GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 11, Issue 10, 11 March 1909, Page 363

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

March 14, Sunday. — Third Sunday in Lent. „ 15, Monday. — St. Zacharias, Pope and Confessor. „ 16, Tuesday. — St. Matthias, Apostle. „ 17, Wednesday. — St. Patrick, Bishop and Confessor, and Patron of Ireland. „ 18, Thursday. — St. Gabriel, Archangel. „ 19, Friday. — St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. „ 20, Saturday. — St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor. St. Patrick, Bishop, Confessor, and Patron of Ireland. The nationality of St. Patrick is much disputed, some naming France, others Scotland, as the place of his birth. When but sixteen years of age he was carried captive into Ireland, where he remained for six years, thus by a remarkable disposition of Divine Providence becoming acquainted with the language and customs of the people whom he was afterwards to evangelise. Having escaped from captivity, his one desire was to return to Ireland, bringing with him the blessings of the true faith to its pagan inhabitants. The desired mission was confided to him by Pope St. Celestine about 432. His labors were crowned with complete success. By his exertions Ireland has ever since not only kept pure and unsullied the faith at home, but has helped to propagate it in nearly every country in the world. St. Patrick died about 464, and was buried in Downpatrick. St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. St. Joseph was chosen by God to watch over the infancy of Christ, to be the protector of Mary's chastity, and to secure her from calumnies in -the birth of her Divine Son. So great a dignity, such familiar intercourse with the Deity, required a sanctity far above the common. That St. Joseph possessed this we know from the inspired word of God. He is styled in the New Testament ' a just man,' one, namely, endowed with all the virtues. From the fact that no mention is made of him after the finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple, we conclude that he must have died before the beginning of Our Lord's public ministry. We cannot doubt that he was comforted and assisted in his last moments by Jesus and Mary. Hence his intercession is sought particularly to obtain the grace of a happy death.