FRIENDS AT COURT

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 51, 23 December 1925, Page 3

FRIENDS AT COURT

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S ,-r • CALENDAR. p Dec. 27, Sun.—St. John the Evangelist. , -k! „ 28, Mon.—Feast of the Holy Inno- »£■■■■:''■■■•*■ ■"' cents. SB" „ 29, Tues.— Thomas of Canterbury, Bishop and Martyr. ?fi„ 30, Wed.—Within the Octave of the Nativity. ■:■; „ 31, Thurs.—St. Sylvester, Pope. Jan. 1, Frid. —Circumcision of Our Lord. Holiday of Obligation. y : „ 2, Sat.—Octave of St. Stephen. St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. St. John was the brother of St. James the Greater, and is mentioned in the Gospels as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." He was one of those faithful few who stood by the Cross, and it was to him our dying Saviour recommended the care of His Mother. After the Ascension, St. John remairied chiefly in 'Jerusalem, though he sometimes took long and arduous journeys for the purpose of spreading the knowledge of the doctrines and sufferings of Christ. The closing years of his life were spent at Ephesus, where he died about the year 10.'. St. Thomas, Bishop and Martyr. St. Thomas a'Beekett was born in London in 1117. Having embraced the ecclesiastical state, and given proof of singular ability and fervent piety, he was soon called to occupy very important positions in the Church. In 1157 he was appointed Lord Chancellor of England by King Henry 11, and in 1162 was elected Archbishop of Canterbury. Sr Though remarkable for humility and meekness, he did not hesitate to boldly defend the rights of the Church against the unjust attacks of the English King. His firmness cost him his life. He was murdered in his cathedral by four knights at, it is alleged, the instigation of the King, A.D. 1170. GRAINS OE GOLD THE NATIVITY. What was it those three Ki*gs beheld Who journeyed from afar? It was a rudely builded shed, p But 'neath a lovely star. And did they find Him Whom they sought, These servants undismayed? | Aye, entering they found the Christ ', Within a manger laid. Now what brought they, those pilgrims grave, Unto the Infant King ? k Each gently by the pallet placed ;; ~ A princely offering. i Thus gold and frankincense and myrrh, £>_., The rarest gifts of earth, With faith and hope and love divine, jr* Surround the Saviour's birth. I But we who have no golden crown, n No balm or incense sweet \ What can we bring to Bethlehem J - The Holy One to greet? hs .: Oh, bring to Him your contrite hearts, v And. humbly kneel and pray, And they will shine as kingly gifts Of rich and bright array. i. :'-.■; ■..-.. /.'.■':' T; .—Mart A. Conway. ..