Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 6 July 1911, Page 1227

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR July 9, Sunday.—Fifth Sunday after Pentecost. Commemoration of the miracles performed through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. „ 1.0, Monday.—The Seven Brothers, Martyrs. ~ 11, Tuesday. —St. Pius 1., Pope and Martyr. ~ 12, Wednesday. —St. John Gualbert, Abbot. ~ 13, Thursday. —St. Anacletus, Pope and Martyr. ~ 14, Friday.— St. Bonaventure, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor. ~ 15, Saturday. — St. Henry, Emperor and Confessor, Commemoration of the Miracles Performed Through the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. God, who rewards His saints with perfect happiness hi heaven, often honors them before men by miraculously assisting those who invoke their intercession. The Blessed Virgin being, as Mother of God, the greatest of all the saints, her devout clients have most frequently been the recipients of such miraculous favors. From the changing of the_ water into wine at the marriage feast at Cana to the miraculous cures that are yearly effected at Lourdes and other celebrated shrines, God has in every age exercised His power on behalf of those who appeal to Him through His Blessed _ Mother. In the feast of to-day, instituted on the occasion of some miraculous "events-which took place in Rome at the close of the eighteenth century, we express our gratitude for this display of God’s power and mercy, and we honor her whom He has cbndescended to thus honor. The Seven Brothers, Martyrs. The seven saints whose glorious death is commemorated to-day were sons of St. Felicitas, and suffered at Rome about the middle of the second century. They were exhorted to constancy in suffering by their heroic mother, who herself soon after received the crown of martyrdom. St. Pius 1., Pope and Martyr. Aquileia, in Northern Italy, was the birthplace of St. Pius, who occupied the Chair of Peter from 142 to 157. According to some writers, he was beheaded; according to others, his death was the result of hardships endured for the Faith. _ GRAINS OF GOLD MATER MISERICORDIAE. From out the night Sweet Mother, hear thy children’s cry, A ray of light Streams from thy sunlit throne on high, A golden track through mist and murky sky. Lady, look down, Tender and loving, Mother-wise Thy twelve-starred crown Would awe us, but that in thine eyes, Despite their bliss, shade of past sorrow lies. Once didst thou tread Earth’s roughest paths and steepest way; Thy heart hath bled Sword-pierced- and broken, all thy days, Yet faltered never in its hymn of praise. No radiant Queen Tin wotting of earth’s pain and woe, For thou hast been Engulfed in depths that none may know. Save One, with Whom thou didst descend so low. Eyes that have-wept Can clearer see earth’s pain and tears. Heart that has kept Its scars through all the blissful years Doth not forget earth’s miseries and fears. Lay thy white hand On those who sorrow through the night, At thy command Dark fears depart, Hope springs to sight So stoop, sweet Mother, from thy starry height. Breaketh the dawn. For longest night at last is sped/ And with the morn God greets His world, whilst see we spread Blue of thy mantle, Mother, overhead. English Messenger. The grave, says St. John Chrysostom, is the school where we learn humility. Let no man, therefore, pride himself on his riches; he may lose them in a single nighthe must lose them at death. Let no man pride himself on his physical beauty, for he may bo disfigured by disease and after death will be a prey of worms. Let no man pride himself upon his knowledge how soon he forgets what he has learned, and how immeasurable is the amount of what he does not know !