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A Head For Saint Joseph
- By Anne Van Tilburg
- Published 01/31/2009
- General Short Stories
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One day an artist was walking through the streets of Munich (Germany) looking for a man whose head might serve as a model for his mural of St. Joseph. It was not the first time he had been engaged in this search, for a head of St. Joseph. You need not just symmetry, but saintliness and eyes glowing with holy fire, yet gentle with humility. It appeared as if his search that day was once more to be in vain.
Discouraged and disgruntled, he was already nearing his home when a peddler came to wards him. He was once of that tribe which is slowly vanishing, who comes to the door with a suitcase full of all sorts of lovely little trinkets (shoe laces, shaving soap, lace, buttons and what not), one who was accustomed to hear: "Thank you, we don't need anything today."
"That's the head," the searcher said to himself. "It is as if it were made for my picture of St.Joseph. Besides, the man will have no objection; he can save his legs and shoe leather and make much more than if he were simply selling knick-knacks. "Excuse me," said the artist, "would you like to sit as a model for me, several hours a day for three days?" he asked. "I need your head for a picture of St. Joseph that I am painting." The man stared at the artist. He, the old peddler, should be made into a picture of St. Joseph....? He had never dreamed of such a thing in his whole life. He hesitated to answer.
"You won't lose anything in this deal," the artist assured him. "I will pay you well." The peddler finally stammered: "No, no, sir. I simply can not do it!"
"But just think. You will be placed in a church," replied the artist. "This is an honor that comes to very few." "Ah, but that is just the reason why I may not do it......" Defeated, the artist gave up with a simple "Good evening", and left the peddler standing there.
The next day they met again, the artist was about to pass him by, but this time the peddler came to him. "Mister", he said, "now I can sit as your model."
"How come? Yesterday you would not take the job at any price." "Well, you see sir, if I am going to pose as St. Joseph and have my picture in the church.....Well, I thought to myself, I will have to prepare for that. So I went to Confession and Holy Communion early this morning, and now I am ready."
The artist begged the peddlers pardon. This simple man feared that his portrait might desecrate the House of God, And yet, how often does a Christian desecrate the Temple of God in his own soul by sin? Especially during the summer season. How often are God's material temples and His Eucharistic Presence desecrated today by immodest attire?
Cardinal Marella, Arch priest of St. Peter's in Vatican City, felt forced to caution visitors through the following notice posted at the doorway:
"In order to preserve an atmosphere of reverence, entrance cannot be granted to men dressed in shorts or to women wearing mini skirts or sleeveless dresses...." And yet, the Catholic Church whether at home or abroad, houses the same Divine Lord of Angels, and Son of the Virgin Mary. Reverence for Him, for His Mother and the Angels, call for proper attire everywhere, May St. Joseph who was head of the Holy Family help us to pay due respect to Jesus Who dwells among us in all the tabernacles of the world, by decency and decorum in dress when we enter a church.
Source: Fr. Alphons Maria Weighl.
Discouraged and disgruntled, he was already nearing his home when a peddler came to wards him. He was once of that tribe which is slowly vanishing, who comes to the door with a suitcase full of all sorts of lovely little trinkets (shoe laces, shaving soap, lace, buttons and what not), one who was accustomed to hear: "Thank you, we don't need anything today."
"That's the head," the searcher said to himself. "It is as if it were made for my picture of St.Joseph. Besides, the man will have no objection; he can save his legs and shoe leather and make much more than if he were simply selling knick-knacks. "Excuse me," said the artist, "would you like to sit as a model for me, several hours a day for three days?" he asked. "I need your head for a picture of St. Joseph that I am painting." The man stared at the artist. He, the old peddler, should be made into a picture of St. Joseph....? He had never dreamed of such a thing in his whole life. He hesitated to answer.
"You won't lose anything in this deal," the artist assured him. "I will pay you well." The peddler finally stammered: "No, no, sir. I simply can not do it!"
"But just think. You will be placed in a church," replied the artist. "This is an honor that comes to very few." "Ah, but that is just the reason why I may not do it......" Defeated, the artist gave up with a simple "Good evening", and left the peddler standing there.
The next day they met again, the artist was about to pass him by, but this time the peddler came to him. "Mister", he said, "now I can sit as your model."
"How come? Yesterday you would not take the job at any price." "Well, you see sir, if I am going to pose as St. Joseph and have my picture in the church.....Well, I thought to myself, I will have to prepare for that. So I went to Confession and Holy Communion early this morning, and now I am ready."
The artist begged the peddlers pardon. This simple man feared that his portrait might desecrate the House of God, And yet, how often does a Christian desecrate the Temple of God in his own soul by sin? Especially during the summer season. How often are God's material temples and His Eucharistic Presence desecrated today by immodest attire?
Cardinal Marella, Arch priest of St. Peter's in Vatican City, felt forced to caution visitors through the following notice posted at the doorway:
"In order to preserve an atmosphere of reverence, entrance cannot be granted to men dressed in shorts or to women wearing mini skirts or sleeveless dresses...." And yet, the Catholic Church whether at home or abroad, houses the same Divine Lord of Angels, and Son of the Virgin Mary. Reverence for Him, for His Mother and the Angels, call for proper attire everywhere, May St. Joseph who was head of the Holy Family help us to pay due respect to Jesus Who dwells among us in all the tabernacles of the world, by decency and decorum in dress when we enter a church.
Source: Fr. Alphons Maria Weighl.