FRIENDS AT COURT

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 37, 30 September 1925, Page 3

FRIENDS AT COURT

. ■ GLEANINGS FOB NEXT WEEK’! | CALENDAR. btfcr 4, Sun.—Eighteenth Sunday after Pen- 1 - ‘ \ : ' . tecost. St. Francis of As- >■: sisi, Confessor. „ 5, Mon.SS. Placid and Companions, Martyrs. : „ 6, Tues. — Bruno, Confessor. „ 7, , Wed. Feast of the Holy Rosary. „ 8, Thurs. Bridget of Sweden, Widow. ~ 9, Frid.SS. Denis and Companions, Martyrs. 'J ~ 10, —St. Francis Borgia, Confessor. . * - > St. Bruno, Confessor. St. Bruno, founder of the austere Carthusian Order, was born at Cologne about 1030. He was one of the most learned men of his age, and wrote several valuable commentaries on the Sacred Scriptures. He died in ' 1101, in a monastery which he had established in the mountains of Calabria, in Southern Italy. Feast of the Holy Rosary. In 1571 was fought the great battle of Lepanto, which saved; Europe from the Turks, and gave the death-blow to the Ottoman power. In memory of this victory, gained at the very moment when the faithful were reciting the Rosary for the success of the Christian arms, Gregory XIII ordered the present feast to be celebrated. ’ St. Bridget, Widow. St. Bridget belonged to the royal family of Sweden. From childhood she was remarkable for charity, love of refinement, and a £ distaste for worldly enjoyments. On the death of her husband she divided her property amongst her children and withdrew into a convent which she herself founded. She died in Rome- in 1373, at the age of 71, after her return from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

GRAINS OF GOLD

“SWEET ST. FRANCIS.” In his threadbare robe of brown, b Went St. Francis through the town. - Almost were his labors done. Crown and palm were nearly won. Loving were his words and , sweet - To the people in the street. Sick and poor, and lame and-blind, To them all the Saint was kind. Even tiny, twittering binds Stayed their flight to hear his words. Beggars kissed his garment’s hem, Brothers, sisters called he them. ; Feeble were his steps and slow, pl Though the roses were a blow. Ruddy the stigmata gleamed, On his head the sunlight streamed. As Assisi’s streets he trod, With him went the peace of God. In hisvcord and robe of brown, M Went the dear Saint through the town. '■ Friend of all the friendless he IjraSaint of holy,; charity. ' i Bear St. Francis, may we be -. • Folded in Christ’s Fold with‘--thee I i•; •: — •' ■' • ". r g , . ■ ii . —Ave Maria.