Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 23, 4 June 1903, Page 31

Friends at Court

QLEANINQS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR.

June 7, Sunday. — Trinity Sunday. 8, Monday. — St. Angela de Mericia, Virgin. 9, Tuesday.— St. Columbkille, Abbot. 10, Wednesday.— St. Margaret of Scotland. „, 11, Thursday.— Feast of Corpus Christi. 12, Friday — St. Leo IJIL, Pope and Confessor. 13, Saturday — St. Anthony of Padua, Confessor

St. Angela de Mericia.

St. Angela de Mericia was born in the diocese of Verona in 1511. In 1537 she laid the foundation of the institute of Ursulines, and very soon the Order spread all over Europe.

St. Columbkille, Abbot

St. Columba or Columbkille, the Apostle of the Caledonians or Northern Picts, was a scion of one of the royal houses of Ireland, and was born at Gartan, in the County of Donegal, on December 7, 521. He was educated in the famous school of St. Finnian of MaghbiLe, who had himself studied at Rome. Before Columba had reached his twenty-fifth year he had founded a great number of monasteries in Ireland, the most celebrated of which was that of Derry. in his own native province, which was long the seat of a great Catholic bishopric, and ib now known under the modern name of Londonderry. He had received deacon's orders from St. IJnnian, and in the year 550 was raised to the priesthood, but his humility was such that he would never consent to take upon him the episcopal office and dignity. In the year 563, when in the forty-second year of his age, Columba set out firom his native land, accompanied by 12 companions, sailed to the north, and landed on the shores of the island of Jona. or Hy, to which, in memory of the saint, the name of Hy-Columkil was afterwards given. He and his companions immediately set about building a monastery, which was one of the rudest description, consisting only of a frame covered with the interlaced branches of trees. It was not till some years later that a more substantial edifice was erected, with much danger and labor, as the large oaks to be used in its construction were brought across the waters from the neighboring shores Such was the beginning of the great monastic centre whence issued those devoted heroes who carried the blessing of religion and civilisation to Scotland and Great Britain. In the year 590 Columba returned to Ireland. In virtue of his privilege as founder of the Church in both Northern and Southern Scotland, he exeicised ecclesiastical jurisdiction throughout both of these countries Alter a long and laborious life, Columba died as he had lived After journeying over the entiie island and taking a tender farewell of the monks at work in the field, and praying in the cloister, he withdrew to his own cell, and, when the bell rang at midnight for matins, rose and preceded his brethren to the church Jleve he was found by his faithful children, prostrate before the altar and in a dying condition. Raising his right hand, he blessed the community and expired, June 9, 597.

CorpAis Christi

The Latin words ' Coipus Christi ' mean ' the Body of the Lord ' The festival carried out under this title is an outcome of the Church's devotion to the Hidden Lord in the Sacrament of the Altar. Pious Catholics aie ever finding new and beautiful ways of expressing their demotion "to our Lord in the Sacrament of His Lo\e The first mention we have in history of the solen nity of a feast of Corpus Christi is in 1246, when Robert, Bishop of Liege, made arrangements to introduce it into his diocese, but death prevented his intention being carried into effect AMer the Bishop's death the Caidinal Legate Hutih undertook to carry out his directions, and celebrated the festival for the first time in the v ear 1247, in the Church of St. Martin at Liege. Several bishops followed this example, and the festival was observed in many dioceses, before Urban XV., in 1264, finally ordered the celebration by the whole Chinch This oider was confirmed by Clement V. at the Council of Vienna in 1311, and the Thursday after the octave of Pentecost appointed for its celebration. In 1317, Pope John XXII. instituted tho solemn procession.

St. Leo 111 , Pope and Confessor

St Leo UT. was Pope from 795 to 816. Immediately alter his election he wrote to Charlemagne, requesting him to continue his protection over the Roman See and State At his request Charlemagne, in the year 800, went to Rome to quell a rebellion in which the Pope came near losing his life. He ci owned Charlemagne and proclaimed him emperor, amid the joyful acclamation of the people, in 800.

St Anthony of Padua

St. Anthony was born at Lisbon in 1195, and died at Padua in 12.11. He entered the Order of St. Francis, who was still alive, and who Rave him a mission to preach ITe preached with wonderful success in Italy, France, and Spain. ' His sermons, says his biographer, ' were flames impossible to withstand, which aroused sinners and criminals to repentance.'