15th Meditation.
"And when His
parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of
the law."
- Saint Luke ii. 27.
His parents: Parentes ejus.
Thus again does the Holy Ghost plainly recognise and indicate Saint Joseph as
the adopted father of Jesus. What has he done to merit so signal a share in the
work of the world's redemption? It is hinted at in the presentation. Many fancy
that rank dispenses from the observance of the ordinary precepts of life, and
greatness consists in imagining oneself superior to all rule. Joseph thinks
otherwise. Here is a law that concerns not the Holy Trinity, for what
purification can she need, who, as Virgin-Mother, sanctifies by her mere
presence? What stain can she have contracted in conceiving in her chaste womb
and in giving birth to the Holy One: Quod nascetur ex te sanctum. Joseph and
Mary know but one law, and on the day appointed they present themselves in the
temple to take part in a ceremony which, in the eyes of man, associates Mary
with the ordinary mothers of the human race.
Prudence and dignity consists
first of all in the simple, regular, and faithful observance of the
commandments of God and of the Church, of the rules of our profession, and the
duties of our state. Law, rule, such is the expression of God's will concerning
us; and all our wisdom and all our virtue consists in conforming our
intelligence and will to the Divine wisdom and goodness as manifested in the
Law. Watchword. Live up to your rule, and you will live to God.
15. Growth of Devotion to Saint Joseph.
In the brief in which Pius
IX. raised the Association of the Children of Saint Joseph into an
Arch-Confraternity, the Holy Father speaks thus: "There is nothing we
desire so much as to see a daily increase of devotion to Saint Joseph, spouse
of the Blessed Virgin."
A learned and pious religious
of the sixteenth century, who, on the testimony of Benedict XIV., has written a
most remarkable work on Saint Joseph, in his Somme expresses himself thus with
regard to the gifts bestowed on Saint Joseph:
"In Eastern countries
the Holy Ghost has filled men's hearts with the desire of rendering great
honour to Saint Joseph; and we are sure that this devotion will obtain for us,
by the merits and intercession of this glorious Patriarch, the withdrawal of
many of the dangers by which the Church is assailed, and for the faithful an
abundance of grace."
No comments:
Post a Comment