GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 51, 19 December 1901, Page 15

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR.

December 22, Sunday. — Fourth Sunday in Advent. „ 23, Monday. — St Colnmbanus, Abbot. 24, Tuesday.— Vigil of the Nativity. „ 25, Wednesday. — Feast of the Nativity. „ 20, Thursday.— St Stephen, first Martyr. , 27, Friday. — St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. „ 28, Saurday —Feast of the Holy Innocenta, Martyrs.

VIGIL OF THE NATIVITY.

It waa formerly the custon of the faithful to spend the night preceding a great solemnity in the church. Hence the term vigil, or watch, which we now give to the whole day preceding a solemn festival.

FEAST OK THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD.

The institution of the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas) in attributed to Pope Telesphoruß in the year 138. Originally, Christmas Day was often confounded with the feast of Epiphany. On the Feast of Christmas Day, the Catholio priest is permitted to say three Masses, in commemoration of the temporal, spiritual, and eternal birth of Christ. Whenever Christmas Day falls on a Friday, it is permitted to eat flesh-meat.

BT. STEPHEN, THE FIBBT MARTYR.

St. Stephen was one of the seven •who was chosen to assist the Apostles in the daily distribution of alms, and who, by the imposition of the Apostles' hands, were raised to the order of deacons, and qualified to discharge some of the inferior duties of the sacerdotal ofiiue. By his zealous efforts for the propagation of the Gospel, he stirred up the hatred of eoms of the Jews, who stoned him to death. He thus had the honor of being the first of Christ's • disciples to Beal his faith with his blood.