The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-03-23
WHAT rs HUMAN GLORY?

Nature has endowed some hui
man beings with talents, ability,
or the foundation for accomplish
ments, denied to others. In GER
tain conditions these qualities bios
som and develop before men, and
the possessor is wreathed with the
laurel of recognition; in some
cases he is crowned with glory.
The guerdon of victory in some
fields of human endeavor is won
by his valor Of achievement. He
is held up to the gaze of humanity
as paragon Of excellence, "a mod
ell to be initiated, a conqueror to
be envied.
Other men there are who, equal
ly endowed, seek not their own
glory or exaltation. Strong in
their high and noble purposes,
they ignore the feeting zephyrs
of ephemeral hosannas. Urged
ever forward in their quest Of a
lofty goal, they spurn the plau-
dts Of the mob as we'll as the pa
tronizing condescension of the
wealthy or powerful. The mob
they disregard: wealth has no at
traction, and power by them is
respected but feared not. One
grand idea inspires their souls;
the attainment of that ideal alone
sways their thoughts and actions.
We then have the saint, the mar
tyr, the philosopher.
A Man once came out of Judea.
He was, to all intent, like unto
other men. But the unfolding of
life disclosed a superior soul
within the apparently common
and ordinary body. He stood be-
fore His fellows shorn of wealth,
distinctions, social position and
influence. He sought not power
or glory: rather did He shm these
baubles OF human desire. He
loved His fellow-man. He tanned
the powers of Nature, and turned
the course Of disaster aside. SO
vehement was His love, that He
established an institution in which
this fervent quality might ever be
developed and preserved. He
then wrought miracles that pro-
NOTED good while they astound-
ed: the glory thereof He stunned
even to mysterious disappear
.ances from the shadow Of fame.
The people would make Him
king: He vanished.
The populace led Him trirlm-
phantly through a famed capital:
their applause He ignored, even
as He passed the averted gaze of
upstart wealth and sacerdotal du-
plicity. Calm majesty rested
upon His brow. He claimed the
worship due to God: and men
accorded Him alteration.
Despite the miracles, the doe
trine, the heroic beneficence of
this WOndrOus Being, human
glory turned sour in an instant.
The paeans Of triumph faded into
curses Of hate; He was transform
ed into a beast Of burden, carry
ing a huge cross; palms and
Wreaths became sharp thorns:
nails pierced the hands and feet
that never had moved save on err
rands Of mercy. Tabor was re-
placed by Calvary, Peters "three
tabernacles" arose as three glib
bets on the mhallowed Mount.
Of all the world but one stood
by Him even unto the end His
Mother, who preceded even the
beloved disciple Is this the end
of human glory? No man ever
had scared so high in the estima-
ton of the people: none other
ever has fallen so low. "Father,
forgive them," was the echo of
divine glory and the defy to all
human cncomiums.
Dol you still pursue human
glory as goal? Whatsoever your
station in life, do you yearn for
the plaudlts Of men, the patron
ling condescension of the
wealthy or powerful?
Fool!