Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 14 December 1911, Page 2507

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR December 17, Sunday. Third Sunday in Advent. ~ 18, Monday.—Expectation of , the Blessed Virgin Mary. ~ 19, Tuesday. Blessed Urban Y., Pope and , Confessor. ~ 20. Wednesday. —St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr. Ember Day. ~ 21, Thursday.—St. Thomas, Apostle. ~ 22, Friday. —St. Deusdedit, Pope and Confessor. Ember Day. ~ 23, Saturday. —St. Columbanus, Abbot. Ember Day. Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As we approach more nearly to the great feast of the Nativity, the. Church redoubles her exhortations to prepare in a worthy manner for its celebration. To-day she urges us to join in the longing desires and fervent aspirations with which the Blessed Virgin hailed the approach of the happy day when she was to hold in her arms the Incarnate Son of God. Blessed Urban V., Pope and Confessor. Before his elevation to the Papacy, Blessed Urban was abbot of the monastery of St. Victor, near Marseilles, and as Pope he cultvated the same qualities which had distinguished him as monk. His virtues were in striking contrast with the corruption of the times in which he lived, and would have done honor to a better age. His pontificate lasted from 1362 to 1370. 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 or some years a monk of the Order of St. Basil, he was raised to the dignity of Archbishop. The zeal and success with which he preserved his flock from heresy and schism drew upon him the hatred of some sectarians, who compassed his death in 1623. GRAINS OF GOLD THE GOLD OF GOD. Give o’er your search, ye seekers! Ye are vain; Pure gold gleams but above, The riches that ye view with chill disdain, The Gold of God—His love. Nor toils endure, but lift the lowly heart; Wring not the stubborn clod Lo! in a' land from death and pain apart Ye’ll find the Gold of God. Rev. W. Hendrix, S.J., in. the Ave Maria.

Sincerity is to speak as we think, to do as we pretend and profess, to perform and make good that which we promise, and really to be what we pretend to be.

There are many roads through life there is only one road that the wise person will take and keep. That one is the road to righteousness. And righteousness in terms of man’s existence in this world, is right living, right thinking, right doing.

If we must know the right in order to do it, it is equally needful that we do it in order to know it. The habit of prompt and unquestioning obedience to whatever appeals to us as duty, puts us into the very best condition for learning more a*nd higher truth.

Envy is rather a dangerous disease, for sometimes it develops into a secret feeling of rancor. Why give so much homage to wealth, power, influence, and luxuries? They are nothing compared with tranquil hours and a sweet little home furnished with harmony and joy. Moreover, envy gets you nothing but misery, of which nearly everyone has a sufficient supply.