FRIENDS AT COURT

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 50, 17 December 1924, Page 3

FRIENDS AT COURT

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S V CALENDAR December 21, Sunday—Fourth Sunday of Advent. „ 22, Monday.—St. Thomas, Apostle. „ 23, Tuesday.—Of the Feria. ."■'•' » 24, Wednesday.—Vigil of the Nativity. Fast and . ■ i •• Abstinence . M>- „ 25, Thursday.—Feast of the Nativity. Holiday of Obligation. ~ 2G, Rriday.St. Stephen, Protomartyr. „ 27, Saturday.St. John the Evangelist. sp Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. To-day the Church rejoices over the birthday of her Divine Founder —the Redeemer of mankind. The time appointed for the entrance of the Son of God into the world having arrived, Mary and Joseph were led by Divino Providence into Bethlehem. Failing to obtain admittance into the inns, they were compelled to take refuge in a grotto which served as a shelter for cattle. There Our Blessed Saviour was born to a life of poverty, humiliation, and suffering. He came to redeem the world, and to draw to Himself the affections of men, and, therefore, Ho presented Himself in the most amiable form that can be imaginedthat of an innocent, helpless babe. St. Stephen, First Martyr. St. Stephen was one of the seven who were \ chosen to assist the Apostles in the daily distribution of alms, and who, by the imy position of the'Apostles' hands, were raised to the Order of Deacons, and qualified to discharge some of the inferior duties of the sacerdotal office. By his zealous efforts for the propagation of the Gospel ho stirred up the hatred of some of the Jews, who stoned him to death. He thus had the honor of being the first among Christ's disciples to seal his faith with his blood. GRAINS OF GOLD CHRISTMAS GIFTS. What shall I give to Thee, 0 Lord? The kings that came of old Laid softly on Thy cradle rude Their myrrh, and gems, and gold. Thy martyrs gave their hearts' warm blood, Their ashes strewed Thy way; They spurned their lives as dreams and dust, To speed the coming day. Thou knowest of sweet and precious things My store is scant and small; Yet, wcrt Thou here in want and woe, Lord, I would give Thee all. Show me Thyself in flesh once more, < Thy feast I long to spread; / JFvTo bring the water for Thy feet, H-<Js' . Tho ointment for Thy head. There came a voice from heavenly heights: "Unclose, thine eyes and. see, Gifts to the least of those I love Thou givest unto Me." \ —Rose Terry Cooke.