Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 23, 5 June 1902, Page 7

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

June 8, Sunday.— Third Sunday after Pentecost. St. Angela de Mericia, Virgin. „ 9, Monday.— St. Columba, Abbot. „ 10, Tuesday. — St. Margaret. „ 11, Wednesday.— St. Barnabas, Apostle. „ 12, Thursday.— St. Leo 111., Pope and Confessor. „ 13, Friday.— St. Anthony of Padua. „ 14, Saturday.— St. Basil, Bishop, Confessor, and Dootor.

ST. ANGELA DE MEBICIA. St. Angela de Mericia was born in the diocese of Verona in 1511. In 1537 she laid the foundation of the institute of Urßulines, and very soon the Order spread all over Europe. ST. COLTJMBA. St. Columba or Columkil, the Apostle of the Caledonians or Northern Picte, was a scion of one of the royal houses of Ireland, and was born at Gartan, in the County of Donegal, on December 7, 521. He was educated in the famous school of St. Finnian of Maghbile, who had himself studied at Rome. Before Columba had reached his twenty-fifth year he had founded a great number of monasteries in Ireland, the most celebrated of which was that of Derry, in his own native province, which was long the seat of a great Catholic bishopric, and is now known under the modern name of Londonderry. He had received deacon's orders from St. Unnian, and in the year 550 was raised to the priesthood, but his humility was such that he would never consent to take upon him the episcopal office and dignity. In the year 563, when in the forty -second year of his age, Columba set out from his native land, accompanied by 12 companions, and, in one of those large osier boats, oovered with hide, which the Celtic nations used for purposes of navigation, sailed to the north, and landed on the shores of the island of lona, or Hy, to which, in memory of the saint, the name of Hy-Columkil was afterwards given. He and his companions immediately set about building a monastery, which was one of the rudest description, consisting only of a frame covered with the interlaced branches of trees. It was not till some years later that a more substantial edifice was erected, with much danger and labor, as the large oaks to be used in its construction were brought across the waters from the neighboring shores. Such was the bpginning of the great monastic centre whence issued those devoted heroes who carried the blessing of religion and civilisation to Scotland and Great Britain. God deigned to give the divine sanction to the mission of Columba by granting him the grace of miracles. Purity of life and humility were his two distinguishing virtues. In the year 590 Columba returned to Ireland. In virtue of hia privilege as founder of the Church in both Northern and Southern Scotland, he exercised ecclesiastical jurisdiction throughout both of these countries. After a long and laborious life, Columba died as he had lived. After journeying over the entire island and taking a tender farewell of the monks at work in the field, and praying in the cloister, he withdrew to his own cell, and, when the bell rang at midnightfor matins, rose and preceded his brethren to the church. Here he was found by his faithful children, prostrate before the altar, and in a dying condition. Raising his right hand, he blessed the community and expired, June 9, 597. ST. BARNABAS, APOSTLE. Of the apostolia labors of St. Barnabas, beyond what is contained in the Acts of thf Apostles nothing certain is known. He accompanied St. Paul on his first missionary journey to Cyprus and Asia Minor (45-48). In the year 53, Barnabas and Paul proposed another missionary expedition Barnabas wished to take with him hifl nephew John, stirnam d Mark, to which Paul objected. The two Apostles thereupon parted, and Barnabas, taking Mark with him, sailed to Cyprus, his native land. Here the Acts say nothing further about him. His life is reported to have been ended by martyrdom between 55 and 57. A letter which Origen calls ' Catholic Epistle,' has been handed down under the name of St. Barnabas, and to him it is ascribed by the most eminent Christian writers of the first centuries. ST. LEO 111., POPE AND CONFESSOR. St. Leo 111. was Pope from 795 to 816. Immediately after his election he wrote to Charlemagne, requesting him to continue his protection over the Roman See and State. At his request Charlemagne, in the year 800, went to Rome to quell a rebellion in which the Pope came near losing his life. He crowned Charlemagne and proclaimed him emperor, amid the joyful acclamation of the people in 800. BT. ANTHONY OF PADUA. St. Anthony was born at Lisbon, in 1195, and died at Padua, in 1231. He entered the Order of St. Francis, who was still alive and who gave him a mission to preach. Ho preached with wonderful success in Italy, France, and Spain. 'Hi 9 sermons,' says his biographer, 'were flames impossible to withstand, which aroused sinnera and criminals to repentance.'