FRIENDS AT COURT

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 10, 18 March 1925, Page 3

FRIENDS AT COURT

/GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S '.'->!. CALENDAR. March 22, Sun. Fourth Sunday of Lent. „ 23, Mon—Of the Feria. J',V 24, Tues.—St. Gabriel, Archangel. „ Wed.—Annunciation of the Blessed .'■-/} ■ Virgin Mary. „ 26, Thur.—Of the Feria. „ 27, Fri.St. John Damascene, Confessor and Doctor. ~ 28, Sat. —St. John Capristan, Confessor. * *'■.-•' St. John Damascene, Confessor and Doctor. St. John was born at Damascus, in Syria, which was then under the dominion of the Mahometans. So great was his reputation for integrity and prudence that, on the death of his father, he was appointed, notwithstanding his religion, to the important post of Prime Minister of the Caliph. After some years he resigned this dignity, and placed himself under the direction of some holy monks near Damascus. He died about 780. St. John rendered great service to the Church by his writings against the Iconoclast heretics, whose doctrines he triumphantly refuted.

GRAINS OF GOLD "HAIL, FULL OF GRACE." (Feast of the Annunciation, March 25.) When the Angel winged swiftly his flight from the skies And announced to thee, Mother, thy worth in God's eyes, Did he know that his greeting, his "Hail/ full of grace!" Would re-echo forever through time and through space? Was he conscious that, ages thereafter, his word Would be treasured as gladdest this earth 1 ever heard, That the sheen of its glory for aye would ml increase, . ■ And its music grow sweeter with mercy and li peace? I Did his vision angelic foreshow him a world p Bearing proudly a banner to Mary unfurled, h While (the millions who march 'neath it never k|, ■', give o'er, ijT, Just repeating their watchword, his "Ave" i I .f , of yore ? pi */'£)©id. he see, dearest Mother, our hearts filled J, I W - N with love |,v For c thy Son and thyself in his fair home *s£..? above? If : Did he see : us, life spent, at thy feet, find r ■'-;'•' a place : . • 'll To repeat with' him, ."Ave! 0 hail, full of |:'. ; ., ,; grace!"? '";...