Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 12, 23 March 1905, Page 31

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

March 26, Si niay.— Third Sunday in Lent. „ 27, Monday.— St. Rupert, Bishop and Confessor. „ 28, Tuesday.—S t. Si\tus ITT , Pope and Confesvsor. „ 29, Wednesday.— St. John Damascene, Confessor and Doctor. „ 30, Thursday.— St. John Capistran, Confessor. „ 31, Friday.— Commemoration of tne Five Wounds of Our Lord. April 1, Saturday.— Feua. St. Rupert, Bishop and Ccnfessor. St. Ruipert, a Frenchman, illustrious for his noble birth, but still more so for his many virtues, was Bi.sihojp of Sal/bnirg in Bavaria, the inhabitants o f which country he had converted to the True Faith. He died about the beginning of the seventh century. St. Sixtus 111., Pope and Confessor. St. Sixtus 111. was Pope from 432 to 440. He wap born and died at Rome. He labored with St. Cyril for the reunion of the Churches of the Orient. St. JoUn Damascene, Confessor and Doctor. St. John was born at Damascus, in Syria, which was th?n ,under the dominion of the Mahometans.' So great was nis reputation for integrity and prudence that on the death of his father, he was appointed, notwithstanding his religion, to the important post of Prime Minister of the Caliph. After some years he resigned this dignity, and placed himself under tlie direction of some noly monks near Damascus. He died about 7810. St. John rendered great sen ice to the (lurch by his writings against the Iconoclast heretics, whose doctrines ne triumphantly refuted. St. John Capistran, Confessor. This s&iint was a native of Italy. His wife dying, St. John, when 30 years of age, entered the Franciscan Order, anil ga\e himself up to a life of great austerity, for 36 years hardly ever tasting meat. As a proacher he eiTeetcfd the conversion of tihe most obstinate sinners, amd also brought to a successful termination many important missions entrusted to him by successive Popes. The crushing defeat of the Turks a t Belgrade in 1156 is attributed, in great measure, to the zeal, courage, and activity of St. Johii. He died in tlie (O.irse of the same year, at the age of 71. Commemoration of the Five Wounds of Our Lor 9. ' lie was wounded for our iniquities, He was bruised for our sins, the chastisement of our sins was upon Him, and by His bruises we are healed ' (Isaias).