Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 16 October 1919, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR. October 19, Sunday.—Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. ~ . 20, Monday.—St. John Cantius, Confessor. ~ 21, Tuesday.—St. Hilarion, Abbot. ~ 22, Wednesday.—Of the Feria. ~ 23, Thursday.—Of the Feria. ~ 24, Friday.—Of the Feria. ~ 25, Saturday.—Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. John Cantius, Confessor. St. John was born at Kenti, in Poland. Ordained priest,- he exhibited the most ardent zeal for souls, and a boundless charity a word, all the virtues of a good pastor. Severe to himself, ho was ever indulgent to others, who were sure to find in him a generous friend in all their necessities. Ho died in 1473, being then 70 years of age. St. Hilarion, Abbot. St. Hilarion, founder of the monastic life in Palestine, was born at Tabathe, near Gaza. He became a Christian at Alexandria, and visited St. Anthony in the Thebaid. Returning into his own country in 307, he divided all his goods among the poor and retired into the frightful solitude of Majuma, where numerous disciples placed themselves under his direction. He founded numerous monasteries in Palestine and in Syria, and left his solitude and retired to the island of Cyprus, in order to escape celebrity. GRAINS OF GOLD PARTICIPATION. [A seminarian’s appreciation of the toil of a sister who has made possible the realisation of his priestly ambition.] In silence at the Master's feet I sit and weave, One glance of love, then weave again, For he has promised that my tangled mesh shall bo A net whose precious catch is men. And in the distance where Toil’s shadow deeper falls, Love urges on a sister’s hand To spin the never-ending thread I weave, to press Her prayerful lips to every strand. Hear heart, when this frail net is done and holy oils Anoint my feeble hands, thino-too Will share the holy unction and tlieir seams be smoothed, — Dear hands that never respite knew. And when my lips first meet the Precious Blood, thy lips Shall purple with eternal hue. —E.J.M., in the Missionary. COMFORT AND PRAYER FOR HUMAN HEARTS. The Sacred Heart of Jesus speaks to thee, Hearing thy tearful prayers, His throne-room is, O child of God, thy heart eternally. Mother of Mercy! Queen of the Courts of Bliss, Pray for us sinners, who in thee confide! Sancta Maria! Heart of the Mystic Rose! Open the gateways of our souls full wide, J ow to the Throne of Grace whence pardon flows ! — George Joseph Evatt (Psalm 1., verso 19). Ora Pro Me. REFLECTIONS. Humility is the ABC of a spiritual life.—St. Vincent do Paul. The knowledge of thyself will preserve thee from vanity.—Cervantes. Happiness is increased, not by the enlargement of the possession, but of the heart. Ruskin. A man lives by believing something, not by debating and arguing about many things.—Carlyle. Bo careful not to grieve over the wickedness of others; watch yourself, “lest you grow a few sprigs of ungodliness.” Pray for a sound mind in a sound body, for a bold spirit free from all dread of death, that can endure labor, that knows not anger, that covets nothing.—Juvenal. Self-control in diet means health and strength; in expenditure, it means honesty and peace of mind; in sickness, it is sometimes so important a factor that it is reckoned by one’s friends as / adding much to the chances of recovery.. Martyrs are spiritual heroes.. Every man has some hour of martyrdom in his existence. The Saviour of all was the great martyr of the human family, and through such a prototype. all martyrdom has become unspeakably blessed and sacred. ; . ; r N ;