Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLVIII, Issue 45, 15 November 1923, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR. November 18, Sunday.—Twenty-sixth Sunday of ter Pentecost. Dedication of the Basilicas of SS, Peter and Paul. » 19, Monday.—St. Elizabeth of Hungary, widow. X » 20, Tuesday.—St, Felix of Valois, Confessor. v » 21, Wednesday.—Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. „ 22, Thursday.—St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr, j, 23, Friday. l St. Clement 1., Pope and Martyr. if 24, Saturday.—St. John of the Cross, Confessor. •? Dedication of the Basilicas of SS. Peter and Paul. These two basilicas are situated in Rome, the one on the Vatican Hill, the other on the road which leads to the . mouth of the Tiber. They are famous throughout the world for size, richness, and magnificence of decoration; but the most precious treasures which they contain are the relics of the two great ApostlesSt. Peter, the Vicar of Christ; and St. Paul, the zealous missionary of the infant Church. Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to a pious tradition dating from the earliest times, the Blessed Virgin, when a child, was taken by her parents to the temple of Jerusalem, where she was carefully instructed and trained by pious matrons in the practice of virtue. The feast we celebarte to-day commemorates the generous enthusiasm with which the Blessed Virgin dedicated her life to the service of her Creator—an offering which she never recalled by the slightest sinful act. * St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr. . St. Cecilia was a member of a noble Roman family. Betrothed by her parents, against her own wishes, to Valerian, a pagan, she succeeded in converting him and his brother to the Christian religion. On this coming to the ears of the Prefect of the city, the two brothers were beheaded. The same sentence was passed on St. Cecilia, but owing to the clumsy manner in which the executioner performed his task the holy virgin lingered for three days in great agony, A.D. 230. ■ ‘ St. John of the Cross, Confessor. St. John was a Spaniard. He received his surname from his special devotion to the Passion of Christ. He was associated with St. Teresa in reforming the Carmelite Order, of which he was a member. At the time of his death, in 1591, St. John was in his fiftieth year. Grains of Gold THE PEACE OF CHRIST. The Peace that’s abiding, the Peace that’s enduring Is ardent and holy; it comes from above. No mere worldly Peace howsoever alluring Can fill the heart’s void like this treasure of love. Nations once proud and replete with world-splendor Have tottered and drooped to ignoble decay, Ignoring the God of all good the Great Sender’ /■ Heedless and careless to watch and to pray. Down through the cycles from primitive ages Grandeur, world-glory their paramount aim, They left no grand record on history’s pages;’ They’ve vanished, forgotten in all but a name. ‘ L - When Nations and people in Faith are united " ’Neath Christ’s saving banner forever unfurled The truth will prevail, and all wrongs will be righted And Peace that is blessed will reign in the world. ' . , ‘ ! —H. Jackson. , REFLECTIONS. •; Afflicted one, you cannot believe it now, but you will come out from the furnace seven times purified in thp refining fires of God.—Macduff. If we walk before God in truth, uprightness, and purity of heart we have no reason to fear.— of St. Teresa.