Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 28, 2 July 1924, Page 3

Friends at Court

■; GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR.; July 6, Sunday.—Fourth Sunday after Pentecost. - V ; „ 7, Monday.—SS. Cyril and Methodius, Bishops and i• v -7" : :.■ Martyrs. : yy; „ ...8, Tuesday.—St. Elizabeth, Queen and Widow. „ 9, Wednesday.—Of the Feria. #ijrlO, Thursday.—Seven Brothers, Martyrs. • , / Martyr. ' ; ~ 12, Saturday. John Gualbert, Abbot. * - SS. Cyril and Methodius, Bishops and Confessors. The conversion of the Moravians and other Slavic tribes was the work especially of SS. Cyril and Methodius, deservedly called the “Apostles of the Slavonians.” They were brothers, born at Thossalonica, of an illustrious senatorial family. The mission of Cyril and Methodius in Moravia was crowned with wonderful results. They baptised' Radislav, the king, and securely established Christianity in his country. Cyril invented a Slavic alphabet, called after him the “Cyrillic,” and with the aid of his brother, translated the Holy Scriptures into Slavonian. Cyril died at Rome in 869, and Methodius in 885. The Seven Brothers, Martyrs. The seven saints whose glorious death is commemorated to-day were sons of St. Felicitas', and suffered at Rome about the middle of the second century. They were exhorted to constancy in suffering by their heroic mother, who herself soon after received the crown of martyrdom. St. John Gualbert, Abbot. St. John was born at Florence of noble parents in 999. Like many of the class to which he belonged, he grew up imbued with a pride which would neither brook opposition nor allow any injury to pass unavenged. Having, however, on one occasion, in obedience to the prompt- . ings of Divine Grace, forgiven a defenceless enemy, this exercise of Christian charity proved the beginning of his complete conversion. He entered a Benedictine monastery, and afterwards founded the famous abbey and Order of ' Vallombrosa. He died in 1073. GRAINS OF GOLD THE CROSS. - Once, midst the long dark pall of night, -- In restless lethargy’, I fain would lay aside the cross That weighed me heavily. When lo! as in a vision clear, Three crosses filled my sight; A cross of gold, a cross of flow’rs, And one of purest white, In ecstasy, I clasped the gold, And basked within its ray ' Yet soon I stumbled ’neath the weight— I put the cross away. With eager arms, I grasped the flow'rs, Fragrant of tropic lands; Alas! with saddened heart I found, Sharp thorns soon pierced my hands. Anon, from out the sombre night, A Voice spoke unto me; “Go thou, and bear thine own cross well, bjb,.- - This white one is for thee.” M. E. Beaton. <K*X*X*X*X> REFLECTIONS, ivby: ' Let us therefore shake off and burst the bonds of sleepiness, and be instant and watch in prayer, as the Apostle exhorts us, > saying Continue in prayer <*md watch in the same.—St. Cyprian. * ■'-'»/ r * ' A i ’- i The -soul that seeks recreation out of the Creator, and consolation out of Christ, will never find them.—St. Philip : Neri. ‘ ■ ’ r' ■' . •