Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 9, 1 March 1923, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR. March 4, Sunday.— Sunday in Lent. ~ 5, Monday.—Of the Feria. ~ 6, Tuesday.—SS. Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs. ~ 7, Wednesday.—St. Thomas of Aquin, Confessor and Doctor. ~ 8, Thursday.—St. John of God, Confessor. ~ 9, Friday.—St. Frances of Rome, Widow. „ 10, Saturday.—Feast of the Forty Martyrs. SS. Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs. SS. Perpetua and Felicitas, together with three companions, suffered martyrdom for the faith at Carthage, in the year 203. St. Frances of Rome, Widow. St. Frances, a native of Rome, exhibited from her childhood a remarkable love of solitude and prayer. As she grew up these qualities became more marked, though she never, under the pretext of engaging in private devotions, neglected the duties of her state of life, her motto being: "A married woman must, when called upon, quit her devotions to God at the altar to find Him in her household affairs." After the death of her husband, St. Frances entered an Order of nuns which she herself founded. She died in 1440, being then in the 56th year of her age. Feast of the Forty Martyrs. The Forty Martyrs were a party of soldiers who suffered a cruel death for their faith, near Sebaste, in Lesser Armenia, victims of the persecution "of Licinius, who, after the year 316, persecuted the Christians of the East. The earliest account of their martyrdom is given by St. Basil, Bishop of Caesarea (370-379), in a homily delivered on the Feast of the Holy Martyrs. The feast is consequently more ancient than the episcopate of Basil, whose eulogy on them was pronounced only 50 or 60 years after their martyrdom, which is thus historic beyond a doubt. According to St. Basil, 40 soldiers, who had openly confessed themselves Christians, were condemned by the prefect to be exposed naked upon a frozen pond near Sebaste on a bitterly cold night, that they might freeze to death. Among the confessors, one yielded and, leaving his companions, sought the warm baths near the lake, which had been prepared for any who might prove inconstant. One of the guards set to keep watch over the martyrs beheld at this moment a supernatural brilliancy overshadowing them,' and at once proclaimed himself a Christian, threw off his garments, and placed himself beside the 39 soldiers of Christ. Thus the number of 40 remained complete.

<X*X*X*X*X Grains of Gold JESUS. Jesus, to Thee from ways of sin and sadness, Trusting we turn for rest amid the strife; Thou, Thou, alone canst give true peace and gladness, Thou art alone the Way, the Truth, the Life. Thou art the Way, dear Lord, to Thee for guidance From ways of sorrow and of death we Hoe; Seeking the Father, vainly shall we seek Him, Unless our steps are guided on by Thee. Thou art the Truth, dear Lord, Thy teaching only True light and wisdom can to us impart; Thou, only Thou, canst keep the mind from error, Strengthen the will, and gently sway the heart. Lord, be to us all that Thou hast promised; Be Thou our guide to shun the paths of sin; Sow in our souls Thy sweet and saving lessons, Fill us with strength eternal life to win. —John O. Hacker, S.J

REFLECTIONS. Give us not years but souls.—St. Francis of Assisi. 0 could we only pronounce the Holy Name of Jesus from our hearts, what sweetness would it diffuse to' our souls. —St. Francis of Sales.