Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 9 March 1916, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR.NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR March 12, /Sunday.— -First Sunday in Lent. ' „ 13, Monday.—Of the Feria. - •* ' ': '• „ > 14, Tuesday.—Of the Feria. ~V: \ - ,;' . : ,i, 15, Wednesday.—Of the Feria. Ember Day. : „ 16, Thursday.— the Feria. 3? „ 17, Friday.—St. Patrick, Bishop and Confessor. ■ N , L - *'',' 1 Ember Day. ■ •, '■,-, „ 18, Saturday.—St., Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor. ."■"'"-.'-v' ' ' / - ""' • Ember Day. '■■ -:,/•- . St. Patrick, Bishop and Confessor. ;.-...' . The nationality of St. Patrick is much disputed, some naming France, others Scotland, as the place of his birth. When but sixteen years of age, ,he was carried captive into Ireland, where he remained for six years, thus by a remarkable disposition of Divine. Providence becoming acquainted with the language and customs of the people whom he was afterwards to evangelise. Having escaped , from captivity, his ; one desire was to return to Ireland, bringing with him the blessings of the true faith to its' pagan inhabitants. The desired mission was confided to him. by Pope St. Celestine about 432. His labors were crowned with complete success. By his exertions Ireland has ever since not only kept the faith pure at home, but has helped to propagate it in nearly every country in the world. St. Patrick died about 464, and was buried in Downpatrick. './..'■* GRAINS OF GOLD. '>;■'"" \:\-'. 'SERVICE. s I was longing to serve my Master, And lo! I was laid aside, . '•"••' From the party of busy workers . Who toiled the fields so wide. ;/• v/ They were few—yes, few in number, N . And I could not understand, N .■•■■'"■'' .x Why I should- be kept inactive; 'Twas so different from what I had planned. ' * « ~* - .....-■' I was longing to serve my Master, ':.'.'''■■<-'■ I knew that the work was great - To me it was easy to labor, : • ■ '..;. But oh! it was hard to wait; ' •• To lie quite still and be silent/' - While the song was borne to my ear Of the reapers with whom I had mingled \; >. '.,''■'. In the work to my heart so dear. I was longing to serve my Master, Ah ! this was my one fond thought; For this I was ever pleading, When His footstool in prayer I sought. And the seasons of sweet communing Were, few and far apart Not of Him so much as His service, Were the thoughts that filled my heart. I was longing to serve my Master, ' He led to a desert place, And there, as we stopped and rested, • • ° His eyes looked down in my face '*:.,': So full of tender reproaching, . . •; They filled me with sad surprise, . " '■■■-- • 'Did He think I had grudged my service, ; - . \. And counted it sacrifice ; v »';■'•• ..- .. ■•■;-. •■ ;•'..■■ -.- -.._. • \:._\ '.• , " ■■'- .-■'. •■- /■ /■•' '■•:' '.? -. —-—— —■ — i "'.'-■ .'": l . ; ; . They who; recognise :by the > light of faith the sove-reignty-of God in all things will recognise ' the sovereignty of God in ' the daily - and hourly details r of their. own personal life and in the changes of their lot.— Cardinal Manning. » ■■. ; ,