Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 30 September 1920, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR. October 3, Sunday. Nineteenth Sunday after Rente- ' cost. ~ 4, Monday.— St. Francis of Assisi, Confessor. ~ _ 5, Tuesday.—SS. Placid and Companions, Martyrs, ~ 6, Wednesday. —St. Bruno, Confessor. » 7, Thursday.—Feast of the Holy Rosary. ~ 8, Friday. —St. Brigid, Widow. ~ 9, Saturday.— SS. Denis and Companions, Martyrs. - ® St. Francis of Assisi, Confessor. The great founder of the Franciscan Order was Born at Assisi, in the Papal States, towards the close of the twelfth century. While yet in his father’s house, he showed a more than ordinary compassion for the poor, often depriving himself of food and clothing in order to come to their assistance. To charity he joined the most profound humility of heart. Base and contemptible in his own eyes, he desired to be reputed such by all, and sincerely shunned honor and praise, saying; “What a man is in the eyes of God, that he is, and no more.” St. Francis died at Assisi in 1226, in his 45th year. Feast of the Holy Rosary. On* the first Sunday of October, 1571, was fought the great battle of Lepanto, which saved Europe from the Turks, and gave the death-blow to the Ottoman power. In memory of this victory, gained at the very moment when the faithful were reciting the Rosary for the success of the Christian arms, Gregory XIII. ordered the present feast to be celebrated.

St. Brigid, Widow.

St. Brigid belonged to the royal family of Sweden. From childhood she was remarkable for charity, love of retirement, and a distaste for worldly enjoyments. On the death of her husband she divided her property amongst her children and withdrew into a convent which she herself had founded. She died in Rome in 1373, at the age of 71, on her return from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, GRAINS OF GOLD THE .ANGELUS BELL. Softly the sound of the angelus bell Falls from the tower, o’er village and dell, Gently it touches a something within And offers a refuge from sorrow and sin. Appealing to hearts that are tepid or cold, Calling the stray ones again to the fold, Telling to all that an hour is here, Pleading with sinners in tones sweet and clear. Prompting the heart in the hour of prayer, Soothing the 'life that is weary with care, >- Sounds floating over me seem to instil “Bow in submission.to God’s holy will.” Ringing to all, to the lonely, the sad, Ringing to all, to the happy, the glad, Soundings of sorrow and 'soundings of joy Telling that much of the world is alloy. As softly the sound of the angelus bell Falls from the tower o’er village and dell, Flushed in its music, its music divine, A soul going home at the angelus time. Ringing o’er mountains, o’er valley and sea, Ringing to weary and fettered and free, Softest of music, awake me, to tell Of life everlasting, Sweet Angelus Bell !