Friends at court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 14, 6 April 1899, Page 5

Friends at court

BIOGRAPHICAL GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR.

(Written for the N.Z. Tablet.) April 9, Sunday. — Low Sunday. „ 10, Monday. — Rt. Rupert Bishop nnd Confessor. „ 11, Tuesday. — St. Leo the Great, Pope, Confessor, Doctor. „ 12, Wednesday. — St Julius, Pope and Confessor. „ 13, Thursday. — St. Hermengildus, Martyr. „ 14, Friday. — St. Justin, Martyr. „ 15, Saturday. — St. Francis de Sales.

ST. LEO THE GREAT. Leo was born at Rome. He embraced the sacred ministry, was made Archdeacon of the Roman Church by St. Celestine, and under him and Sirtus 111. had a large share in governing the Church. On the death of Sixtus, Leo was chosen Pope, and consecrated on St. Michael's Day, 440, amid great joy. It was a time of terrible trial. Vandals and Huns were wasting the provinces of the Empire, and Nestorians, Pelagians, and other heretics wrought more grievous havoc among souls. Whilst Leo's zeal made head against these perils, there arose the new heresy of Eutyches, who confounded the two natures of Christ. At once the vigilant pastor proclaimed the true doctrine of the Incarnation in his famous ' tome ' ; but, fostered by the Byzantine court, the heresy gained a strong hold amongst the Eastern monks and bishops. After three years of unceasing toil, Leo brought about its solemn condemnation by the Council of Chalcedon, the Fathers all signing his tome, and exclaiming, ■ Peter has spoken by Leo.' Soon after, Attila with his Huns broke into Italy, and marched through its burning cities upon Rome. Leo went out boldly to meet him, and prevailed on him to turn back. Two years later the city fell a prey to the Vandals but even then Leo saved it from destruction. He died A.D. 461, having ruled the Church twenty years. ST. JUSTIN. St. Justin was born of heathen parents at Neapolis in Samaria, about the year 1015. He was well educated, and gave himself to the study of philosophy, but always with one object, that he might learn the knowledge of God. He sought this knowledge among the contending schools of philosophy, but always in vain, till at last God Himself appealed the thirst which He had created. One day, while Justin was walking by the sea shore, meditating on the thought of God, an old man met him and questioned him on the subject of hia doubts, and when he had made Justin confess that the philosophers taught nothing certain about G.d, he told him of the writings of the m-i'iivrt prophets, and of Je*-us Christ ',\ho in they announced, and bade him peek light and lunlerstauding thiough prayer. The Scriptures, and the coustanry of the Christum martyrs, led Justin from the darkness of, human rea 1 - ni to the light of faith. H* nceforth, as lie says hini'-clf, he gloried only in the name of Christian, and desired only to bear it well. In his zeal for the faith ho travel led to Greece. Egypt, and Italy, gaining many to Christ. He defended the Faith in learned book-, and was almost the first of the many ' scribes anil wise men ' whom Christ sent according to His promise. At Home ho boaled his testimony with his blood, burrounded by his discipks. S vINT 1 KAN'CJs OF SALES. Francis was born of noble and pious pirents, ne.ir Anneey, A.n. l.">C)7, and studied with brilliant success at Pans and at Pu lua. On his return from Italy he gave up the grand career which his father had marked out tor him m the service of the State, and became a priest. When the Duke of iSavoy had resolved to restore the Church in the Chablais, Francis offered himself for the work, and set out on foot with his Bible and Breviarj' and one companion, hi 3 cousin Louis of bales. It was a work of toil, privation, and danger. Every door and every heart were closed against him. lie was rejected with insult and threatened with death. But nothing could daunt or resist him, and ere long the Cnurch burst forth into a second spring. It is stated that he converted 72,0W Calvinists. He was then compelled by the Pope to become Coadjutor Bishop of Geneva, and succeeded to the See a.i>. l(>02. As Bishop he was universal in his care, and his gentleness and sweetness won all hearts. In union with St. Jane Frances of Chantal, he founded at Anneey the Order of the Visitation, which soon s-pread over Europe. Though poor he refused provisions and dignities, and even the great see of Paris. His numerous writings are at once profound and simple, marked by a tender unction and a sweet quaintness of illustration. He died at Lyons, December 2hth, H!ii2. His body was borne to res»t beside hia daughter's at Anneey, where it still rests.