The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-03-25
ST. JOSEPH.
The Lesson of His Life.

Everywhere and at all times mel
have judged the qualities and actions
of their fellowmen by their mere out
ward pomp and glitter. Power, super
ior talents, brilliant success, action,
which lead to astonishing results-thes,
are what they admire, and to these they
pay euogies and raise monuments. L
would almost seem that even sanctity
stands i'm need of this exterior splendol
I'D order TO. I Aserve the admiration 81
mankind. Men appreciate the outward
SIilS OF miracles and tongues because
Of the celebrity which they attract
hut those humble virtues which rendeI
the saints agreeabl to God are apt tc
escape thei \ sion and rarely excite
their admi- ,iJI
st. JOSEPH. who us patron of the
Universal On "Cl is raised above all
the other san, s Of heaven, had none
OF those brilliant qualities which men
always admire. The duties of the
ministry which he had to perform
never rose above the plane of humble.
everyday life. He was not called. like
Noses and Joshua, to give laws to
nations and to make kings trembIe on
Their thrones; to command the ele-
nents and to change the ordinary
course of nature: to astonish The
world by his power. and to lead a neo-
DE to the land of promise. He did not.
like the prophets and apostles, open
The eyes of the blind heal the sick
I.lng the dying back to the light and
call the dead from the tomb. No ex-
7Aol1dlnary actions are related of him
he Gospel speaks of him simply as a.
Ilst man whose life was always resu-
ted by the viii of God and in con-
{ 'rmity with the strietest rules of lust
G.
The viii OF God is the primary source
cd all Justice; il fixes the duty of man
no makes the state III which he is
J. aced his sure way of salvation.
Hence it follows that submission TO the
" II LOT God is the first mark of Justice.
hen man is subject to the will of God
accomplishes all his duties: his
liety has no more obstacles to fear. and
j IS actions are always inspired by the
J urest motives. Such are the virtues
winch Joseph gives as so striking an
'Nalnple. His submission to the will of
cod renders him a model Of Justice in
D. is love Of the state to which he was
called, and in the promptness of his
'oeditnce to the divine commands.
and we need only reflect on these two
} 'lnts to be convinced that he was
ally what the Holy Scriptures style
ina just man.
The first effect Of submission to the
III Of God is TO keep us in the place
hich He has marked out for us. AS
is the Sovereign Master of our des-
N.Y. act as He proportions His graces |
the state which He wishes us to be, |
y follows that man, submissive to His
il. should content himself with the |
tuation in which he finds himself |
g l"uld not seek to rise above it against !
: be vii lof heaven, and should never |
rive 10 substitute arbitrary works and |
chimerical perfection for the duties I
1ich God demands and the perfection |
~ lich he eXacts. st. Joseph, reduced |
10 the most lowly condition, accepts
lthout a murmur the order of Divine |
rovidencc. He does not oppose to
E h" DEGREES of heaven that vain rea-
ming which has faith only in its own
'Nncusions; which would seek to
eanEe the appointed order of things.
'h the contrary, he abandOns himself
Hrely to the will of God; he re-
AIMS satisfied with the state TO which
is called, and does not seek to rise
1oEe 1t by the means which vanity
self-love might suggest.
Perhaps we DO not appreciate in St.
. seph this love of his state OF life:
So. it is simply because that spirit of
3 omission to the vii lOf God is not in
lr hearts, and because His DEGREES are
ways sure to meet with opposition
whenever they do not agree with our
own inclinations. Not that we should
onsider the example of St Joseph as
undermining that noble emulation
dirh makes one aspire to reach honor
n.e eminence through the path Of duty.
40 far from il; but il teaches us that
Ir ambitious views should always be
keeping with our state: that we
anuId think less Of rising in the world
ham of rendering ourselves useful In
and making it better for our pres
lne, that even in seeking dignitieS we
ould endeavor rather to obey God.
no calls US to them. than TO satisfy
lrselves; finally. it teaches us that !
if efforts and our aspirations shoulu ]
ways be accompanied with spirit OF ]
n'fect submission TO the divine Will ;
neither it calls us to- fill n brilliant l
'tliou or bids us sanctify ourselves IN
boo painful labors Of poverty and the I
security Of private life. 4
The next effect of St. Josephs sub j
ission to the viii of God which we !
ave TO admire is the promptness OF
Is obedience to the divine commands. {
the ordinary course Of human events {
1a hand of man alone appears TO
uile everything: God remains Invisible I
nd acts through secondary causes. IN I
ae history of St. Joseph. on the con- i
airy the finger of God appears TO r
uide everything. God chooses ali the !
'oans and leaves TO the minister Of HIS
III nothing but the task of meditaunG 4"
Yer the wonders which he sees accom-
+lshed The Lord commands, Joseph
boys. This is all that we can learn
rom the Scriptures concerning his
ministry. He is well called the hidden &
Amt OF the new law.
During his whole life, when Coo
he fears no danger, he O
reads no enemy. he shrinks from no
ardships he refuses no sacrifice. be q
luSe God wills it he retires without y
murmur Of the grotto Of Bethlehem, =
-olate and dresry as it is, and STANDS
YER his charge a faithful sentinel y
pc guardian and protector of his m r
ft Lord Not "A word Of complaint es- =
apes his lips when he is told 30 arse q
the middle of the night and take lht p
MD with his mother and ny n,o ~
gypt He neither Questions nor hesl-