Joseph is Molested by the Devil. His Patience in Tribulations and Persecutions

Chapter   7

Joseph is Molested by the Devil.  His Patience in Tribulations and Persecutions

The devil, inveterate enemy of all that is good, foamed with rage at the marvelous virtue which shone forth in Joseph. Satan's wrath was so fierce because he saw that Joseph's example stimulated many others to the practice of virtue. He was determined, in one way or another to incite him to anger or impatience, and to divert him from his great love for God, and from his fervent enthusiasm for serving Him. To this purpose, Satan conceived the plan of stirring up against Joseph a number of people who were leading bad lives; he implanted in their hearts a great aversion, and even a terrific hatred for this holy soul, inasmuch as Joseph's virtuous activities necessarily brought upon them reproach and shame. Certain undisciplined youths conspired together and agreed to bombard him with invective whenever they would meet him. This they carried out-even to the extent of purposely arranging for meetings with Joseph-and then, as they encountered him, they would begin to scoff and jeer at him. The saintly Joseph would merely bow his head, and then, lifting his heart up to God, he would beg for himself the grace of submissiveness, and for his enemies that they be enlightened and realize their error. When the youths observed that Joseph paid no attention to their sallies, they labeled him a blockhead, a coward, and a frightened rabbit, incapable of speech.

Joseph   calmly   continued   on   his   way.   The   youths impudently followed him, at the  same  time  hurling at him their offensive language. The saintly little youngster now became uncertain as to whether he should make some reply to restrain them, or remain silent and bear all with patience. Whereupon, he perceived an interior whispered admonition to be silent and submit, and thereby give pleasure to God. This divine enlightenment was enough to make him resolve to accept this persecution not merely without complaint, but even with joy.

As a result, the scoffers were confounded, and the devil defeated. However, the youths would not readily desist, but continued their molestations against Joseph for some time until at length they grew tired of their ranting and left him alone. The intensity of the persecution was such that whenever Joseph left the house to take care of any business, he was compelled to face these disagreeable encounters with the youths; yet he complained to no one, not even to his parents and always displayed a calm and joyful demeanor.

However, eventually Joseph's father was informed of how his son was being molested, and he himself then investigated the matter to ascertain the truth. He was minded to take the evil youths severely to task, but Joseph, in utmost calmness, assured him that these persecutions were actually occasions of joy for him. He begged him not to remonstrate, because he had been assured that by bearing all this patiently he would please God, and he added: "Father, you know how willingly our patriarchs and prophets accepted all defamations. You know how King David suffered per­secutions and abuses. Yet, we know that these were the friends and favorites of God; let us, therefore, imitate them, inasmuch as God offers us the opportunity."

Joseph's father was very much edified by these words, and very much pleased with his son. He permitted Joseph to suffer these afflictions, and he himself did not give vent to the justifiable anger that these abuses against his son aroused in him. When the devil saw that he could make no headway against the saintly youth, but found himself to be only more confounded, he tried to disturb Joseph's tranquility of heart and undermine his patience in other ways.

He made use of a woman who, because of her evil life, hated the very sight of the little Saint. He incited her to go often to Joseph's mother in order to bring detracting reports to her concerning him. "Everyone laughs at him, and disapproves of him," she would say, "and he is not virtuous at all. He will squander in a short time his whole inheritance by his prodigality in the bestowal of alms. Many of the poor are aware of his weakness and follow him as soon as he leaves the house." Although the Saint's mother was wise and prudent, and certainly knew well what kind of boy her son was, yet, through the continual harangues of this woman, she became confused (under God's permissive will). She frequently meted out sharp reproofs to Joseph, who accepted them with great patience and without attempting to vindicate himself. Although he knew who was causing all the trouble, Joseph's heart bore no rancor. Only once, and then very humbly, he remarked to his mother that what had been reported about him was untrue, and that it was actually an instigation of that arch-enemy, the devil, who wished to upset her and destroy her peace. The mother allowed herself to be eventually influenced by these words of her son, and recognized the deception of the evil fiend. After this, she consistently turned this woman away, as she still tried in various ways to bring discord into their house. The devil again found himself confounded, but he did not desist from his persecutions; he devised another ruse for creating unrest and confusion for Joseph, and God permitted him to continue. Satan began to tempt Joseph with vain ambition for glory. He began by intimating to him that he was leading a completely faultless life, and this not only according to the appraisal of men, but also of God Himself. The Saint shuddered at these whispered suggestions of the devil, and recommended himself to God, humbling himself in His presence, and calling himself a miserable and sinful creature.

The devil influenced some people to praise him in his presence and to acclaim his virtues. This only caused Joseph much embarrassment, and on such occasions he would always say: "I am a miserable creature; let us rather praise God, for He is truly worthy of praise. He is perfect in all His divine activities. He alone is worthy to be praised and exalted." The devil thus assailed Joseph in various ways and by different methods; only against holy purity was he not permitted to tempt him. Enraged by this, Satan spared no effort in devising occasions wherein the Saint would at least be forced to hear certain remarks contrary to this estimable virtue.

The saintly youth's unbounded innocence and simplicity served to make him incapable of understanding what these remarks really meant. Whenever he found himself to be in the above-mentioned circumstances, he would recommend himself to God in fervent prayers. He was once advised by his angel to combine fasting with prayer, which he often did. He even severely mortified his body, though it really was never insubordinate to his spirit. In this manner the hellish fiend was deprived of all his power; he was stripped of his weapons and Joseph always remained the victor. Satan occasionally desisted for a time from tempting Joseph; nevertheless, every so often he again resumed his attempts to disturb him by his machinations.

Many found fault with Joseph's reserved and isolated manner of living. Youths of his age often visited his house and sought to engage him in pleasurable pursuits, but Joseph always excused himself in gentlemanly fashion. His enjoyment, he averred, consisted in reading and studying Holy Writ and becoming familiar with the lives of the patriarchs and prophets, in order to be better able to imitate them in their virtues; these forebears were, after all, he said, very pleasing to God, and much loved and favored by Him.

Joseph urged these other youths to join him. There were some who listened to him and endeavored to follow his example, especially since his suggestions were made with such an unction as to penetrate hearts. After giving this good advice and making these worthy suggestions, Joseph would betake himself to prayer and implore God's help so that they would not be deterred from doing what he had suggested, and he would ask the Most High to give them the special assistance and grace needed to accomplish the task. God heard his prayers; and whenever Joseph found those for whom he had prayed carrying out his suggestions, he was very happy and gave to God heartfelt thanks.

Still, there happened to be many who found fault with his ideas and gave them a false interpretation. He bemoaned this fact, blaming himself for its occurrence. He felt that in view of his own sinfulness, it was too much to expect that others should allow themselves to be influenced by his suggestions. In such instances, he would withdraw and give way to tears,¹ and beg God not to look upon his offenses, but to have mercy on those who mocked at his suggestions, and to grant them the necessary enlightenment for the acceptance of His revealed truths.

God was very much pleased with these petitions, and consequently, ordained that Joseph's desires should not remain unrealized. Hence, it came about that in most instances, these youths eventually regretted their non-compliant attitudes and returned to listen to Joseph's admonitions and suggestions and some carried them out most faithfully, for all of which Joseph was most grateful to God.