Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 15 October 1914, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

October 18, Sunday. —Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost. St. Luke, Evangelist. » 19, Monday. —St. , Peter of . Alcantara, Confessor.

„ 20, Tuesday.— St. John of Kenty, Confessor. ,1 21, Wednesday. —Blessed Victor 111., Pope and Confessor.

~ 22, Thursday.— Of the Feria. ~ 23, Friday. — Of the Feria. ~ 24, Saturday. —Of the Feria.

St. Luke, Evangelist.

, St. Luke was a native of Antioch, the capital of Syria, and was by profession a physician. He was probably one of the first converts to Christianity in Antioch. He wrote his Gospel mainly for the use of the Greeks converted by St. Paul, and, consequently, he did not purpose proving, like St. Matthew, who wrote for the Jews, that Christ was the promised Messias, but preferred rather to bring into prominence the facts which show that He was the Saviour of the world, and that He had died for all—Jews and Gentiles. St. Luke also wrote the Acts of the Apostles. He is believed to have been martyred in Greece, but the date of his death is uncertain.

GRAINS OP GOLD

THE CROSS OF CALVARY. When sun was dark on Calvary’s hill. And faces stern in terror whit’ning, When veil was rent and earth’s depths shaken, When ebon clouds were rift by lightning, One woman there stood faithful still, — Faithful to the All-Forsaken ! While flashed the flame and pealed the thunder, She to the Cross of Jesus clung, .With every heart-string torn asunder — Steadfast while her soul was wrung With anguish wild on Calvary, For her dead Child on Calvary ! The Cross that stood on Calvary’s hill Is near each soul in sorrow shrouded, When mourning takes the place of gladness And joys of earth grow dim and clouded. If it but bend to Heaven’s will, Star above the path of sadness, If it but cling as Mary clung, Though bleak the way so rough and weary, Steadfast while the heart is wrung With weeping o’er its Calvary, With grieving sore on Calvary ! v ■ Cling to the Cross in dawn of life, Cling in the noon of heat and strife, Cling when the shades of eve draw nigh, That night may find thee watching by The saving Cross of Calvary ! Ah ! on the Resurrection Day, . When this brief dream has passed away, How bright will be that second birth For those who, on the tear-dewed earth, Clung to the Cross of Calvary, The risen Cross of Calvary ! Ave Maria.

Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees. —Victor Hugo. Decision never becomes easier by . postponement, while; habit grows stronger every day. Common sense as well as conscience says, ‘ Choose this day.’