Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 7, 12 February 1903, Page 31

Friends at Court

QLEANINQS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

February 15, Sunday.— Sexapeeima Sunday. „ 16, Monday.— St. Gregory X.. Pope and Confessor. „ 17, Tuesday.— St. FintaD, Abbot. „ 18, Wednesday.— St. Raymond of Pennaforte, Confessor. „ 19, Thursday.— St. Titus, Bishop and Confessor. „ 20, Friday.— St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor. „ 21, Saturday.— St. Paul, the first Hermit. St. Fintan, Abbot. The distinguished Abbot Fintan was one of the family of Nia.ll, of the north of Ireland. He was placed at the school of Bangor, under St. Comgall, and afterwards he studied at the school of Kilmore-Deathrib which Columbkill is supposed to have governed for some time before his departure from Ireland. He also spent some time at a place now called Kilfinnan, in the county Limerick • thence he went to a place called Coonah, in the same county. Between these places Fintan passed his early years— a model of good conduct and piety The reputation and sanctity of the monks of lona, under Columbkill, had made such an impression on him, that he resolved to join their community in order to lead a lue ol greater sanctity in the quiet retirement of their monastery. In order to carry out his good intentions he set out for lona. St. Columbkill had died a few days before his arrival, and was succeeded by Baithen. To him, therefore, Fintan applied to be received into his community. Baithen questioned him as to his family, studies, conduct, and the like. Fintan modestly answered him and humbly requested to be admitted as a monk. Baithen having heard his story, replied : ' I thank God that you are come to this place ; but this you must know that you cannot be a monk of ours.' Fintan, much afflicted at his refusal, asked ' Is it that I am unworthy of being one ? ' ' No,' answered Baithen. ' but, although I should be very glad to keep you with me, I must obey the orders of my predecessor, Columba, who, before" he died, said to me, in the spirit of prophesy : ' Baithen, remember these words of mine, immediately after my departure liom this life, a brother, who is now regulating his youth by "ood conduct and who is well versed in sacred studies, named rmtan, will come to you from Ireland, and will supiilicate to be reckoned among the monks. But it is piedetei mined by God that he is to be an abbot, presiding over monks, and a guide of souls. Do not, thereloie, let him stay m these islands or ours, but direct him to return m peace to Ireland, that he may there establish a monastery, in a part of Leinster not far from, the sea, and labor for the good of souls.' The pious voting man shed tears when he heard this, and returned thanks to God, and said that he would follow these dnect'ons Colgan states that before he went to Leinster, m accordame with the lniunction of Columbkill, he spent five years m a monastery he established at a place called Teachelle. in the district of Heli (Ely O'Carrol), m M mister, and that he subsequently founded a monasteiv at a place named after him. Teach-Munnu (the house ol Munnu), now Thaemon. in the County of Wexford. -St Fintan was far advanced in years when he died, at his own monastery, on the 21st of October, 635, leaving after him a distinguished reputation for sanctit— and perfection in piety and godliness. St. Raymond of Pennaforle, Confessor. St Raymond, of Pennaforte. assisted St Peter Nolasco to -found, in 1218, the Order of Mercy for the redemption of captives. Between the years 1492 and 1691 this- Order alone rescued nearly 17 000 Christian captives St. Titus, Bishop and Confessor. St Titu.s was a Greek by birth and the son of a gentile i.tther and a Jewish mother ITe accompanied St. Paul to Jerusalem to the Council, and on his various extensive lournev.s, and was finally established by him Bishop of Crete about the year 62 ' TTe died about 105, at the advanced age of 91 v ears St Paul wrote an Epistle to him, which contained instructions for his disciple St Cyril of Alexandria. St Cyril was a Father of the Greek Church, and Patriarch of Alexandria (412) ITe took an active part m his uncle's (Theophilus) opposition to St John Chrysostom ITe dosed the churches of the Novatians. The Jews having niurdeiod a certain number of Christians, he expelled them from the city, and embroiled himself with the Governor Orestes ITe contributed, also, to tho condemnation ol Nestor ins St Cv.ril has left a large litunbei of writings, mostly of an apologetrcal, controversial, and doctimal character