Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 2 September 1920, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR.

September 5, Sunday.—Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost.

„ 6, Monday. the Feria. „ 7, Tuesday. the Feria. ~ 8, Wednesday.—Nativity of the Blessed ' Virgin Mary. ~ 9, Thursday.St. Gorgonius, Martyr. „ 10, Friday.—St. Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor.

~ 11, Saturday.—Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been, from very ancient times, the occasion of a special feast in the Church. Conceived without stain, she was brought forth into the world pure, holy, and beautiful —adorned with .all the most precious graces which became her who was chosen to be the Mother of God. The Church finds an additional reason for rejoicing in the fact that, as the aurora heralds the sunrise, so the birth of the Blessed Virgin announced that the advent of the promised Redeemer was nigh.

St. Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor.

St. Nicholas receives his surname from a small town in the Papal States, where he spent the greater part of his life. He was remarkable for his austerity, being accustomed to fast on bread and water several days in the week. In the pulpit and in the confessional his zeal and prudence were productive of an incalculable amount of good. He died in 1306.

GRAINS OF GOLD THE CHILD OF MARY. For earthly joys I do not pine, Nor sigh that poverty is mine. For I have gained a matchless prize, As thus I stand beneath the skies The Child of Mary. No monarch’s crown, though gemmed and bright. Dazzling the awed beholder’s sight Was ever worn with loftier grace Than is the band whereon you trace The Child of Mary. The star upon the warrior’s breast, By which the hero is confessed, Was never prized with such sweet care As is the simple badge I wear As Child of Mary, Bright Queen of Heaven, I’ll daily prove To thee my fealty and my love, By the pure heart and spotless name Which ever in the world proclaim The Child of Mary, And when death’s hour has come for me, When I shall wing my flight to thee, The angels will in concert sweet With strains of heavenly music greet The Child of Mary.

REFLECTIONS. When on© has a Christian horn© on© is never wearied. —Besson. No created thing can give the soul joy equal to the .ioy of the Holy Spirit. —St. Ignatius Loyola. A great many people are concerned over others’ shortcomings, whose greatest shortcoming .is their unconcern over- their own shortcomings.