Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 12 January 1922, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR. January 15, Sunday, —Second Sunday after Epiphany, ~ 16, Monday. — St. Marcellus, Pope and Martyr. ~ 17, Tuesday, —St. Anthony, Abbot. „ 18, Wednesday.— St. Peter’s Chair at Rome. ~ 19, Thursday. — SS. Marius and Companions, Martyrs. ~ 20, Friday.—SS. Fabian and Sebastian, Martyrs. ~ 21, Saturday.—St, Agnes, Virgin and Martyr. V ' St. Anthony, Abbot. St. Anthony was a native of Upper Egypt. He was left .by his father in possession of considerable wealth, but, as soon as practicable, he made over his property to the poor, and retired into the desert,*where for many years he -led a life of considerable austerity. He died in 356, at the age of 105. Chair of St. Peter at Rome. This feast commemorates the residence and pontificate of St. Peter at Rome. At first he had fixed his See at Antioch, but, thinking it advisable that the Supreme Head of the Church should reside in the capital of the then known world, he came to Rome. His residence there extended, according to the more commonly received opinion, from A.D. 42 to his martyrdom in 67. SS. Fabian and Sebastian, Martyrs. St. Fabian was elected Pope in 236, and governed the Church for 14 years. His life, like that of so many of the early Popes, was closed by martyrdom, A.D. 250. St. Sebastian was an officer of high rank in the Imperial Guard. Owing to his virtue and courage, he was much esteemed by the Emperor Diocletian, and was enabled by the influence thus acquired to protect numbers of his persecuted fellow-Christians.. He was beaten to death with clubs t about the year 288. St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr. St. Agnes is one of the best known of the many martyrs whom the persecutions of the Roman Emperors gave to the Church. St. Jerome, quoted by Alban Butler, says: “The tongues and pens of all nations are employed in the praises of this saint, who overcame both' the cruelty of the tyrant and the tenderness of her age, and who crowned the glory of chastity with that of martyrdom.” She was but 13 years of age at the time of her glorious death, in 304. GRAINS OF GOLD THANKSGIVING. Lord, we give thanks for all the love Thou hast on us bestowed ; For loyal heart and helpful hands To lift another’s load. Lord, we give thanks for all the joys Likewise the sorrows, too — Which were but blessings in disguise, To draw ns close to You. Lord, we give thanks for the little ones Thou to us hath given; Oh, may we guide their feet aright, Back to the gates of heaven. When at last the journey’s done, And we here no longer roam, Oh, may we come rejoicing, Lord, Bringing the harvest home. — Mrs. Isaac J. Fra zee. . REFLECTIONS. If the treasure were in heaven, in heaven would heart, thoughts and feelings be nor could this World conquer those, who possessed nothing in this world, wherewith ..to be conquered.— St. Cyprian.