Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 26 August 1920, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR. August 29, Sunday. Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. „ 30, Monday.St. Rose of Lima, Virgin. ~ 31, Tuesday.St. Raymund Nonnatus, Confessor. September 1, Wednesday.—St. Giles, Abbot. v ~ 2, Thursday.St. Stephen, King and Con- . fessor. 3, Friday.--Of the Feria. ~ 4, Saturday. Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Rose of 'Lima, Virgin. Lima, in South America, was the birthplace of St. Rose, who, in a life embracing only 31 years, gave a signal- example of profound humility, patience, and suffering, voluntary mortification, and an ardent love of God. During a long and painful illness her constant prayer was "Lord, increase my sufferings, aiid with them increase Thy love in my heart." She died in 1617. St. Raymund Nonnatus, Confessor. According to the rule laid down by Christ, that Christian proves himself His most faithful disciple, and gives the surest proof of his love of God, who most perfectly loves his neighbor for God's sake. Judged by this test of true sanctity St. Raymund should rank high amongst the saints. Born in Spain in 1204, he gave not only all his property, but his liberty, and even exposed himself to the most cruel torments, and risked his very life, in order to promote the spiritual welfare and secure the release. of Christians held in captivity by the Moors. After a life wholly spent in the service of his neighbors, he died near Barcelona in 1240.

St. Stephen, King and Confessor. St. Stephen was the first King of Hungary. Brought up from infancy in the Catholic his greatest ambition was to bring his idolatrous subjects to a knowledge of the true Faith. At the same time he endeavored to promote their temporal interests. A brave and skilful general, he never engaged in war except when an honorable peace was impossible. St. Stephen died in 1038, at the age of 60.

GRAINS OF GOLD AN HOUR BEFORE THE TABERNACLE. Dearest Lord, let me adore Thee In Thy little prison cell; Dearest Lord, give me Thy graces, That I may spend this hour well. Holy hour, hour holy, . Hour of peace and holy joy, Spent in converse sweet with' Jesus Joy with naught of earth's alloy. Dearest Lord! let me be thankful * For this privilege divine, As our hearts I feel united When I pray before Thy shrine. But before my hour is over, One petition let me make: That the soul of the poor sinner To Your graces will awake.Now, dear Lord, my hour is ended . But my heart is with Thee still, ' rusting, praying, hoping always' - ~ lo do m all Thy blessed will.