GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 14, 3 April 1902, Page 7

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

April 6, Sunday. — Low Sunday. „ 7, Monday. — The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (transferred from March 25). „ 8, Tuesday. — St. Rupert, Bishop and Confessor. , 9, Wednesday. — St. Peter Damian, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor. „ 10, Thursday. — St. Thomas Aquinas, Confessor and Doctor. „ 11, Friday. — St. Leo the Great, Pope, Confessor, and Doctor. „ 12, Saturday.— St. Julius 1., Pope and ConfeßßOr. LOW SUNDAY. The first Sunday after Easter is called Low Sunday because it emphasises the contrast between the great Easter solemnity and the Sunday which ends the octave. The name given to it in the Missal is 'Dominica in Albis,' because then the newly-baptised wore their white robes for the last time. THE ANNUNCIATION. In consequence of March 25 falling this year within Holy Week the feast of the Annunciation was transferred to April 7. The institution of this feast dates back to the first centuries of Christianity. St. Athanasius mentions it in one of his sermons. For a long time they commenced the civil year with the feast of the Annunciation. The custom of commencing the year on the first day of January was introduced in France in 1564, in Scotland in 1579, and in England in 1752. ST. RUPERT, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR. St. Rupert, a Frenchman illustrious for his noble birth, but still more so for his many virtues, was Bishop of Salzburg in Bavaria, the inhabitants of which country he had converted to the True Faith. He died about the beginning of the seventh century t ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, BISHOP AND CONFESSOB. St. Thomas Aquinas, the angel of the school, was born at Aquino, a town near Naples. His family was connected by marriage with the HAenstaufen. His early education was entrusted to the care of the Benedictines of Monte Cassino. After completing his studies at the University of Naples, he entered the Dominioan Order, and became the scholar of Albertus Magnuß. He taught with universal admiration at Cologne, Paris, Bologna, Naples, and other places ; he was equally famous as a preacher. He persistently refused any ecclesiastical dignity. Called by Gregory X. to assist at the Ecumenical Council of Lyonß in 1274, he fell sick on the journey in the Cistercian monastery of Fosßanova, before he had completed his fiftieth year. He was solemnly canonised by John XXII. in 1323, and ranked among the great Doctors of the Church by Pius V. in 1567. His most renowned work is the 1 Summa Theolo{jia3.' He composed many touching prayers, such as the Office of Corpus Christi, and hymns : ' Pange Lingua,' 'Saoris Solemnis,' ' Verbum Supernum,' ' Adoro Te Devote,' ' Lauda Sion Salvatorem." ST. LEO THE GREAT. St. Leo I. was Pope from 440 to 461. On account of his eminent learning, Banctity, and great achievements is called the ' Great.' It was this great Pontiff who, by his confidence in Gcd and noble and courageous conduct, in 452 saved Rome from being pillaged by the Huns under Attila, ' the Scourge of God,' and again, in 455, he saved the city from destruction by the awe which he inspired in the fierce Genseric, King of the Vandals. Rejecting the false Council of Ephe&ua, Leo, in 451, summoDed the General Council of Chalcedon, over which he presided by his legates and in which his dogmatic Epistle was accepted as the expression of true Catholic faith. He strongly maintained Papal supremacy against arrogant and aspiring bishops, and was zealous everywhere for the interests of the faith and Church discipline. ST. JULIUS 1., POPE AND CONFESSOR; Julius I. was Pope from 337 to 352, being tho successor of Marcus. During the violent struggle with Arianism, Julius was the strenuous champion of the Nicene faith and the constant defender of St. Athanasius and other orthodox bishops oppressed by the heretics. The bishops, whom the Eusebians had unjustly deposed, were reinstated by Julius, by virtue of the prerogative of the Roman See. With the concurrence of the two emperors, Constans and Constantiuß, he, in 343, summoned the great Council of Sardica.