Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 11 May 1916, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR

May 14, Sunday.—Third Sunday after Easter. ~ 15, Monday.St. John Baptist tie la Salle, Confessor. ~ 16, Tuesday.—St. LibaldusJ Bishop and Confessor. „ 17, Wednesday.—Octave of the Solemnity of St. ‘ ! Joseph. „ 18, Thursday. — St. v'enantius. Martyr. „ 19, Friday.—St. Peter Celestme, Pope and Confessor. „ 20, Saturday.—St. Bernardine of Siena, Confessor.

St. Peter Celestine, Pope and Confessor.

St. Peter, a native of Southern Italy, spent the greater part of a very austere life in solitude. in his old age lie found himself unexpectedly elected Pope. He endeavoured in vain to decline the proffered office, but at length yielded to the importunities of kings and cardinals. Considering, However, that through, inexperience of the world he was unfitted for the government of the Church, he resigned the Pontificate after four months, with the object of spending the remainder of his days in the retirement of his monastery. ' He died about eighteen months after his resignation, A.D. 1296.

St. Bernardine of Siena, Confessor.

St. Bernardine, a native of the Republic of Siena, in Italy, gave early proof of solid piety, and .particularly of a tender devotion to the Mother of God. His charity to the sick was not less remarkable than his patience in bearing his own infirmities. Having become a priest, it is incredible how much good he effected by his preaching invarious parts of Italy —a result due not so much to his natural gifts as to the burning zeal which inspired his words. St. Bernardine died in 1444, in the sixty-fourth year of his age.

GRAINS OF GOLD.

A MORNING OFFERING.

I offer Thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus! Through Mary’s Heart v most pure. Each sorrow that to-day my heart is fated To suffer and endure ; Each grief that shall encompass me with sadness, Each pang of pain and loss, I place upon the rugged crest of Calvary, Beside the saving Cross.

I offer Thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus! Each thought of mine to-day ; I offer Thee the . deeds of all the hours, The words that I shall say; My heart and mind, my hand and brain I bring Thee With perfect love and trust. And beg of Thee to brighten with Thy graces My pathway through the dust.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus ! in the noonday And at the evening’s close. When every sun-ray as it strikes the hilltops A lengthening shadow throw’s. Make strong my heart to battle for Thy glory, And win the sweet reward — A place within the shelter of Thy kingdom, The welcome of my Lord. —lrish Messenger.

A kind act has picked up many a fallen man, w T ho has afterwards slain his tens qf thousands for his Lord, and has entered the heavenly city at last as a conqueror, amidst the acclamations of the saints and with the w r elcome of his Sovereign.—Father Faber.

Mary, as the pattern both of maidenhood and maternity, has exalted woman’s state and nature, and made the Christian virgin and the Christian mother understand the sacredness of their duties ill the sight of God. — Cardinal Newman. -

Trifles make up life and are the ultimate test of fidelity. The best will can not ripen into permanent greatness when the fearful power of negligent habit in trivial things has given bent, and character to the soul. f, What if God makes use of me, rather than of another, to procure His Glory! Provided His Kingdom be establish among souls, the instrument matters not. Besides. He has no need of any one. The Little Flower. -

\ The love we »• conceive toward God we must bring forth in acts 'of charity towards our neighbors. - God Himself is beyond our reach; ,therefore, the service we cannot render directly to Him, He wills we should render to our neighbors.—St. Catherine of Siena. .y.