Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 15 December 1910, Page 2043

Friends at Court

QLEANFNOS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR December 18, Sunday.—Fourth Sunday of Advent. „ 19, Monday.St. Urban V., Pope and Confessor. ~ 20, Tuesday.—St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr. ~ 21, Wednesday.—St. Thomas, Apostle. „ 22, Thursday.—St. Deusdedit, Pope and Confessor. „ 23, Friday.—St. Columbanus, Abbot. „ 24, Vigil of the Nativity. Fast Day. St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr. St. Josaphat, a native of Poland, displayed, while still in his boyhood, such piety and fraternal charity as to excite the admiration of all who knew him. After having been for some years a monk of the Order of St. Basil, he was raised to the dignity of Archbishop.- The zeal and success with which ho preserved his flock from heresy and schism drew upon him the hatred of some sectarians, who compassed his death in 1623. St. Thomas, Apostle. This Apostle was a Jew, and probably a fisherman. From the refusal of St. Thomas to believe that Christ had appeared to the other Apostles, Our Blessed Saviour took occasion to afford an irrefragable proof of the reality ot His Resurrection (Gospel of St. John, c. xx.). After the Ascension, St. Thomas, according to a very ancient tradition, preached in Persia, and also in India, where he suffered martyrdom. GRAINS OF GOLD WHEN DARKNESS COMES. When darkness comes When lingering shadows lengthening, Are woven in the sable ,web of night And earthly cordials lost their powers of strength'ning, We ask Thee, Lord of Lords, will there be light? When darkness comes— When friends assemble 'round us, And close our eyes, now dim, that erst were bright; Or, sobbing, gently speak of ties that bound us, We ask Thee, Lord of Lords, will there be light?

When darkness comes — When we with naught to vex us, Lie still and palsied, mute and cold and white, And when earth's conflicts can no more perplex us, We ask Thee, Lord of Lords, will there be light?

When darkness comes — When books and Bibles vanish, And earthly ministrants are lost to sight, And when death's touches, chill, all feelings banish, We ask Thee, Lord of Lords, will there be light?

When darkness comes— The sounds from heaven streaming Will drive away the fears which now affright And mother's voice > while mother's smile is beaming, Will softly say, ' My child, here is the light '

Do not let us waste our time in wishing that we were like others— we had the things God has given them ■ we cannot have these. Each must use what God has given to himself. Let us be content to live day by day as God leads us, making good use of every moment, "without looking beyond Fenelon.

If men and women forgave in the same measure that they seek or desire forgiveness, the world would be a vastly different place from what it is. Life would be brighter and happiness more general. Love, which is the great leavener would triumph where now it is trampled upon by the false pride which so often keeps us from exercising our divine power or forgiveness. There are but few persons leading earnest lives who do not feel that .they fail thoroughly to realise even the most limited of their aims, and if they are unhappy enough to be sensitive as well as earnest, it cannot be prophesied ,L how much real good a hearty word may do them in times ■m of mental trouble Then it is . that a true friend will think W it well to tell them something encouraging, something strengthening and reviving, that they ought to know. * Be patient with ' your critical friends. They are neither omniscient nor omnipotent. They cannot see your heart, and many misunderstand you. They do not know what is best in you and may select what is worst Their arms are short and they may not be able to reach what you ask. What if they also lack purity of purpose or tenacity of affection Do not you also lack these graces ? Patience is your refuge. Endure your criticising friends and in enduring conquer them, and if not them, then at least yourself. '