beautiful month of the year
is appropriately dedicated to Her who was th
| most beautiful among created beings, the Lii.
of Israel, the Rose of Sharon. This month is
as it were, the bouquet of the year, the on
perfect period when neither heat nor cold pre-
ponderates, when all nature is in bloom, whe
skies and birds and flowers are in harmony,
: figure, perhaps, of the eternal Spring of Hea
ven. Well, the lesson of May, taught by Mar
- at the feast of Cana, is also the bouquet of a.
spiritual nstruction-the complete epitome c
. all perfection, the fragrant nosegsy which in
cludes all the rules necessary for mans haI
. piness on earth and eternal happiness i
heaven.