My Prayer Book_LASANCE - the Catholic Kingdom!

"That wherein one man excels another man is
given him'of God that therewith he may serve other
men" - says the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas.
A principle worthy of consideration.
"There was One whose glory the prophet saw in
vision: thousands of thousands ministered to him,
and ten tkuusalcd tiw a hlurdred thousand stood before
him (Dan. vii. 10). But, coming upon earth, He tells
us of Himself: thc Son of mian ~ome nd to be minished
unto, but to minister (Matt. xx. 28). Coming a man
among men, He subjected Himself to that law of human
kind which enacts, not that all are to command all,
or that all are to obey all, but that all are to serve all,
and he who commands most is most of all to serve his
fellow-men. Here is a youth who believes that his
birth, his money, his education, his fine clothes, were
bestowed on hi, not that he might render special
service to his country and his people, but that he might
strut about and command admiration. That youth's
name is written down in an ignoble register, the Book
of Snobs.
"To go back to St. Thomas. 'It is to be considered,'
says the Holy I)octor, 'that whatever excellence a man
has, is given to him by God, to use for the service of
his fellow-men: hence the testimony that other men
render to his excellence ought so far forth to be matter
of complacency to him as it shows the way open to him
to make himself of service to others.' So, if I can
make a good speech, or sing well, or have money, it
shows the way open to me to make myself of service
to others. Really this is a new view, and one not
generally taken, of ability and wealth and power!
But it is taken by the Creator, who has bestowed those
gift% and by the Judge who will call the receiver to
Private Use Only