Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 4 March 1915, Page 3

Friends at Court

■ GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR March 7, Sunday. Third -Sunday in Lent. ~ 8, Monday.—St. John of God, Confessor. ~ 9, Tuesday.—St. Frances of Rome, Widow. ~ 10, Wednesday. Forty Martyrs. - ~ 11, Thursday. — Of the Feria. ~ 12, Friday.—St. Gregory the Great, Pope, Coni fessor, and Doctor. ~ 13, Saturday. —Of the Feria. St. John of God, Confessor. St. John was born in Portugal of poor parents, A.D. 1495. ' He spent the greater part of his youth as a servant, his principal duty being to tend the flocks of his Master. Having, at the age of twenty-seven, enlisted as a soldier, the evil example of his companions had the effect of lessening his fervor, and causing him to give up some of his devotional practices. For this remissness he afterwards endeavored to atone by a life entirely devoted to the care of the sick poor. His charity and humility, his untiring activity in doing good to all, were such as to win for him the admiration of the city of Granada, where a considerable portion of his life was spent. St. John died in 1550.' St. Frances of Rome, Widow. St. Frances, a native of Rome, exhibited from her childhood a remarkable love of solitude and prayer. As she grew up these qualities became more marked, though she never, under pretext of engaging in private devotions, neglected the duties of her state of life, her motto being ‘ A married woman must, when called upon, quit her devotions to God at the altar, to find Him in her household affairs.’ After the death of her husband, St. Frances entered an Order of nuns which she herself had founded. She died in 1440, being then in the fifty-sixth year of her age. GRAINS OF GOLD. DOMTNE, DEUS MEUS. O Lord, my God, in Thee I trust, And Thy protection crave, Lest fierce and strong the foe rush on, When none is there to save. O Lord, if I have done ill deeds, And evil in my day, Then let the foe exult o’er me, - And crush me in the way. But in Thy justice judge me Lord — The sinner’s wiles and arts Are brought to nought before Thy face, Who -searchest reins and hearts. My God is just and strong and good, Nor quickly moved to wrath, But for the wicked vengeance sure And swift is in his path. Behold ! The wicked make a .pit, But who shall fall therein ? And sorrow is the robe and crown Of him who walks with sin. * But I the praise of God will speak, And to His justice cry, And call with joy upon His name— The King and Lord most high. * Catholic Bulletin. Every human being is intended to have a character of his own—to be what no other is, to do what no other can..