Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 1 April 1915, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR April 4, Sunday. Faster Sunday. ~ 5, Monday. Easter Monday. ~. 6,' Tuesday.—Easter Tuesday. ~ 7, Wednesday.— Of the Octave. ~ 8, Thursday. — Of the Octave. a ~ 9, Friday. — Of the Octave. ~ . 10, Saturday.—Of the Octave. Easter Sunday. ‘ The festival of Easter,’ writes St. Gregory, ‘is the solemnity of solemnities, because it raises us from the earth into eternity, which it enables us to enjoy beforehand by faith, hope, and charity.’ ‘ “You shall rise again !” This is what the Church says to us by the eloquent voice of her ceremonies. From the holy temple all signs of mourning have disappeared. The altars are decked out with extraordinary magnificence. Ornaments of gay color and rich embroidery appear. Every face is bright. The bells are all in motion. The song of joy—the “Alleluia” — that word of the language of heaven, fallen on earth for our festive days, resounds on all sides, is repeated every moment; is varied again and again, and is modulated into every key.’ Easter Monday. The contemplation of Christ’s glorious Resurrection and the eternal joys of heaven ought particularly to occupy our souls at this season. GRAINS OF GOLD. OUR MOTHER. White is the snow when it mantles the mountains, Fair are the cloudlets that float o’er their peaks; Pure is the water of rock-springing fountains, True is the star that the mariner seeks But fairer and purer and truer by fails the Heart of that Mother whose children we are. Great is the power of the saints in their glory, Loving their guidance and tender their care; Clients unnumbered of each have a story. Telling of favors in which all may share ; greater the power of Christ’s Holy Mother: Hers is a patronage shared by no other. On Calvary’s Mount, when our Saviour was dying. Then was she given our Mother -to be, — Dearest of titles, in beauty none vying : Mother of Christians, Star of life’s sea. God’s saints are our patrons, all loving and good ; But Mary is Mother, — O sweet Motherhood ! —Ave Maria. He -who reigns within himself, and rules passions, desires, and fears, is more than a king. The greatest friend of truth is time, her greatest enemy prejudice, and her constant companion is humility. It is the possession of an ideal which is the real incentive to action; it is the ideal alone which makes life worth living. Nothing more completely baffles one who is full ■of tricks and duplicity than straightforward and simple integrity in another. Much prudence does not always keep one from ■committing follies, nor much sense from thinking them, nor much wit from uttering them. Energy will do anything that can be done in the world ; and no talent, no circumstances, no opportunities, v will make a man without it. We too often put off repentance, but the time of salvation ,ig now, this very day—we might die with only the desire to lead a better life.