Friends at court

New Zealand Tablet, 24 February 1921, Page 3

Friends at court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR. February 27, Sunday. Third Sunday in Lent. ~ 28, Monday. —Of the Feria. March 1, Tuesday. : Of the Feria. ~ 2, Wednesday.—Of the Feria. ~ 3, Thursday. the Feria. ~ 4, Friday.—St. Casimir, Confessor. ~ 5, Saturday. —Of the Feria. - St. Casimir, Confessor. St. Casimir (Prince of Poland), Confessor, was born in the royal palace at Cracow, in 1458, and died at the court of Grodno on March 4, 1484. He was the grandson of Wladislaus 11. Jagiello, King of Poland, who introduced Christianity into Lithuania. St. Casimir was possessed of great charm of person and character, and was noted particularly for his justice and chastity. Often at night he would kneel for hours, before locked doors of churches, regardless of the hour or the inclemency of the weather. He had a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and the hymn of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, “Omni die die Maria mea laudes anima,” was long attributed to him. After his death he was venerated as a saint because of the miracles wrought by him. He was canonised by Pope Adrian VI. in 1522. Pope Clement VIII. named March 4 as his feast. St. Casimir is patron of Poland and Lithuania. GRAINS OF GOLD VIRGIN AND MOTHER. Virgin and Mother of our dear Redeemer, All hearts are touched and softened at her name. Alike the bandit with the bloodstained hand, The priest, the prince, the scholar, and the peasant. The man of deeds, the visionary dreamer, ay homage to her as one ever present! And even as children who have much offended A too indulgent father, in great shame, Penitent, and yet not daring unattended To go into his presence, at the gate Speak with their sister, and confiding wait Till she goes inbefore and intercedes ; So men, repenting of their evil deeds, And yet not venturing rashly to draw near With their request on an angry father’s ear, Offer to her their prayers and their confession, And she for them in Heaven makes intercession. And if our faith had given us nothing more Than this example of all womanhood, So mild, so merciful, so strong, so good, So patient, peaceful, loyal, loving, pure, This were enough to prove it higher and truer Than all.the creeds the world had known before. ' Longfellow. REFLECTIONS. When you recognise a weakness in yourself, grapple with it without delay. Do not delude yourself with the thought that you will outgrow it and lose it accidentally somewhere along the way. How inspiring it is in all our intercourse with our fellow-men, how efficacious in resisting temptation is the thought, “I am a child r of God!” Does not this dignity demand of me purity of soul and body I know that misery is the alphabet of fire, in which history writes in flaming letters the consequences of evil; and that without its glaring light we should never see the path back into the kingdom of God.—Florence Nightingale. . • ; WrWe* shall /never convert the; world ; nor renew the achievements of old times without a mighty- zeal for the salvation .of -souls. ’ In your prayers, tin f your* desires, ask Tor others and f6r your own soul this fire that can light and warm a world o 4- i If. 'if, kf"i ff ■