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 Thirdly, our Lord  worked  miracles  in  order  to  help  men  in  their sufferings and  necessities. By the  miracle  at  the  marriage-feast  Jesus desired to  deliver  the  bridegroom  from  an  awkward  dilemma,  and  to restore  the  festal  joy. The help  given  was  so  lavish  that  a quantity  of wine  remained  over  after  the  feast;  just  as,  later  on,  after  the  feeding of the  five  thousand,  twelve  baskets-full  of  bread  remained  over. Let us recognize  in  all  this  the  goodness  of  Jesus,  and  appeal  to  His  Sacred Heart for  help  in  all  our  necessities,  both  spiritual  and  temporal.

The power  of  Mary's  intercession.  This  first  miracle,  which  confirmed the  faith  of  our  Lord’s  disciples,  was  wrought  at  Mary’s  intercession, for  it  was  by  her  persuasion  that  He  first  manifested  His  glory by a striking  miracle  at  Cana  instead  of  at  Jerusalem. Let us  contemplate Mary’s compassion  on  the  distress  of  the  poor  bride  and  bridegroom, her living  faith  in  the  omnipotence  of  Jesus,  and  her  confidence  in  His goodness. Mary is  ever  willing  to  help  us  by  her  intercession;  but then we  must  obey  her  exhortation: ‘‘Whatever  He  (Jesus)  shall  say  to you,  do  ye!”

Matrimony. By His  presence  at  the  marriage-feast  of  Cana  Jesus honoured and  sanctified  marriage,  which  had  already  been  instituted  in Paradise.  It  was  always  from  the  beginning  an  indissoluble  contract sanctioned by  God. But now  it  is  to  become  even  more  sacred  and indissoluble. For Christ  is  going  to  make  it  a Sacrament  and  a symbol of His  own  union  with  the  Church. Hence He  comes  here  with  the first fruits  of  His  Church  to  celebrate,  so  to  speak,  a double  marriage-feast,  that  of  Himself  and  His  Church,  and  that  of  the  bridegroom and bride.

Lawful pleasures.  The  fact  of  our  Lord  taking  part  in  the  marriage-feast  teaches  us  that  it  is  lawful  and  pleasing  to  God  that  we  should take part  in  innocent  recreations  and  harmless  pleasures,  rejoicing  with those who  rejoice.

''St. Joseph'' is  not  mentioned  in  this  story,  nor  in  any  part  of  our Lord’s  public  life,  even  in  His  Passion. He had  already  died  a blessed death in  the  arms  of  Jesus  and  in  the  presence  of  the  Blessed  Virgin. Therefore the  Church  invokes  the  faithful  foster-father  of  Jesus  as  the patron of  a happy  death. We ask  him  for  his  intercession,  that  we, like him,  may  leave  this  world,  united  to  Jesus  by  sanctifying  grace, and especially  united  to  Him  in  Holy  Communion.

Are your  pleasures  always  of  such  a kind  that Jesus and  Mary  might  be  present  at  them? Have you  never taken part  in  sinful  amusements,  or  pleasure  in  improper  conversation and  actions? Do you  always  avoid  strife  and  quarrels with your  companions? St. Paul  says:  “Rejoice  in  the  Lord  always” (Phil. 4,  4).