Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 8 April 1920, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR. April 11, Sunday.—Low Sunday. . "■ „ 12, Monday. —Of the Feria. ~ 13, Tuesday.—St. Hermenigild, Martyr. ~ 14, Wednesday.St. Justin, Martyr. ~ 15, Thursday.Of the Feria. ~ 16,. Friday. —Of the Feria. ~ 17, Saturday.—St. Anicetus, Pope and Martyr. St. Hermenigild, Martyr. : This saint was the son of Leovild, a king of the Visigoths,, who was infected with the Arian heresy. Having embraced the Catholic religion, St. Hermenigild was deprived of the right of succession to the throne and cast into prison. These attempts to shake his constancy having failed, he was put to death by order of his own father about the beginning of the seventh century. St. Justin, Martyr. St. Justin was born of Greek parents in Palestine. After Having devoted himself to an exhaustive study of pagan philosophy, he embraced Christianity when he was in his thirtieth year. His fame for learning rests principally on two Apologies, or defences of the Christian religion, addressed, the one to the Emperor Antoninus Pius, the other to Marcus Aurelius. His vigorous and successful championship of Catholicity earned for him the martyr’s crown, A.D. 167. St. Anicetus, Pope and Martyr. St. Anicetus, Pope from 157 to 168? was a Syrian by birth, and suffered martyrdom under Marcus Aurelius. He was visited at Home by St. Polycarp of Smyrna. These two saints had some dispute in regard to the date of Easter, a discussion which did not alter their friendship. GRAINS OF GOLD MATER PURISSIMA. (Prayer to Our Lady of Spotless Purity for the Grace of Purity to each Child of Mary.) . Mater Purissima ! To thee I kneel In full prostration, praying at thy feet ! Great Shrine of God! with grace let this child feel Soul-healing blessings borne from Jesus sweet, So that His Passion-music may reveal Full gracious pardon from the Mercy Point * her to Jesus through thy saving grace! Pure “Mother of the golden light!” Give light Straight from the smile of her Redeemer’s face! O Sacred Heart of Mary, pure and white, Whisper to Jesus: Cleanse, and keep her so!” Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, hear! Ask Him the choicest gifts on her bestow Faith, Hope, and Charity! Show thyself clear ! “Our life, our sweetness, and our hope,” thou art! Peace grant her, Lady of the Sacred Heart ! O Sanctuary bell, of her be part! — George Joseph Evatt. Christchurch. PRAY FOR YOUR PRIEST. Have you ever said a prayer for your priest ? He deserves it —and he desires it. Your thought that he does not need it is complimentary, but he wants it. Cut out the following prayer and place it in your prayer book, to be read after Mass, or recite from memory, on passing him in the street ; “0 Jesus, Eternal Priest, keep this Thy servant, within the shelter of Thy Sacred Heart, where none may harm him. “Keep unstained his anointed hands, which daily touch Thy Sacred Body. - ““Keep unsullied the lips purpled with Thy Precious Blood. _• “Keep pure and unearthly a heart sealed with the sublime marks of Thy glorious priesthood. “Let Thy holy love. surround him, and shield him from the world’s contagion. “Bless his labor with abundant fruit, and may they to whom ' he has ministered be here his joy and consolation, and in heaven his beautiful and everlasting crown. Ameil.” * From an old Irish Litany.