Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-22
OBSERVE FEAST
OF ST. JOSEPH
ELOQUENT SERMON PREACHED
BY REV. M'MANUS
Congregation at Cathedral of st. Vlb-
lana Listens to Discourse on
the Last Days Of the
Savor's Life

SaVior's Life
The feast of the patronage of st.
Joseph was observed at the Cathedral
of st. Vibiana yesterday morning with
high mass. Rev. F. H. Valentin of
McManus preached an eloquent ser
mon, saying in part:
"The gospel of today is taken from
Christ's 'last discourse to his disciples.
H is in the midst of those few whom
he had gathered around him during his
public life. Heretofore they had been
called upon to make sacrifices for his
sake, but these were of small account
while he was present. Now a great
change is about to take place. "A little
while and you shall not see me-. In his
divine mind he contemplates in an in
slant that great series of events which
were about to take place. He foresees
his own death, resurrection and ascen-
sion. He knew that desolation would
fall upon his followers. They shall be
| cast out of the synagogues, men shall
| consider 1t service to God to put them
to death.
But he adds, be of good cheer A
little while and you shall see after IL
short time 1 shall take you to the
Father The disciples of Christ at all
times and in all ages have been called
upon to suffer for his sake. If we wish
to reign with him we must be prepared
to suffer with him. But men very fire.
quently misunderstood this suffering
and self-sacrifice.
Ease and Riches Not All
MANY imagine that to secure a
happy eternity with Christ means a life
of misery here, and therefore they say:
Let US enjoy the present, the future
will take care of ITSELF We hope to
show today that this is an erroneous
view, even from the consideration of
who lives in the friendship of God,
obeying his laws, is even in the present
life happier man.
ITO understand this we must remem-
Der that happiness is twofold. There Is
what is known as external happiness
which consists in the enjoyment of those
things which are agreeable to flesh and
blood-such are health, ease, riches,
honors and pleasures. All these can
never make a man truly happy. They
tend to make him happy only in so far
as they contribute to bring him internal
happiness. Internal happiness consists
In peace and contentment of mind. 1t
Is the happiness which comes from
good conscience, the happiness which
Christ promised to his followers. The
man who possesses this is truly happy
Who possess it? Those, and only those
who live in accordance with the law of
God.
THE royal prophet proves this from
his own experience. Taste and see that
the Lord is sweet they that fear the
Lord shall not want They may not
possess the riches of the world, never
theless they shall not want, for God
himself will give them peace, joy and
happiness which the world knows not
Of Our blessed Lord preached the same
doctrine again and again. He stands
before man and says, You are running
after happiness. You seek it where it
is not to be found
Grasping at Shadows
"'You are grasping at shadows only
to find them hollow and empty when you
| reach them. Pause for a little while
and think. / am .he son of God; am
infinitely truthful l give you my sacred
promise that my yoke is sweet and
my burden is light. Make the expert
ment for yourself and find If that hap
piness which you seek is not to be found
in my service. and In my service alone.
"On the other hand, what is the state
| II a man who casts aside all self
restraint and lives life of worldly
| pleasure? King Solomon tells us that
he surrounded himself with all the
pleasures of the world, including mag
niticent houses, vineyards and beautiful
gardens. He amassed great wealth, he
allowed his heart to enjoy every
pleasure and the world could give him
no more. Yet he found In all nothing
but vanity and vexation of spirit. He
carried with him the sting of an evil
conscience which gave him no rest. So
1t is with all men. Some there are who
try to persuade their fellow men that
they are happy in the life of sin. They
deceive only those who are ignorant of
the first principles of mans nature and
mans destiny
Man Master of Self
IF man was intended by God to be
the master OF himself, the lord of
creation and the servant Of God, II is
absolutely impossible for him to find
happiness In being the slave of his own
passions, the slave of the world and
the enemy of his Creator. He win find
peace only when he walks In the path
which God marked out for him. He will
have true happiness only when he has
verified that promise of Christ, My
yoke is sweet when he shall have
proved by experience that Christ gives
his followers internal happiness in
ternal JOY even In the midst OF their
tribulations, that peace, Joy of happi-
ness which no man can take away fror
you"