Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/397

 injured pride  made  him  desire  the  destruction  of  the  Jews;  but  this bloodthirsty project  led  to  his  downfall  and  ignominious  death.

The four  cardinal  virtues. This story  affords  a shining  example  of each  of  these  virtues.

1. Prudence. Mardochai,  Esther  and  all  the  Jews  acted  very prudently, because  in  their  hour  of  need  and  peril  they  had  recourse to prayer  and  fasting. They were  convinced  that  these  good  works were pleasing  to  God,  and  that  they  would  thereby  obtain  help  and deliverance at  the  hands  of  the  Almighty. They also  used  every  human means of  help  which  prudence  suggested.

2. Justice.  The  king  fulfilled  a duty  imposed  by  justice  when  he rewarded  Mardochai  who  had  saved  his  life,  and  punished  Aman  who had induced  him  to  issue  a cruel  and  murderous  edict. It was  also  an act  of  justice  on  his  part,  when,  having  assured  himself  of  the  innocence of the  Jews,  he  recalled  and  annulled  the  edict.

3. Temperance.  Assuerus  practised  this  virtue  when,  obedient  to divine  grace,  he  subdued  his  rising  anger  against  Esther  and  listened favourably to  her  petition. But Aman,  on  the  other  hand,  sinned  against this virtue,  when  he  let  himself  be  carried  away  by  his  anger  against Mardochai, and  conceived  the  atrocious  project  of  having  every  Jew  in the  kingdom  massacred.

4. Fortitude.  Esther,  though  raised  to  be  queen,  remained  humble, pious, and  full  of  confidence  in  God. This made  her  valiantly  risk  her life in  order  to  save  her  people. She knew  that  the  passionate  king would be  in  a violent  rage  when  she  appeared,  unsummoned,  in  his presence, but  she  prayed,  and  hoped  that  God  would  soften  the  king’s heart; nor was  her  trust  misplaced. Confidence in  God  gives  fortitude.

Esther is  a type  of  the  ever  Blessed  Virgin  Mary.  Esther,  on account  of  her  beauty,  was  raised  from  her  low  estate  to  be  queen: Mary, on  account  of  the  beauty  of  her  pure  and  humble  heart,  was raised to  be  the  Mother  of  the  Redeemer,  and  afterwards,  Queen  of Heaven. Esther alone  was  exempted  from  the  king’s  severe  law: Mary alone is  exempted  from  the  curse  of  original  sin. Esther, adorned  in splendid  garments,  went  before  the  king,  prayed  for  her  people,  and was heard: Mary,  the  Queen  of  Heaven,  radiant  with  virtues  and  merits, goes before  the  throne  of  God  to  intercede  for  her  people.

Concealing sin.  Was  it  right  of  Mardochai  to  reveal  the  conspiracy against the  king’s  life  which  he  had  discovered? He was  doubly  bound to do  so,  both  as  a servant  of  God  and  as  a servant  of  the  king. To conceal the  sin  of  others,  when  you  can  prevent  it  by  revealing  it,  is one  of  the  nine  ways  of  sharing  in  the  guilt  of  others.