Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 6, 8 February 1906, Page 31

Friends at Court

QLEANINQS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR • _••__•■•• February 11, Sunday.— Septuagesima Sunday. „ 12, Monday.— St. Telesphorus, Pope and Martyr. „ 13, Tuesday.— The Prayer in the Garden. „ 14, Wednesday. — St. Agatho, Pope and Confessor. „ 15, Thursday.— St. Martina, Virgin and Martyr. „ 16!, Friday.— St. Gregory X., Pope and Confessor. „ 17i, Saturday.— St. Fintan, Abbot. Septuagesima Sunday. The third Sunday before Lent is called Septuagesima Sunday, like Sexagesima and Quinquagesima, from fts distance (reckoned in round numbers) before Easter. St. Telesphorus, Pope and Martyr. St. Telesphorus was Pope from 127 to 138. He was a Greek by birth, an anchorite of Mount Carmel, became the successor, of Sixtus 1., and died a martyr in Rome under Hadrian. He instituted the practice of saying three masses on Christmas Day. The Prayer of Our Lord in the Garden. ' Kneeling down, he prayed, saying, " Father if thou wilt, remove this chalice from Me ; but yet not My will, but Thine, be done." And there appeared toHim an angel from Heaven, strengthening Him., and, being in an agony, He prayed the longer.' (Gospel of St. Luke). St. Agatho, Pope and Confessor. St. Agatho, Pope and Confessor, was born at Palermo, Sicily. His legates presided at the sixth Ecumenical Council (Constantinople), which condemned Monoihelism, in the year GSit, and which had assembled at the request of Constantine IV. (Pogonatus), to whom the Pope had written a remarkable letter to refute the new heresy. St. Martina, Virgin and Martyr. St. Martina is one of the principal patrons of Rome, where she suffered martyrdom in the third century. It is to be regretted that but little is known of her life and suffering. St. Gregory X. St. Gregory X. was Pope from 127/2-12716. No soon-t er had he ascended the Apostolic Chair than he summoned the Fourteenth Ecumenical Council, which met at Lyons in 1274. The declared objects of the Council were : succor to the Holy Land, the reconciliation of the Greek Cluurch, and reformation of morals. The council opened with great solemnity, the Pope himself officiating. For the succor of the Holy Land, a tenth of all ecclesiastical revenues was voted for six years. In the fourth session, the re-union of the Greek Church with the Latin was solemnised ; and the Council, besides passed 32 canons regulating The discipline of the Ohurch, and providing for the reformation of morals. Also a new constitution providing for the speedy and concordant election of a Koman Pontiff received the approbation of the Council. St. Fintan, Abbot. The distinguished Abbot Fintan was one of the family of Niall, of the North of Ireland. He was placed at the school of Bangor, under St. Comgall, and afterwards he studied at the school of KilmoraJDea-thrilb' which Columbkill is supposed to have governed for some time, before his departure lrom Ireland. 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 life of greater sanctity in the quiet retirement of their monastery. St. Fintan was far advanced in years when he died on October 21, 635, leaving after him a distinguished reputation for sanctity and perfection in piety and godliness.