Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 28 January 1915, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR

January 31, Sunday.— Septuagesima Sunday. February 1, Monday.- St. Ignatius, Bishop and Martyr. ~ 2, Tuesday.—Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, ’,, 3, Wednesday. St. Blase, Martyr. ~ 4, Thursday. St. Andrew Corsini, Bishop and Confessor.

»> 5, Friday. —St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr. ~ 6, Saturday.—St. Titus, Bishop and Confessor.

The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was ordained in the Old Law that a mother should piesent her first-born son in the temple, as an acknowledgment of the Divine Sovereignty, and in commemoration of the mercy of God, when, having in a single night destroyed the first-born of the Egyptians, lie spared those of the Israelites. Moreover, to remind the Jews that, in consequence of Adam’s fall, man is conceived in sin, a mother, after child-birth, was regarded as legally unclean for a certain period, during which she was forbidden to enter the temple, or to touch anything consecrated to God. Though the Blessed Virgin was, for various reasons, exempt from this law, she submitted to it in all humility. ‘ After the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord . . . and to offer a sacrifice, according as it was written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons’ (Gosper of St. Luke).

St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr.

St. Agatha belonged to a rich and illustrious Sicilian family. During the persecution of Decius she displayed great constancy in suffering the bitter and protracted tortures which were inflicted on her by the orders of a pagan judge, and which eventually caused her death in 251. The city of Catania, situated at the foot of Mount Etna, honors her as patron, and attributes to her protection its safety on the occasions of many violent volcanic eruptions.

grains of GOLD.

ONE LOOK AT THE SACRED HEART There it hung on the cottage wall, Mutely watching the deeds of all ; E'en its presence seemed to impart Right and grace from the Sacred Heart.

Those pleading eyes were ever bent On every face that came and went, As, pointing to the open side, He showed His love all crucified.

That sight sufficed to quell the fear, And dry the sorrow-laden tear, The wearing grief, the fretting care, All—all found balm and solace there.

Many a hasty word was stayed, Many a touch of grace "obeyed, Many a prayer to heaven would dart, By only a look at the Sacred Heart.

We’ll listen, then, to Jesus’ Prayer, Then His Heart’s promise we may share ; ‘ There where My Heart they shall expose, My benediction shall repose.’

Peace is rarely denied to the peaceful. Pride is quite liable to lead to other sins. .. Don’t climb the hill before you cross the valley. Without prayer man is certain to go to perdition. He who can have patience can have what he will.