Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 27 April 1916, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR

April 30, Sunday.—Low Sunday. May 1, Monday.—SS. Philip and James, Apostles. ~ 2, Tuesday.-—St; Mam, Evangelist. a 3, Wednesday.-—The Finding of the Holy Cross. ~ 4, Thursday.—St. Monica, Widow. ~ 5, Friday.—St. Pius V., Pope and Confessor. ~ 6, Saturday.—St. John at the Latin Gate.

SS. Philip and James, Apostles. St. Philip was a native of Bethsaida, in Galilee, and was called to the Apostleship on the day after the vocation of St. Peter. From several facts mentioned in the Gospels, he appears to have been specially dear to his Divine Master. After the descent of the Holy Ghost, he preached in Scythia and Phrygia. He lived to an advanced age, and finally received the crown of martyrdom at Hierapolis, in Phrygia. St. James, surnamed the Less, on account of his stature or youth, was a brother of the Apostle St. Jude, and a relation of the Blessed Virgin, being a son of her sister or cousin. He was called to the Apostolate in the second year of our Lord’s public ministry. Pentecost, St. James became the first Bishop of Jerusalem, and took a prominent part in the Council of the Apostles held in that city in 51. He was stoned to death by the Jews, A.D. 62.

The Finding of the Holy Cross.

This festival has been celebrated in the Latin Church since the fifth or sixth century. It commemorates the discovery by St. Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, A.D. 326, of the Cross on which our Blessed Saviour suffered. In the words of St. Jerome: ‘lf the ark was held in such high veneration by the Jews, hdw much more ought Christians respect the wood of the Cross whereon our Saviour offered Himself a bleeding victim for our sins? Christ selected the Cross to be the glorious instrument of His victory, and the Cross is the standard under which all His followers must fight His battles.’

GRAINS OF GOLD.

LONG YEARS AGO AND NOW. Long years ago, when but a little child, With heart still innocent and undefiled, I daily begged the chaste Disciple Jqhn— Whom Christ with special love and favor blest— That I with him might lay my head upon The Master’s breast.

But now that I am old, ctnd long have been All weather-beaten. by the storms of sin, To Magdalen the Penitent I pray— Whose love and tears won Christ’s forgiveness sweet— ‘

That I with her may weep my sins away At Jesus’ feet.

—Ave Maria. &

As we stand by the seashore and watch the huge waves come in, we retreat, thinking we will be overwhelmed ; soon, however, they flow back. So with the waves of trouble in the world; they threaten us, but a firm resistance makes them break at our feet.

The force of good example in making converts cannot be over-estimated. Men believe their eyes more readily than their ears. Catholic talk may fail, but Catholic virtue seldom fails to attract men to the Church. Words to people’s ears may sound loud: words, to their eyes, that is to say, the beautiful deeds of the devout Catholic life, are often as loud as the trumpet of Sinai—God’s loving speech. Catch your neighbor’s eye with your temperate, truthful, honorable and charitable deeds ’ catch his eye ; and you willcatch- his heart. ” - ~ : “ ,