Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 29 February 1912, Page 3

Friends at Court

: GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR March 3, Sunday. Second Sunday in Lent. ~ „ 4, Monday, St. Lucius 1., Pope and Martyr, ~ 5, Tuesday.—St. Casimir, King. ~ 6, Wednesday. —St. Fridolin, Abbot. ~ 7, Thursday.—St. Thomas of Aquin, Confessorand Doctor. ~ 8, Friday.—St. Cataldus, Bishop and Confessor. „ 9, Saturday.—St. Frances of Home, Widow. St, Lucius 1., Pope and Martyr. < The pontificate of St, Lucius, who was a native of Rome, lasted only a few months. Immediately after his accession, A.l). 252, he was sent into banishment by the Emperor Gallus. It .is uncertain whether he died a martyr’s death or received this title on account of his many sufferings for the Faith. St. Thomas of Aquin, Confessor and Doctor. St. Thomas, son of the Count of Aquino, was born in 1126, and received his early education at the famous Abbey of Monte Cassino. At the age of seventeen, in spite of the opposition of his family, he entered the Order of St. Dominic. By his piety and extraordinary talents, he became the glory, not merely of his Order, but of the whole Catholic world. His great humility caused him to refuse the dignities offered to him by more than one Pope. Ho died in .1274, whilst on his way to attend the Council of Lyons, to which he had been summoned by Gregory X. All Catholic schools were placed under his special patronage by the late Pope Leo XIII. GRAINS OF GOLD OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL. O, thou, who art by anxious fears perplexed, Draw near to her who vigil keeps for thee, And say with heart by doubting oft time vexed, ‘Dear Lady of Good Counsel, pray for me.’ Then wilt thou find the guidance long desired ; Then wilt thou know the joy that others share: Then wilt thou sing with fervor, love-inspired, The praise of her who holds thee in her care. No stranger she to faults of sinful man, Since for them all her Son paid cruel price: And waits she not, as but a mother can, To bless each life, with help and good advice ? Oh guardian sweet, while words indeed are weak To voice the love my heart bears unto thee, Still, when thy name my lips no more can speak, Dear Lady of Good Counsel, pray for me ! —‘Amadeus,’ in Donohoe’s Magazine. Make the best of everything; think the best of everybody; hope the best for yourself. By so doing you will be lifting yourself and those about you to a higher plane of living. An indiscreet man is more hurtful than,, an illnatured one, for as the latter will only attack his enemies, and those he wishes ill to, the other injures indifferently both friend and foe. A wise man may be provoked, but he cannot be angered. Fie will allow nothing to take up a dwelling in his bosom that he know will plant a thorn there. The fool cherishes this enemy to his own destruction. 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. . - *