Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 26 November 1914, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR

November 29, Sunday. First Sunday of Advent ~ 30, Monday. —St. Andrew, Apostle. December 1, Tuesday.—St. Elizabeth, Widow. - ~ 2, Wednesday.—St. Bibiana, Virgin and '• - Martyr.. ' ~ 3, Thursday.St. Francis Xavier, Confessor, and Patron of Australia.

„ 4, Friday. St. Peter Chrysologus,. Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor.

~ 5, Saturday.—St., Sylvester, Abbot.

St. Bibiana, Virgin and Martyr.

St. Bibiana was the daughter of a Roman noble named Flavian, who himself gave his life for the faith. The confiscation of her property, with its consequent privations, having failed to shake her constancy in the profession of Christianity, she was subjected to cruel tortures,- and finally scourged to death, A.D. 363.

St. Sylvester, Abbot.

St. Sylvester was born near Loreto, in Italy, in 1177. At the age of forty he retired into a desert, in order that, free from worldly cares, he might be able to devote more time to prayer and contemplation. Having been followed by a number of disciples, he founded several monasteries, to which he gave the strict rule of St. Benedict. St. Sylvester died in 1267. GRAINS OF GOLD. ■ 4> RESIGNATION. When Thou, O Lord, didst leave Thy throne on high And stoop to earth, poor fettered man to free From Satan’s loathsome, shameful slavery, , By choosing willingly for him to die Whilst from Thy Heart one sob, one painful sigh Could have reunioned him with his dear God, ’Twas at Thy Father’s will. His merest nod Thou chose this wretched creature thus to buy. Oh then, sweet Lord, teach me that noblest - art Keep far from me the thought of serving mine Of bending in all things my will to Thine; Own sinful self. Help me, O God, to grow Wholly resigned to Thine own Will and know They serve Thee best who serve with ready heart. ' —Franciscan Herald. 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 it. Do not notice all you see, nor heed»all you hear. Recall the hasty word before it passes the lips, and keep it. Assume there is a pathway of God to every heart, and seek to find it. ‘ No prayer,’ says St. Augustine, ‘ is more beautiful than Deo Gratias.’ The darkest shadows of life are those which a man makes himself when he stands in his own light. Sometimes a man’s failures do more good to the world and his own cause than his best successes. There are three things which never return — a spoken word, and a neglected opportunity. Strive to live in a perpetual readiness to die, and this you will attain if you learn to love our Lord’s Presence now. —Cardinal Manning. No man need ever expect to reach any degree of perfection save by means of the action of the Holy Eucharist 'on his soul .—St. Denis. Maintain a holy simplicity of mind, and do not smother yourself with a host of cares, wishes, and longings, under any pretext. —St. Francis de Sales. Decision never, becomes easier by postponement, while habit grows stronger every day. Common sense as well as conscience says ‘ Choose this day.’