Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 10 March 1910, Page 363

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR March 13, Sunday.—Passion Sunday. „ 14, Monday.—St. Fursey, Abbot. ” Tuesday —St. Zachary, Pope and Confessor. ' ” nS’ Wednesday.—St. Fridolinus, Abbot. „ 17, Thursday.—St. Patrick, Bishop and Confessor, 10-n -j n and Patron of Ireland. ~ 18, Friday.—St. Gabriel, Archangel. „ 19, Saturday.St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Patron of the Universal Church, Passion Sunday. ■m As the annual commemoration of the death of Our Blessed, Saviour approaches, the Church seems to enter into deeper mourning. On the eve of Passion Sunday the images and statues of the saints, and even the representation of . the crucified Redeemer, are covered with purple veils, winch will not be removed till the close of Holy Week from the Office and Mass are omitted the few expressions of joy which remained after Septuagesima Sunday. St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. . St. Joseph was chosen by God to watch over the infancy of Christ, to be a 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 kt- J j Se P h 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. *e 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.

GRAINS OF GOLD A COMMON NEED. Friend of all in sorrow — Thus I prayed Those who of to-morrow Are afraid Lift their eyes to meet Thee In the night; Oh, to them be gracious And give light. When my hope is darkened Like the, days . ■ - < And my heart too heavy For Thy praise, Do not Thou forsake me, But at length Teach me hope and courage Thro’ thy strength. Lord, I crave Thy pity; I am weak, Yet art Thou so gracious To the meek That I will not clamor To be strong, Only pray to serve Thee My life long. In the time of trouble Be my stay; Let Thy presence brighten Each dark day Grant me what Thy wisdom Knows is best, And within Thy kingdom Give me rest. Catholic News.

Most of the things we struggle for, after we have got them, we find are not the things which bring us happiness. They who die rich in character leave a great deal that was not here when they came; they have something to take with them as well. There is no teacher like necessity; it has been the making of man ; it wakes up his dormant faculties and stimulates to action his’ latent talents. Delay and procrastination, indolence and indecision, are effectual robbers of time and defrauders of men’s purposes. The delays of good and dutiful intentions, which ultimately lead to the defeat of them, cause more regret and repentance in most men’s lives probably than any pther class of causes, j