Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 23 April 1914, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR April 26, Sunday. — Second Sunday after Easter. ~ 27, Monday. —St. - Anastasias, Pope and Confessor. ~ - 28, Tuesday. —St. Paul' of the Cross, Confessor. ~ 29, Wednesday.—St. Peter, Martyr. ~ 30, Thursday.— St. Catherine of Siena, Virgin. May 1, Friday.—SS. Philip and James, Apostles. ,', 2, Saturday.—St. Athanasius, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor. , St. Anastasias, Pope and Confessor. St. Anastasias, a Homan by birth, held the Pontifical Office from 398 to 401. St. Jerome refers to him in terms of high commendation, and declares him to have been ‘ a man of holy life, endowed with an apostolic solicitude and zeal.’ St. Athanasius, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor. Of St. Athanasius, St. Gregory Nazianzen writes: ‘ When 1 praise Athanasius virtue itself is my theme, for 1 name every virtue as often as 1 mention him, who was possessed of all virtues, lie was a true pillar of the Church. His life and conduct were the rule of Bishops, and his doctrine the rule of the orthodox faith.’ In the calamitous times that followed the Council of Nice, Athanasius, the saintly Bishop of Alexandria, was the chief bulwark and most intrepid champion of the Church. During an episcopate of forty-six years, he was five times driven into exile, but .no hardships could shake his constancy. In his trials he met with firm support from Popes Julius, Liberius, and Damasus. When the -Allans pronounced sentence of deposition against St. Athanasius, Pope Julius annulled their action. ‘Do you not know,’ he wrote to them, ‘ that it is customary to write to Us first, and that it. is from the See of Borne the decision must come which is just and equitable?’ St. Athanasius died at an advanced age in 373. GRAINS OF GOLD. IN THE SANCTUARY. lie is waiting, ever waiting, - Through the brightness of the day. Through the sound of many footsteps, And the clamor of the way ; From the first glad hours of morning, To the solemn hush of noon, Through the bleakness of December And the sultriness of June. He is waiting, ever waiting, Through the stillness of the night, When, the moon rides high in heaven And the silent stars are bright: Where the rose lamp burns forever, ? . ' Like a guide to weary feet, ■ And the very silence murmurs: ‘ Wanderer, pause, the rest is sweet.’ lie is waiting, ever waiting, Through the days and months and years. lie has peace for bruised spirits, He has balm for bitter tears. . On the cross through death and anguish Once He made us all His own. Oh ye thoughtless sons of Adam, xV Shall He wait and watch alone It is fraud to conceal a fraud. By falling before God, we rise towards Him. Think more of giving, than of getting,, and give. Sympathise with suffering,' and seek to relieve Ht. - Do not notice all you see, nor heed all you hear. Recall the hasty word before it passes 'the lips, V and'keep it. -