Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 15 September 1921, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT i WEEK'S CALENDAR. September 18, Sunday.—Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. „ 19, Monday.—SS.. Januarius and Companions. Martyrs. „ 20, Tuesday.—SS. Eustachius and Companions, Martyrs. „ 21, Wednesday.—St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. Ember Day. Fast. „ 22, Thursday.—St. Thomas of Villanova, Bishop and Confessor. „ 23, Friday.—St. Linus, Pope and Martyr. „ 24, Saturday.—Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy. Ember Day. Fast Day. (No abstinence.) St. Matthew, Apostle. -

Before being called to follow Christ, St. Matthew was a tax-gatherer, and bore the name of Levi. After the Ascension he preached for some time in Judea, and undei Divine inspiration wrote his Gospel to convince the Jews that Christ was the long-expected Messias. St. Matthew afterwards proceeded to the East, where he won the crown o.f martyrdom.

St. Thomas of Villanova, Confessor.

St. Thomas was born near Villanova, in Spain, A.D. 1488. From his parents he inherited that charitable disposition which was his distinguishing characteristic during the whole course of his life. He was also remarkable for a profound humility, which caused him to shun the admiration of the world, and which his appointment to the Archbishopric of Valentia served only to render more evident. St. Thomas died in 1555.

Our Lady of Mercy.

In the thirteenth century, when the Mediterranean was swept by Moorish pirates, a religious Order was instituted under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the purpose of collecting alms for the relief and ransom of Christian captives, of visiting them in their captivity, and restoring them, when possible, to their friends and families. In memory of the institution of this admirable Order and of the tender compassion of the Blessed Virgin, to whom it owed its origin, the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy was instituted.

GRAINS OF GOLD

QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES. Dear Mother, whom we oft invoke, And Queen of His twelve Fisher-folk, Wo hail thee ever-blessed Maid, When in the sunshine of thy May White as tho lily leaps the spray Upon a sea of jade.

The Twelve have power to loose or bind, And we believe that we shall find Forgiveness through thee, Lady fair; Thou art the Paraclete's chaste Bride, Virgin, whose symbol moves the tide, Preserves us by thy prayer. '

When fall the darkness and the storm, Mother, who gave Him human form, Our potent Mediator be; Grant by the Lights of Pentecost That men He sought mav not be lost To Christ of Galilee.

—Henry C. McLean, in Ave Maria.

REFLECTIONS.

Contineney and chastity lie not in mere integrity of the flesh, but in honesty and modesty of dress and apparel.—St. Cyprian.

Obedience is the accomplishment of the commands of God, the key and seal of all religions discipline.—St. Bruno. It is impurity to behold, to hear, to speak, to smell, or touch any immodest thing in which the heart entertains itself and takes pleasure.—St. Francis of Sales.

I have learned to renounce my own will.—St. Hugh.