Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 20, 19 May 1904, Page 31

Friends at Court

QLEANINQS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR May 22, Sunday.— Pentecost Sunday. „ 23, Monday.— Of the Octave. „ 24, iues.day.-Oi the Octave. „ 25, Wednesday.— Of the Octave. Ember Day. „ 26, Thurday.— Of the Octave. „ 27, Friday.— Of the Octave. Ember Day. „ 28, Saturday.— Of the Octave. Ember Day. Pentecost. Pentecost was the name given to the feast among the Jews, held on the fiftieth day after the Passover, in celebration of the ' ingathering,' and in thanksgiving for the harvest. From the Jewish use, it was introduced into the Christian, and with special solemnity, as being the day of the descent of the Holy Ghost on the A postles, and of the first solemn preaching of the Christian religion. From early times Pentecost has been regarded as one of the great festivals of the Christian year, and it was chosen as one of the times for the solemn admimstuition of Baptism. The English name ol the festival, Whit-Sunday, is derived from the white robes in which the newly baptised were claid. It is regarded as especially sacred to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, in whose honor the services of the day are directly addressed. Emiber Days. The Ember Days are the first Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of each of the four seasons of the year, set apart as fast days by the Church. According to the testimony of Pope Leo, they originated in the time of the Apostles, who were inspired by the Holy Ghost to dedicate eacn season of the year to God by a few days of penance ; or, as it were, to pay three days' interest, every tnree months, on the graces received from God. The Church also commanded the Faithful to fast at the beginning ol each of the four seasons of the year, because it is at this time that she ordains the priests and other servants of the Church, whiqh even the A,postles did with much prayer and fasting. Thius she desires that during the Ember Days Christians should fervently ask of God by prayer, fasting, and other good works, for worthy pastors and servants, on whom deporuds the welfare of the whole Christian flock ; she also desires that in the spring Ember Days we should ask God's blessing for the fertility of the earth ;in summer for the preservation of the fruits of the field ; in autumn when the harvest is ripe, and in winter when it is sheltered, that we should offer to God, by fasting and prayer, a sacrifice of thanks, petitioning Him to assist us, that we may not use His gifts for our soul's detriment, but refer all praise to Him, the fountain of all good, and assist our neighbor according to our means.