Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 18 December 1913, Page 3

Friends at Court

- GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR December 21, Sunday.— Sunday in Advent. „ 22, Monday.St. Thomas, Apostle. ~ 23, Tuesaay.— Columbanus, Abbot. „ 24, Wednesday.—Vigil of Christmas Day. , Fast and Abstinence: ~ 25, Thursday.—Christmas Day. ~ 26, Friday.—St. Stephen, the First Martyr. „ 27, Saturday.—St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. ANOTHER CHRISTMAS. Lo! a star is shining In the wintry sky— Wondrous is its beauty, Smiling from on high; Through the silent darkness Like a herald bright, Pointing to the stable Hidden in the night. Hark ! with pinions rushing, Gleaming bright and fair, ( Angel hosts are sweeping Through the sparkling air Past the gates of midnight, Ushering in the morn, Where in yonder manger, A little child was born. 'Gloria in Excelsis!' Wakes the sleeping land* Greeting of all greetings, Ever new and grand. As .the wandering shepherds Hasten o'er the- plain— • Let us rise and follow, ' Christ is born again. Mary E. Mannix. THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS A new happiness descends upon the world, and lingers in the memory until it takes away all that makes jtnen mean and bitter, and puts them in touch with the deepest forces. Oh, the wonder of life ! We hear the story again and again with increasing joy and awe. How the Lord and Master came to earth, and there in the narrow confines of that Galilean village consecrated the common lot of toil and poverty and suffering. Somehow the assurance that He lived this life of ours with Its hard, exacting conditions gives us courage to meet it, calm and unafraid. We see more clearly that things which make for discouragement are simply parts of a great process, and that oftentimes the most blessed thing in Divine appointment is disappointment.. Then we more truly grasp the inner meaning of life.

Soon the Christmas bells will ring out their merry chimes, and their old famiilar music thrill human hearts with happiness. It is the universal festival of all races of all ages and conditions. But being the feast of the birth of the Christ-Child, it appeals in an especial manner to children. Nay, if we honestly analyse our own thoughts and emotions, should not we adults confess that our Christmas joys are due to the rejuvenating of our souls ? We are children again, and we begin to understand in a new light the words of our Blessed Lord : ' Unless ye become as little children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.' ***** Give generously whatever be the gift. The gift itself, 'Beautiful or useful though it may be, is only a symbol of the love or friendship that prompts it. ' The gift without the giver is bare,' ' Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.'