Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 13 June 1918, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR June 16, Sunday.—Fourth Sunday after Pentecost. ~ 17, Monday.—Of the Feria. ~ 18, Tuesday.—SS. Marcus and Marcellinus, Martyrs. ~ 19, Wednesday.—St. Juliana, Virgin. ~ 20, Thursday.—St. Silverius, Pope and Martyr. ~ 21, Friday.—St. Aloysius, Confessor. ~ 22, Saturday.—St. Paulinus, Bishop and Confessor.

St. Aloysius Gonzaga. St. Aloysius Gonzaga was born in the Castle of Castiglione on March 9, 1568, and died on June 21, 1591. At Brescia, when he was twelve, he came under the spiritual guidance of St. Charles Rorromeo, and from him received First Communion. In 1581 he went with his father to Spain, and he and his brother were made pages to James, the son of Philip 11. Wane there he formed the resolution of becoming a Jesuit, though he first thought of joining the Discalced Carmelites. In 1591, when in his fourth year of theology, a famine and pestilence broke out in Italy. Though in delicate health, he devoted himself to the care 'of the sick, but fell ill and died. He was beatified by Gregory XV. in 1621 and canonised by Benedict XIII in 1726. St. Paulinus, Bishop and Confessor. St. Paulinus was born in the year 353 at Bordeaux, of a wealthy and ancient senatorial family. His acquaintance with SS. Ambrose, Augustine, and Jerome, induced him to give up all his dignities and retire from the world, In 409 he became Bishop of Nola, in Campania. Many of the works of this distinguished Father are lost. Letters written to friends such as Sulpicius Severus, St. Augustine, St. Jerome, and other distinguished contemporaries, together with poems, alone remain. He died in the year~43l.

GRAINS OF GOLD. BEAR WITH ME, LORD. Bear with me, Lord, and suffer me to keep My soul from earthly stain ; for all day long The Tempter’s voice is pleasant in mine ear. The world’s deceiving beauties soothe mine’eye, And all my frailties rise against my will. Rear with me, Lord, and help me in my need : Look down in pity on my fainting heart. And raise me in mine anguish ; for the ni fr ht Is full of diverse thoughts that grieve my soul, And fright me with the phantoms of despair. Thou knowest, Lord, my dire necessity, Thou knowest the will and weakness of my heart : Oh, let my soul that crieth out to Thee Ry sorrow’s fire refined and purified Rest in the peace and pleasure of Thy love. Lord, let thfe living glory of Thy light Flood all my being, and drive the shadows forth Of every vain desire; Oh, make me feel The beauty of Thy presence, so my feet Shall never miss the path that leads to Thee. —Daniel J. Donahoe.

REFLECTIONS. A bad book is falsehood and sin in a permanent and impersonal form.—Cardinal Manning. Age is the holy place of life ; the chapel of ease ror all men s wearied miseries.—Massinger. We may buy back the time we have sinfully squandered, if only for the future we are faithful.—Canon Sheehan.