The dignity of any office of authority is in
proportion to the excellence of those over whom
such authority is exercised. What then must have
been the dignity and perfection of St. Joseph! To
rule over the angels would be a small privilege
compared with ruling God Himself and His Holy
Mother. What prudence, what discretion, what
purity of intention, what perfect unselfishness, what
intense love of God and of men must have been
found in St. Joseph! How humble he must have
been, how thoughtful, how kind, how considerate,
how wise, how faithful to God's holy inspirations.
Next to Our Lady, it is impossible to suppose that
any saint could approach the dignity of St. Joseph.
Watch St. Joseph as a superior. Notice how
he gives his orders, firmly and decidedly, without
hesitation, but yet kindly, and gently, and considerately. St. Joseph had to command others
besides Jesus and Mary. To all he showed the
same thoughtful, delicate, tender, watchful affection and respect. Am I like St. Joseph in dealing
with those over whom I am placed?
Our Lord obeyed St. Joseph with the most
perfect, unquestioning obedience. He, as Man,
was St. Joseph's natural superior; He, in His Sacred
Humanity, had authority over all creation. He
therefore, the Lord of all, raised St. Joseph to be
lord over Him. This exalts still more the position of St. Joseph, who derived his authority over
Jesus, from Our Lord's own choice of him. Thus
Jesus teaches us the happiness of obedience. To
be subject is no degradation, but rather a privilege, since Jesus chose it.