Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 22 December 1910, Page 2087

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR December 25, —Christmas Day. „ 26, Monday.—St. Stephen, Protomartyr. „ 27, Tuesday.—St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. „ 28, Wednesday.—The Holy Innocents, Martyrs. „ 29, Thursday.—St. Thomas of Canterbury, Bishop and Martyr. „ 30, Friday.—St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Queen. „ 31, Saturday.—St. Sylvester 1., Pope and Confessor. St. Stephen, First Martyr. St. Stephen was one of the seven who were chosen to assist the Apostles in the daily distribution of alms, and who, by the imposition of the Apostles' hands, were, raised to the Order of Deacons, and qualified to discharge some of the inferior duties of the sacerdotal office. By his zealous efforts for the propagation of the Gospel he stirred up the hatred of some of the Jews, who stoned him to death. He thus had the honor of being the first among Christ's disciples to seal his faith with his blood. St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. St. John was the brother of St. James the Greater, and he is mentioned in the Gospels as ' the disciple whom Jesus loved.' He was one of those faithful few who stood by the Cross, and it was to him our dying Saviour recommended the care of His Mother. After the Ascension, St. John remained chiefly 'in Jerusalem, though he sometimes took long and arduous journeys for the purpose of spreading the knowledge of the doctrines and sufferings of Christ. The closing years of his life were spent at Ephesus, where he died about the year 100. He wrote his Gospel to refute the heresies of the time, and is also the author of three Epistles, which form part of the New Testament. GRAINS OF GOLD THE FIRST CHRISTMAS. Wintry Night has spread her mantle O'er a fair Judean town, On deserted streets and highways Moon and stars look calmly down. Wealthy nobles, poor plebeians, Merry youths and grandsires old All repose in peaceful slumber, Sheltered from the bitter cold. All, except some lowly shepherds, Men of simple moods and wills, Who, inured to cold and hardships, Watch their flocks upon the hills. Only these, and in a stable, Bleak and lonely, rude and bare, Two expectant, humble strangers, Both absorbed in silent prayer. Midnight steals upon the mountain, Lo! the shepherds start with fear, What besides this radiant vision, What this song divine they hear? Yes, these must be forms angelic, Winging downward from the sky, And a thousand hosts are singing: Glory be to God on high Midnight lingers o'er the stable Spouse mature and maiden mild, Gaze with speechless admiration On a lowly, new-born Child. Myriad spirits hover round them, Eager all that Babe to scan, For 'tis He Whom God has promised, Christ the Saviour, born to man. Sing, ye Stars, a song of gladness; Echo, Earth, the blest refrain; . Banish, fallen man, thy sadness, g; Let each heart repeat the strain! * 'Alleluia! Alleluia! Ever joyous be this morn, God hath sent our blest Redeemer, Christ is here—our Saviour's born!' —REV. ARTHUR BARRY O'NEILL. C.S.C. On Christmas Day let us remember the stranger within our gates, and let those of us who can do so invite into our home circle some one who otherwise must eat his or her Christmas dinner alone. Many who are not poor in pocket may be poor in friends and acquaintances. Thev also should not be forgotten. i