Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 30 December 1920, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR. January 2, Sunday. Feast of the Most Holy Name of -■■ Jesus. . ~ 3, Monday.—Octave of St; John the Evangelist. ~ 4, Tuesday.—Octave of the Holy Innocents. • :".-,, 5, _ Wednesday.—Vigil of the Epiphany. ~ 6, Thursday.—Feast of the Epiphany. ~ 7, Friday.—Of the Octave. „ ' S, Saturday.—Of the Octave. Feast of the Epiphany. From the fourth century the Epiphany, or Manifestation of Our Lord, has been regarded as one of the greatest of ecclesiastical solemnities. Three events in the life of Our Blessed Saviour are commemorated on this day—(l) the manifestation of the Infant Redeemer to the wise men from the East; (2) the baptism of Our Lord at the hands of St. John, when a voice from Heaven was heard declaring: "This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased"; (3) the changing of the water into wine at the marriage feast of Cana—the first miracle by which Christ showed His divine power.

GRAINS OF GOLD IF JESUS BE OUR FRIEND. If Jesus be our friend? how sweet Will be this dreary life! What joys will flow where'er we go. In this drear world of strife, All other joys, and loves, and cures. Will turn to sorrow deep, If we but cast this world aside - ■'. ; And Jesus' friendship keep. If Jesus be our friend, our souls His name will ever bless; And far beyond this sinful world 'Twill seek its heavenly rest. All sufferings will be to it. As special gifts of peace If we but try within our hearts His friendship to increase. If Jesus, be our friend, can ever We abandon Him Who reigns upon our altars As our universal King? Oh, no! we'll rather kneel prostrate: And earnestly implore, That He may guide our feet aright To heaven's eternal shore. INFLECTIONS. It is resignation and contentment that are best calculated to lead us safely through life. —Von Humboldt. To chivalrous souls a. pathetic failure often appeals more than an excellent success. —Mgr. Benson. 4 One of the things that strikes me is the immense* amount of spiritual funds thrown away in the world by people not making good use of the daily trials and worries of this life. Mother Hennetta Kerr. There can be no cure for the world's discontents until faith and the rule of everlasting principle are again restored and made supreme in the life of men and of nations. Pain comes to us from the hand of God for our good. Great are the rewards in store for those who know its value and accept it as a mercy. Gratitude is the homage the heart renders to God for His goodness; Christian cheerfulness is the external manifestation of the homage. Divine confidence can swim upon those seas which feeble reason-cannot fathom.—W. Seeker. Leave not the business of to-day to be done to-morrow : tor who knoweth what may be thy condition to-morrow? The rose garden which to-day is full of flowers, when tomorrow thou wouldst pluck a. rose may not afford thee one ±irdausi. He is the grandest scientist who sees God in everv progressive revelation of science, who with the humility of truth accepts the Universe as the story-book of His Father written for him to study to know the Father better. Ihe life of Mary alone is a rule for. all Christians. In her actions, we find a perfect model, which leaves us ignorant of nothing which needs reforming in us: what we ha-ve to do and to avoid.—St. Augustine.