16th Meditation.
"And
His father and mother were wondering at these things which were spoken
concerning Him."
-Saint Luke ii. 33.
Yet again once more does the
Holy Ghost recognise and indicate Saint Joseph as the adopted father of Jesus.
Whence arises the surprise felt by Joseph and Mary at that which is spoken
concerning Jesus? Is it because of the great things foretold by Simeon and by
Anna? No; they know that Jesus is indeed the Great One: Hic erit magnus; and
when, in obeying God's command, they gave Him the name of Jesus, they knew that
it was a name above all names. That which now seems to cause them wonder is
beholding the hidden greatness of the Divine Child acknowledged and revealed by
others. They admire and rejoice at the honour that accrues to Jesus.
Let us not envy those who
have the happiness to glorify God in a higher degree than ourselves. If you
love Jesus and seek His glory, so that He is loved and glorified, whether by
your efforts and your labours or by those of others, your joy will be the same.
It is not always those who
serve Jesus most openly, by word or pen, who contribute most to His service and
glory. Who dare assert that Simeon or Anna had done more for the glory of Jesus
than did Mary? Or that Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, and Doctors have done and
suffered more for Jesus than did His Blessed Mother?
You cannot sever the action
of Joseph from that of Mary, for Joseph shared all the anxieties and cares of
his spouse; he it is who nurtured, protected, guided, and tended both the
Mother and the Child.
Let us be content to leave
brilliant words and deeds to those whom the Holy Ghost inspires. By your
incessant desires, your upright, simple, and pure intentions, doing God's will
in your respective spheres; one in the world and amid the embarrassment of business
or of a family; another in the solitude of the cloister, unknown to man and
even to those by whom he is surrounded, feeling that what you are and what you
do is of but little value, you may contribute to the glory of Jesus as much,
and often more, than missionaries, bishops, preachers, doctors, and than Popes
most eminent in word and deed.
Watchword. Seek glory, but let it be the glory of
Jesus,
16. Alms in Honour of Saint Joseph
The community of La
Miséricorde, at Laval, found it necessary to erect some buildings, but funds
were wanting. It was the month of March 1844. A Novena was made in honour of
Saint Joseph, and a few days after the Superior of the Community, Mother
Theresa, received from a lady at Rennes the sum of 7000 francs. The gift was
accompanied by a letter stating that the idea of making the offering had
entered her mind on Saint Joseph's Day.
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