Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 26 February 1920, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR. February 29, Sunday.—Second Sunday in Lent. March 1, Monday.—Of the Feria. „ 2, Tuesday. the Feria. „ 3, Wednesday.Of the Feria. ~ 4, Thursday.—St. Casimir, Confessor. „ 5, Friday.—Of the Feria. ■ „ 6, Saturday.SS. Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs. St. Casimir, Confessor. St. Casimir (Prince of Poland), Confessor, was born in the royal palace at Cracow, in 1458, and died at the court of Grodno on March 4, 1484. He was the grandson of Wladislaus II Jagielio, King of Poland, who introduced Christianity into Lithuania. St. Casimir was possessed of great charm of person and character, and was noted particularly for his justice and chastity. Often at night he would kneel for hours before locked doors of churches, regardless of the hour or the inclemency of the weather. He had a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and the hymn of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, "Omni die die Maria mea laudes anima," was long attributed to him. After his death he was venerated as a saint because of the miracles wrought by him. He was canonised by Pope Adrian VI. in 1522. Pope Clement VIII. named March 4 as his feast. ' St. Casimir is patron of Poland and Lithuania. SS. Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs. SS. Perpetua and Felicitas, together with three companions, suffered martyrdom for the Faith at Carthage, in the year 203. j GRAINS OF GOLD "ECCE MATER TUA." Prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Succor and Her Divine Child for the Sad Heart of Woman. (For the N.Z. Tablet.) 0 loving, Sacred Heart of Mary, hear! Ask of thy gentle Jesus to convey Peace for this riven soul. Ah, Mother dear, Protect and succor her by night and day; Her form with thy maternal mantle fold Her trembling hand bid some kind angel hold When to her cross the Great Cross draweth near! Press, Guardian Angels, round her thorny way! Calm Light of Light, shed on each contrite tear Thy Love's forgiveness! Jesu, be her stay! God's Rose of Myst'ry, fragrant and blood-red, Unfold and round sad Woman's close twine ! Ah! whisper soft, "Behold thy Mother!" Shed A clear foreshadowing of peace divine, Brighter each dawn, I pray thee, Mother mine! —George Joseph Evatt. Christchurch. REFLECTIONS. In the way of the Cross, it is only the first step that is painful. The fear of trials is our greatest cross. —Von. Cure d'Ars. There is one flower necessary in the garden of life: it is the flower of faith. Where this heavenly plant grows not, many other flowers wither away quickly, especially the flower of true happiness.— Landriot. There is nothing sweeter in the world than to be forgotten, except by those who love us and whom we love. The rest bring us more trouble than joy; and when we have accomplished our task, dug our furrow, be it great or small, the happiest thing is to disappear.Lacordaire. The reformer whose heart is in the right place, but whose head is elsewhere, represents a waste of force, and we cannot afford any waste in any conservation of honor and goodness. We cannot even afford errors of taste and judgment. The business of leading lives morally worthy of men is neither simple, nor easy, nor new. Oh, that I could only find words to tell of the reward that they will receive from this Adorable Heart, who employ themselves in making it known and loved.—Blessed Margaret Mary.