which was for her a
kind of school; then she was married to a poor old carpenter, and must
have found it very hard at times to get a living. Our Lord was born
while she was away from home in a strange place. After she had returned
and had just settled down in her little dwelling, she had to fly with
St. Joseph into Egypt to save the life of the little Infant Jesus, whom
the king's officers were seeking to kill. In Egypt they were strangers,
among people not of their own nationality or religion, and St. Joseph
must have found great difficulty in providing for them; yet they had to
remain there for some time. Then when our divine Lord was grown to
manhood and could be a great comfort to His Mother, He was seized and
put to death in her presence. Her most beloved and innocent Son put to
death publicly as a criminal before all her neighbors! The same persons
who insulted Our Lord would not hesitate to insult and cruelly treat His
blessed Mother also. At His death He left her no money or property for
her support, but asked a friend, St. John, to receive her into his house
and do Him the favor of taking care of her. She must have often felt
that she was a burden in that man's house; that she had no home of her
own, but was living like a poor woman on the charity of kind friends,
for St. Joseph died before Our Lord's public life began. The Blessed
Mother was, however, obliged to remain upon earth for about eleven years
after Our Lord's Ascension. Thus we see her whole life was one of trials
and sorrows. Now certainly Our Lord loved His Mother more than any other
son could; and certainly also He, being God, could have made His blessed
Mother a queen upon the earth, rich and powerful among men, and free
from every suffering or inconvenience. If, then, He sent her sorrows and
trials, it must have been because these were best for her, and because
He knew that for this suffering here upon earth her happiness and glory
in Heaven would be much increased; and as He wished her to have all the
happiness and glory she was capable of possessing, He permitted her to
suffer. If, then, suffering was good for Our Lord's Mother, it is good
also for us; and when it comes we ought not to complain, but bear it
patiently, as she did, and ask Our Lord to give us that grace.

365 Q. What is forbidden by the Fourth Commandment?
A. The Fourth Commandment forbids all disobedience, contempt, and
stubbornness towards our parents or lawful superiors.

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