Friends at Court.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 33, 22 December 1898, Page 6

Friends at Court.

"7 V- ~ — r~TT " \ - BIOGRAPHICA£.\GLISANIXGS FOR NEJ&T WB¥JK|SrCAfiBNDAR. • . (Written for the N\Z. Tablet.) December 25, Sunday. — Christmas Day. „ 26, Monday.— St. Stephen, Protomartyr. „ 27, Tuesday .-r-St. John, Evangelist;^ , ' \ „ 28, Wednesday.— "the Holy Innocents. „ 29, Thnrsday.— St. Thomas, Biishop and Martyr. „ 30, Friday.— -St. Elizabeth of Hungary. „ 31, Saturday.— -St. Sylvester 1., Pope and Confessor. NATIVITY OP JESUS CHBIST. | The time having at length arrived which had been appointed by the Divme decree for the entrance of the Son of God into the world, the Blessed Virgin Mary in company with her holy spouse St. Joseph set out from Nazareth on the way to Bethlehem, which had already been announced by the prophets as the place of the Saviour's birth. After a fatiguing journey of three or four days they reached the city of David, which they found thronged with strangers, descendants like themselves of the'royaf raoe of Juda, who in obedience to the vEmpe»bi;sv Empe»bi;s commands had' come to be enrolled upon the public registers. In vain did the wejrty travellers seek a lodging throughout the town. Every one despised their poverty, and met them with some plausible excuse or a blunt retusal. Finally they were forced to take refuge in a cave outside the city gates, which is called in the holy Gospel a ' stable,' inasmuch as it is often served as a shelter for cattle. Within this humble shelter the Immaculate Virgin when her time was come brought forth the Saviour of Mankind, being miraculously delivered without the pain and labour of child-bear-ing, which is the penalty of original sin. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes such as her poverty had allowed her to prepare, and with tenderest affection and a holy awe laid Him in the manger. Meanwhile choirs of angels filled the humble sanctuary, bowing with profound reverence to adore their Incarnate God and celebrating His praises in heavenly canticles. But soon fresh adorers arrive at the cave. They are ahepherds from the neighbouring mountain side,, men poor and contemptible in the eyes of the world, but very dear to God for their humility, innocence, and simplicity. So dear indeed they are, that a special messenger, one of the Angelic Host, is sent to them from heaven whilst they are keeping their night watch over their flooka, to bring them the happy tidings of the Saviour's birth. ' Behol.l,' he Buys to them, • I briug you tidings of exceeding great joy that shall be to all the people, for this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord in the city of David. And this shall be a wgn unto you. You shall find the Infant wrapped in twaddling clothes and laid in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying, • Glory be to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will I' When the angels had departed from them, the astoaished shepherds said to one another, ' Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass which the Lord has showed to us.' And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying In the manger. And immediately they feil down and adored Him, and afterwards returned to their flocks with joyful hearts glorifying and praising God. ST. STEPHEN. St. Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian Church, was the foremost among the seven deacons who were chosen by the assembly of the faithful to assist the apostles in t»ie daily distribution of alms. By the imposition of the hands of the apostles they received the grace of the Holy Ghost, and were ordainei as ministers of God with power and grace for the discharge of some of the inferior duties of the apostolic office. The extraordinary zeal displayed by Stephen in preaching the word of God, the success whicn crowned his labours and the miracles which accompanied them, excited iv the highest degree the fury of the Jews. They accordingly conspired to take his life, and for this purpose accused him before the Sanhedrim, or Chief Council, as a blasphemer against Moses and against God Himself. The indictment having been read, Caiaphas, the High Priest and President, asked him what he had to say in his defence. Meanwhile all present were' amazed at the singular beauty and brightness which shone in his countenance, so that it appeared more like the face of an angel than of a man. Standing thus in the midst of the assembly, Stephen preached boldly the Name of Jesus, reminding them that when the Messiah had come they had rejected Him, like their forefathers who had persecuted and slain the Prophets. While thus he spoke, being full of the Holy Ghost, he raised his eyes to heaven, which opened before him^ revealing to him the glory of God and Jesus standing by Hhl Father's side. Whereupon he exclaimed, ' Behold I I see tfc# heavens opened and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.' Upon hearing these words the members of the Council cried out with a loud voice, and, stopping their ears as if he had been guilty of some frightful blasphemy, with one accord rnshed upon him, and dragging him outside the city gates stoned him to death. Meanwhile the holy martyr with his dying breath invoked the name of his beloved Master. ' Lord Jesus,' said he, ' receive my spirit.' And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voicesaying, ' Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.' And when he had said this he fell asleep in the Lord.