Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

HSI Don SnOulO tell ITEM. 80 Tar
as the Blessed Virgin is concerned,
we can regard ibis passage in only
one light, namely as contributing to
her honor aud dignity as Mother of
GOO. As the miracle is NANTES
tation of the Divine glory, so in the
circumstances leading up TO it the
unprejudiced mind cannot but find
a manifestation of the glory of
Mary's maternity. Who will say that
in this instance the glory of the
blessed Mother does not rebound to
the glory of her Son?
I. With this understanding Of the
part performed by the Blessed Vir-
gin at Cana we are the better pre-
pared to profit by her example and
to listen to her teaching. Conspicu-
Gus in the conduct of the Blessed
Virgin at Cana is her kindness, her
consideration for the needs of others.
When she saw the family disturbed
and anxious because they were run
ming out of wine, without which their
feast. would be shorn of its success
and they themselves would be put
to shame before their guests, in
kindness she went to Him, who of
all those present, would know just
what to do. And what is kindness?
For it is we'll sometimes to try to get
clear notions of the cOmmonest
things Kindness is simply the de-
sire expressed in action to help o.
theirs and make them happy. 1t is
treating others as We should wish
to be treated ourselves. Father Fa-
Der in his beautiful conference on
kindness reminds US that while it
is a common thing, kindness is none
the less noble, for it is a certain re
Election of the goodness of God him
self. The chief ways in which God
displays His goodness are His pro
violence and His grace. We say that
it is in the providence of God that
He overrules our weakness by His
power, corrects human injustice by
Divine justice, helps our ignorance
by His truth, brings good out of evil.
This is providence, and what provi-
dence is on Gods part towards us
kindness is on our part towards o.
theirs. And kindness is like grace,
the free gift of God whereby we are
enabled to attain eternal salvation,
in that it is something over and
above what others can claim as their
right; whatever lightens sorrow, re-
den easier, whatever graciousness or
sweetness accompanies our most or
binary dealings with others. And
it is because it is a copy of Divine
providence and of Divine grace that
kindness is the great secret of hap
piness in the world. Who then can
estimate the amount of happiness
that would be caused and the amount
toward one another as did the Bless
ed Virgin Mary at the wedding feast
of Cana?
II ''They have no wine" The
not only as the possessor to a re-
markable degree of the great secret
Of giving happiness, not only in her
office of tntercessor. for those in
need, but also as our example as to
how We should intercede for others.
She saw her friends in what seem
ed to others hopeless plight, yet
she went with confidence to our
Blessed Lord to ask his help. 1t
was to teach us that never should
We consider another beyond the
reach of microscopy prayer. Think
of the most hopeless case you know,
perhaps there is one such weigh
ing heavily ON the heart of someone
here today, but remember always
that no condition in this life can
be so hopeless but that the Lord
Christ can give help and relief. 1t
may be that he is only waiting for
you to be the messenger to bring
that case to him as he waited once
for Blessed Mary. If we are in real
earnest about the welfare and hap
piness of others we will not faith
lessly make up our minds that it will
be of no use to pray, but in faith
and confidence we will beseech our
Lord to turn the water of their hui
man infirmity into the wine of His
blessing and favor.
III AT length we have the teach
ing of the Blessed Virgin: what
soever He shall say to you, do ye."
This is her one word of instruction,
yet how practical, how comprehen-
sive We have only to obey the
Lord Christ and We shall do our
whole duty And how fitting it was
that she should speak thus who o.
beyed so perfectly herself. Her
words take us back to her great act
of obedience in the Incarnation,
when listening to the salutation of
the Angel she bowed her head and
said, 'Be it done to me according to
thy word" They remind us that it
is obedience like hers that will make
US very dear to the heart of our
Lord, who said in speaking of her,
Blessed are they that hear the
Word of God and do it."
On other occasions her teaching
is by way of silent example. Even
in the account Of the miracle at Cana
there are as we have seen, two les
sons of example to one of instruc-
ton. Like the Lord himself she be
gan to do before she began to teach;
showing US thereby how our lives
may become truly helpful to others.
For none are fitted to advise O.
bedience, or to command the obedienc
of others, but those who have them
selves learned to obey. II people
would be good fathers and mothers,