FRIENDS AT COURT

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 35, 16 September 1925, Page 3

FRIENDS AT COURT

-vy* GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'i x N r "' ■': '•.;' CALENDAR. • "' J Sept. 20; Sun.—Sixteenth Sunday after Peni:. ■ tecost, - * v „ 21, Mon.—St. Matthew, Apostle. .:> ■„ 22, Tues.—St. Thomas of Villanova, Confessor. -y „ 23, Wed.— Linus, Pope and MarV. h ' tyr. g ~ 24, Thurs Feast of Our Lady of •:•>•". - Mercy. |3;V' 25, Frid.—Of the Feria. : -,, 26, Sat.SS. Cyprian and Justina, r - v. Martyrs. •* / ' / St. Matthew, Apostle. .v Before being called to follow Christ, St. Matthew was a, tax-gatherer, and bore the name of Levi. After the Ascension he preached for some time in Judea, and under Divine inspiration wrote his Gospel to convince the Jews that Christ was the longexpected Messias. St. Matthew afterwards proceeded to the East, where he won the ; crown of martyrdom. St. Thomas of Villanova, Confessor. St. Thomas was born near Villanova, in Spain, A.D. 1488. From his parents he inherited that charitable disposition which was his distinguishing characteristic during the whole course of his life. He was also remarkable for a profound humility, which caused him to shun the admiration of the world, and which his appointment to the Archbishopric of Valentia served only to render more evi- ■■ dent. St. Thomas died in 1555. L ~ Our Lady of Mercy. I In the thirteenth century, when the Medi- [ terranean was swept by Moorish pirates, a religious Order was instituted under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the purpose of collecting alms for the relief and ransom of Christian captives, of visiting them in their captivity, and restoring them, when possible, to their friends and families'. In memory of the institution of this admirable Order and of the tender compassion of the Blessed Virgin, to whom it owed its origin, the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy was instituted. /. ■■ • GRAINS OF GOLD ; .; MARY. . Oh, Mary, when I'm near thee What strength my soul doth gain Because, the devils fear thee And fly-away in shame. * .'■'.':.• .■-... . , For God Himself foretold it, His words are living truth. When Eve her freedom sold it | By eating of the fruit. He said He'd, send a woman To crush the serpent's head. - W 7 hen Satan finds you coming r r He hides away in dread. »s*" At the mention of thy name \ All hell is put to flight. g*Near thee,. Mother, I'll remain—- -..- ; ! Aid me to win the fight. _ . —Philip McMahon. Si—— : -