Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 23 February 1911, Page 315

Friends at Court

" GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR

February 26, Sunday.—Quinquagesima Sunday. v , „ 27, Monday. —St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor. . „ 28, Tuesday.—St. Antherus, Pope and Martyr. March 1, Wednesday.— Wednesday. „ 2, Thursday. St. Simplicius, Pope and Confessor. ~ 3, Friday. The Crown of Thorns. „ 4, Saturday.—St. Lucius, Pope and Martyr. St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor. St. Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, was the champion of the Church against the heretic Nestorius, who, in denying to the Blessed Virgin the title of Mother of God, subverted the doctrine of the Incarnation. As legate and representative of Pope Celestine, he opened the General Council of Ephesus in 431, in which the Nestorian heresy was condemned, He was called to his reward thirteen years later, in A.D. 444. St. Simplicius, Pope and Confessor. At the time of the accession of St. Simplicius to the Papal throne in 467, the greater part of the Western Empire had fallen into the hands of heretical and idolatrous barbarians. In 476 they gained possession of Rome. St. Simplicius labored with great success to bring about the conversion of these barbarians, and to relieve the necessities of those who suffered from their cruel oppression. In the East his efforts were devoted to crushing the Eutychian heresy, which, owing to the favor of the Emperor, had assumed alarming proportions. « GRAINS OF GOLD LENT. Now, are the days of the humblest prayer, ' , When consciences to God lie bare, And mercy most delights to spare. Oh, hearken when we cry, Chastise us with Thy fear; Yet, Father, in the multitude Of Thy compassions, hear ! Now is the season, wisely long, Of sadder thought and graver song, When ailing souls grow well and strong. Oh, hearken when we cry, Chastise us with Thy fear; Yet, Father, in the multitude Of Thy compassions, hear! The feast of penance! Oh, so bright, With true conversion’s heavenly light, Like sunrise after stormy night! Oh, hearken when we cry, Chastise us with Thy fear ; Yet, Father, in the multitude Of Thy compassions, hear! Father Faber. Take things as they are, and proceed to make them better. . It is not those who make the most noise who suffer most pain. There is nothing the body suffers that the soul may not profit by. Courage above all the virtues brings its own reward, tor it is warming to the heart. One’s personal enjoyment is a very small thing; one’s personal usefulness a very important thing. . • A ?9°d deed is never lost. He who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. , Life is made up of little things. We convey happiness to one another by a kindly notice and cheerful conversation. To be free from desire is money. To be free from the rage of perpetually buying something new is a certain revenue. To be content with what we possess constitutes the greatest and most certain of riches. Few of us find opportunity to do great things or to attain great perfection. We are so cumbered with cares we are so sure the world will go to smash if we let go for a minute, that we forget to strive after little things. - . Cheerfulness is absolutely essential to the mind’s healthy action or the performance of its proper duties It is an excellent working quality, imparting strength and elasticity to the character. It not only lightens labor, but the brightness it bestows on the disposition is reflected on all around. Humility, patience, meekness, benignity, bearing one another burdens, softness of heart, cheerfulness, cordiality forgiving injuries, simplicity, candor, all of the little virtues’ hke violets, love the shade, and though, like them, they make little show, shed a sweet odor all around.