Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 15 December 1921, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR. December 18, Sunday. Fourth Sunday of Advent. „ 19, Monday.—Of the Feria. „ 20, Tuesday.Of the Feria. ~ 21, Wednesday.—St. Thomas, Apostle. „ 22, Thursday.Of the Feria. „ 23, Friday.Of the Feria. „ 24, Saturday. Vigil of the Nativity. Fast Day No Abstinence. ST. THOMAS, APOSTLE. St. Thomas, also called,, Didymus, was one of the 12 Apostles. He is rarely mentioned in the New Testament. According to Origen and Sophronius, he preached in Parthia, Media, Persia, Carmania, "Hyrcania, and Bactria, extending his missionary labors as far as India. The Persian Magi, who adored Christ Our Lord in Bethlehem, are also numbered among those who were baptised by this Apostle. The Roman martyrology represents him as suffering martyrdom by a lance at Calamina, near Madras, India. GRAINS OF GOLD THE VIGIL OF THE NATIVITY. Night on Judea’s —calm, holy night, In silence deep the royal city lies; The shepherd band their nightly vigil keep, Out on the hills beneath the star-strewn skies. Many a longing heart thy walls enclose, City of David, as the night descends: Come and delay not, 0 Expected One!” Bp to the door of Heaven the cry ascends. A manger-cave outside the city’s gates Upon the hills the light of Christmas morn; A holy Mother with her Babe Divine, And glad hearts telling; “Christ the Lord is born!” Ages have fled since, casting off His glory, Our friend and Brother came that holy night Still may we hasten where His star is shining The ever-gleaming sanctuary light. Like shepherds, we too kneel, our God adoring, (Within our hearts His joy it is to dwell); To-day as long ago, in Bethlehem’s manger, The King is here—our Lord Emmanuel. OUR DAILY DUTIES: A MEANS OF SANCTIFICATION Our Divine Lord said that we must take up our cross and follow Him; and every person has a cross to carry. This cross is the performance of our daily duties in the spirit of penance, and for love of God and when our souls are in the state of grace, every good work done for love of God will bear an everlasting reward. Our duty is to supernaturalise all our daily actions, and perform them for love of God. The mother and father of a family may have to struggle hard, and work and toil from early morning till late at night for the benefit of their children. These same children may have many faults, which parents must correct, and this correction of faults is sometimes very trying on a fond parent, who loves his children so dearly. Yet if parents would only offer their works to please God, and if they would frequently make fervent aspirations or ejaculatory prayers during the day, their actions and these same works would soon make them saints. Some do very many good actions, and work very hard, and yet lose all the fruit of their labors, because they will not do them with a good intention, and for God’s glory. ❖WWW REFLECTIONS. Love to be unknown and to be made of no account. — Thomas a Kempis. The Day of Judgment is a day of decision, and displayed unto all the seal of truth.—St. Uriel.