GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 37, 11 September 1902, Page 7

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

September 14, Sunday.-— Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. Exaltation of the Holy Cross. „ 15, Monday.— Octave of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. „ 16, Tuesday.— Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, Martyw. „ 17, Wednesday.— Ember Day. Stigmata of St. Franois. „ 18, Thursday. — St. Joseph of Cupertino, Confessor. „ 19, Friday.— Ember Day Saint Januirius and Com* panions, Martyrs. „ 20, Saturday.—Ember Day. Vigil of St. Matth«w, Apostle.

EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS. St. Helena, having got c to Jerusalem, ordered the destruction of a temple of Venus, bui.'t over the tomb of Christ. Then, upon excavating to a great depth , the holy Sepulchre, and near it three crosses, slro the nails which had pierced our Saviour's body, and the title which hs^ been affixed^to His cross, were found. The true Cross was recognised by the miracles whioh it wrought. St. Helena sent a part of the Cross to Constantinople and left the other part at Jerusalem, where it was encased in a silver box and preserved in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which had been erected on the spot of the dißcovery. The Church has consecrated this event by the institution of the feast of the ' Finding of the Holy Grose, which is celebrated on May 3. Chosroes 11., king of Persia, having taken Jerusalen, carried off the relic, whioh was recaptured II years later, under Siroes, his son and successor, by the Emperor Heraolius. Both the Greek and the Latin Church still celebrate this victory, on September 14, by the feast of the ' Exaltation of the Cross.' ST. CYPRIAN, MARTTR. St. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, was born in the beginning of the third century, of a wealthy senatorial family, and had been an esteemed and successful rhetorician at Carthage, his native city. His high station, as well as his abilities, made him the pride of his pagan fellow-citizena. He was converted to < Christianity about the year 246, by Caecilius, a presbyter of Carthage, whose name he added henceforth to his own ; soon after he was raised to the priesthood, and, on the death of Bishop Donatus in 248, he was chosen to succeed that prelate. During the persecution under Decius in 250, Cyprian concealed himself, maintaining, however, from his place of concealment, a constant correspondence with his flock. After the fanatical frenzy had abated, he returned to Carthage, where, between the years 251 and 256, he held several councils to determine the validity of baptism administered by heretics and the manner to be observed in readmitting the schismatics and those who had apostatised in the time of persecution. Cyprian ended his noble episcopate by martyrdom under Valerian in 258. We have his Lif* written by Pontius, his deacon, St. Cyprian has left 81 letters and 13 other works on various subjeotß. His letters exhibit an interesting picture of his time, and contain much valuable information regarding the usages, institutions, and doctrines of the early Church. Very important is his admirable treatise On the Unity of the Church, in which he gives a clear state* ment of the Church's organio unity, which he proves is founded on the Primaoy of Peter. BTIGMATA OF ST. TRANCIB. Stigmata are marks or brands upon the body. After the vision of St. Francis of Assist, the hands and feet of the saint were found to be marked as with nails, and there was a wound in his side. The wounds were seen by many persons, among whom was Pope Alexander IV., during the lifetime of the saint. ST. JANUARITJS, MARTTB. St Januarins, patron of Naples, was born in that city, and died in 305. He was Bishop of Benevento, and was martyred under Diocletian. His remains were brought to Naples, where the Cathedral was dedicated to him. Whenever Naples is threatened by some calamity, his relics are carried in solemn procession ; they repeatedly stopped the ravages of Vesuvius. In the same church is kept the head of this saint, as also a part of his blood contained in two very anoient phials. The blood is congealed, but when' it is brought near the martyr's head it melts and flows like the blood of a living man.