GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 11, 13 March 1902, Page 7

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

March 16, Sunday. — Passion Sunday. „ 17, Monday.— St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. „ 18, Tuesday.— St. Gabriel, Archangel. „ 19, Wednesday.— St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. „ 20, Thursday.— St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor. „ 21, Friday.— St. Benedict, Abbot. „ 22, Saturday.— Seven Dolors of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

PASSION SUNDAY. The Sunday before Palm Sunday is called Passion Sunday, because from this day the Church occupies herself exclusively with the contemplation of the Passion and Death of the Saviour. The pictures of Christ crucified are covered on this day in memory of He having hidden Himself from the Jews until His entrance into Jerusalem, no longer showing Himself in public (John xi., 54). In the Mass the Glory be to the Father, etc., is omitted, because in the person of Christ the holy Trinity wbb dishonored. ST. PATRICK, APOSTLE OF IRELAND. There has been a great difference of opinon as to the birthplace of St. Patrick ; a number of writers, however, favoring Armorica, Gaul. Though brought up in the Christian religion, St. Patrick tells us in his celebrated ' Confession ' that at the age of 16 he was still ignorant of God, which probably means that he had not yet attained to that lively knowledge acd ardent love of God which then began to penetrate his soul. At that period he was carried into captivity by a band of marauders, who took him over to Ireland and set him to keep the cattle among the forests and mountains. Here he was exposed to many hardships and privations, but while his body Buffered, his soul was strengthened by the exercise of prayer and the frequent consideration of the vanity and emptiness of earthly things. At the end of six months he succeeded by a special Providence in effecting his escape, and returned to his own country. Some years later he was again carried off, but recovered his liberty after two months. Meanwhile Patrick was inspired by God with an ardent desire for the conversion of the inhabitants of that pagan island which had been the scene of his sufferings, and it was revealed to him, moreover, that he himself was chosen for that glorious work. On one occasion he beheld in a vision the children of Ireland stretching out their hands to him and imploring 1 him to come to the call, and for some years he devoted himself to prayer and study in preparation for the work of the apostolate. Alter receiving the sacred orders of deacon, priest, and bishop in his own country, as he himself tells us, Patrick set out for Rome to implore from Pope Celestine his blessing on the work which he bad undertaken. The holy Pontiff received him with paternal affection, and bestowed upon him his apostolic benediction, together with full powers for the prosecution of his mission. He then Bet out on his return, A.D. 432. and undeterred by the remonstrances of his friends and relatives, crossed over to the land of his former captivity which God had given him for his inheritance. During the 28 years of his laborious apostolate, St. Patrick penetrated into almost every part of Ireland. Wheiever he went he erected churches and monasteries, and ordained priests and bishops to minister to the wants of his converts. He established his Episcopal See at Armagh, where he had built a monastery, and where the Primacy has always remained in honor of Ireland's apostle. ST. GABBIEL, ABCHANGEL. St. Gabriel was the Archangel sent to the Prophet Daniel to explain his visions and to communicate to him the prophecy of the seventy weeks. Also to Zacharias, to announce to him the future birth of John the Baptist. Six months afterwards he waß sent to Nazareth to announce to the Blessed Virgin Mary the birth of Jesus Christ. ST. JOSEPH, PATRON OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH. St. Joseph, the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and fosterfather of Jesus Christ, was of the tribe of Juda and of the family of David. He was a simple artisan, and was instructed by an angel concerning the mystery of the Incarnation. He appears for the last time in the Gospel when he goes to seek with Mary the child Jesus in the midst of the doctors at Jerusalem. Very probably he was dead when Christ began to preach the Gospel. Pope Pius IX. established St. Joseph as patron saint of the Universal Church. ST. CTRIL OF JERUSALEM. St. Cyril, a Father of the Church, was born at or near Jerusalem about the year 315. He was ordained priest in 345 by Bishop Maximus, who also intrusted him with the charge of the Catechumens, and in his stead appointed him preacher to the people. In 350 Cyril succeeded Maximus in the See of Jerusalem, and was consecrated by Acacius of Cassarea. This Acacius, a bitter Arian, soon became a severe enemy and persecutor of Cyril, and in 358 procured his deposition and exile from Jerusalem. Cyril was restored by the Council of Seleucia in 359, but, at the instigation of Acacius, he was banished again, the next year, by Constantius. On the accession of Julian, Cyril returned to Jerusalem. The Emperor Valens, in 367, •gain banished Cyril from his see, and only after eleven years was he allowed to return. In 381 he assisted at the Second General Council at Constantinople. He died in 386, after a troubled episcopate of 35 years, 16 of which were spent in exile.