The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-03-20
ST. JOSEPH AND THE PRIEST.

The devotion of st. Joseph, to whom
the month of March is dedicated, ap-
peals in a special manner to the priest
who finds st. Joseph his prototype in
many ways.
ST. Joseph was selected by God as
the Protector of the Body Of Our Lord.
Ii was his loving duty to provide food,
clothing and shelter for Him. This
meant that st. Joseph had to labor,
and labor hard, but his toll was
sweetened by the knowledge that it
was all for his Lord. Never for an
instant did he forget his wonderful
mission. He was different from his
fellows, because he, Of all men, had
the gracious business in life of watch
ing owe and supporting the God of
Heaven, Who was Il Child in his
House. Yet TO fulfill this duty, it
was necessary that he should not live
apart from the world about him. His
office would be of no practical S if
he spent his days in thoughtful medi-
tation on his dignity. He would not
be faithful to his trust if he sat with
idly folded hands and waited for a
prophets W. or heavenly n
st. Joseph was active and busy in
providing the necessaries of life for
his Beloved Charge. This activity in
nowise distracted him from his real
purpose in life. Much Of his labor
had to be done away from his home,
but however far afield he went, he
was united in spirit to Him for Whom
lie labOred. He was obliged to meet
his neighbors and customers. There
were social duties to be performed;
nc had to take part in the little mer-
r%ymakings Of the village. There were
visits of sympathy and charity to be
made, but MS pr%otectorship was an
abiding presence with him always. 1t
shone from his eyes, it colored his
speech, and because of it he con
soled those in sorrow with wonderful
tenderness; because of it he advised
the hayward with great wisdom.
The priest is selected by Almighty
God to be the protector OF our Divine
Lords Sacred Body. 1t is his duty
TO provide shelter for Him either by
building churches, or by solicitude for
the upkeep of the Lords House in
a becoming manner. 1t is his duty
to clothe Him, and hence the priests
care that vestments, linens and all the
appointments of the Altar and Taber-
nacle are clean and suitable, that the
sacred vessels are decent and as valu-
able as possible. We can not imagine
st. Joseph stinting the Child in any
thing, even though it meant privation
for himself. Our Lord in the Eu-
charist is the same Child.
1t is the priests duty to feed our
.Logd with the. souls Of, the faithful.
Therefore, he spends himself in teach
ing them to love God, to visit Him
in the. Blessed Sacrament, to go to
Him in Holy Communion.
TO fulfill all these duties, the priest
must be active and busy as st. Jo-
Seph. He must live the life of those
about him, his daily instance the
solicitudc for all the churches. Who
is weak and l am not weak? Who
is scandalized and | do not burn?"
lie must go far afield often to gather
the needed money for his church and
school buildings. He must he wcaried
frequently in the actual labor of the
Mountaineering detail Of a priests life,
but the toll is sweetened in the
thought that it is all for his Divine
Lord. He must take part in social life,
he must visit his people, he must at
tend entertainments, superintend
haZaars and festivals, but always his
priesthood is an abiding presence with
him. 1t shines from his eyes, it colors
his words and acts.
No matter whom he meets or how
absorbing his work, he Is united in
thought to the Divine Lord whose
priest he is. There is sweet comfort
for him in being close to His God
in his visits to the Blessed Sacrament.
In his hour of alteration, his soul can
rest far from all ~distracting things.
At his daily Mass he holds His Lord
in hands, as truly and really as St.
Joseph held Him in reverent embrace.
st. Joseph was a just man He gave
to everyone his due, to God and man.
At the end, he went, from the arms
of his Divine Lord on earth to be
united with Him for all eternity.
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