GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 18, 1 May 1902, Page 7

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

May 4, Sunday. — Fifth Sunday after Easter. „ 5, Monday.— St. Pius V., Pope and Confessor. „ 6, Tuesday. — St. John before the Latin Gate. „ 7, Wednesday. — St. Benedict 11., Pope and Confessor. „ 8, Thursday. — Ascension Day. „ 9, Friday. — St. Gregory Nazianzen, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor. „ 10, Saturday.— St. Comgall, Abbot.

ST. OEEQOET NAZIANZEN, BISHOP AND DOCTOB. St. Gregory, surnamed Nazianzen from the city of his birth, was born in the reign of the Emperor Constantine, and was a native of Cappadocia in Asia Minor. His mother, brother, and sister are all numbered among the saints. So also is the father of this holy family, likewise called Gregory, who, after hia conversion to the Christian faith, was consecrated Bishop of Nazianzen, and governed that See for five and forty years, dying at an extremely old age. After completing his studies in Cappadocia Gregory repaired to Athens, a celebrated school of learning, where he was joined by St. Basil, with whom he was united by the most intimate ties of friendship. After quitting Athens Gregory returned to Nazianzen and for some years employed himself in assisting his father in the management of his affairs. He then retired into the solitudes of Pontus, but was soon afterwards recalled to Nazianzen by his aged father, who desired his assistance. Knowing his son's reluctance to undertake the heavy charge of the priesthood, the good Bishop ordained him by force and when he least expected it. After the death of his father Gregory, who had already received episcopal consecration, was invited to undertake the charge of the Church in Constantinople. In a short time he succeeded in winning over the greater part of the inhabitants to the Catholic faith, but the success which attended bis efforts aroused the jealousy of the neighboring bishops. Whereupon Gregory, in order to quell the rising storm, resigned the See into the hands of a worthy successor, and returned to his native province. Th rest of the Saint's life was spent in retirement in the neighbor hood of Nazianzen, though he still continued to help the Churc by his prudent counsels. At length, worn out by his austeritie" and constant infirmities, he passed to his eternal reward about A. Da 390. His learned writings and eminent services in defence of the. faith have merited for him the title of ' Doctor of the Universal Church.' ST. COMGALL, ABBOT. Comgall, the renowned abbot of Bangor, was of the distinguished family of Dalaradia. The annals of Ulster assign the year 516 as that of his birth. After receiving instruction in various branches of learning from able masters, he was admitted into the monastery of Cloneagh in Leinster, over which St. Fmtan presided. He remained there for several years with St. Fintan, who, at length, finding him fully qualified for the purpose, advised him to return to his own country and form some religious establishment. He soon after entered into Holy Orders ; and we are told that he was ordained by Bishop Lugidus of Clonmacnoise. Comgall was strongly tempted at this time to join thoso missionary bands of Irish ecclesiastics that were propagating the Gospel in Britain and on the Continent, but he was advised by Lugidus and other holy men to remain at home. We are told that he spent some time in solitude and prayer in an island on Lough Erne, and that soon afterwards he founded the monastery of Banchor, now Bangor, near the town of Carrickfergus, about the year 550. Bangor soon acquired such fame that there was not accommodation for the numbers that flocked there, so that it became necessary to establish several monasteries and cells. It is computed that, in his time, there were no less than 3000 monks under his superintendence, and all observing his rule. Among them is mentioned Cormac, King of South Leinster, or Henry Kinselagh, who, in his old age, retired to Bangor and there spent the remainder of his days. Among the subordinate monasteries subject to Comgall was that of Camos, on the River Barm, barony of Coleraine. The fame of Bangor soon spread over Europe, and was much enhanced by the celebrated men educated there, particularly St. Columbanus, It is related in St. Comgall's Life that in the seventh year after the founding of Bangor he went to Britain in order to visit some saints there. It is most likely that it was on this occasion he and St. Brendan, and others, paid a visit to St. Columbkill at lona. While in Britain he is said to have established a monastery in the country. He is alfio said to have been the means of converting Bridens, King of the Northern Picts. After his return to Ireland he died in hie abbey at Bangor, in the year 601, on the 10th May, after receiving the Holy Viaticum from St. Fiachra. St. Comgall was remarkable in his life, and holy in his death, and has justly been reckoned one of the Fathers of the Irish Church,