Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 21, 12 June 1902, Page 7

Friends at Court

QLEANINQS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

June 15, Sunday, —Fonrth Sunday after Pentecost. „ 16, Monday.— St. Antoninus, Bishop and Confessor. „ 17, Tuesday.— St. Pa«chal 1,. P o p« and Confessor. „ 18, Wednesday. — St. Isidore Agricol a, Con feseor. „ lti, Thursday. — St. Juliana Falcouieri, Virgin. „ 20, Friday.— St. Silverius, Pope and Martyr. „ 21, Saturday.— St. Aloysiua Gonzaga, Confessor.

ST. ANTONINUS, BIPHOP AND CONFESSOR,

St Antoninus was born in 1389 at Florence, of which city he became afterwards Archbishop. He was distinguished for his piety and learning. He has left Summa Confessional is : Suvima Theologica, a great compilation of moral extracts from the works of the Father?, scholastics, and councils ; Summa JSiitorialit, the greatest chronicle of the Middle Ages, rich in the notices of Church history, commencing with the creation of the world and ending with the last year of the saint's life.

ST. AIiOYSITJS QONZAGA.

Aloysius or Louis Gorzaga waa the son of Ferdinand, Marquis of Castiglione, and was born at his father's castlo in the diocese of Brescia, A.D. 1568. His father, who wished to inspire Aloysiua with the love of a military life, bad a complete suit of armor made for him when he was quite a child and took him to the camp, where his courtesy and courageous spirit made him the idol and pride of the soldiers. When he had reached the age of eight the Marquia placed him and his younger brother Ralph under the care of a tutor at the court of the Duke of Tutcany, where they were instructed in the knowledge and accomplishments which befitted their noble birth. After spending about two years at Florence, the two brothers were sent by their father to the court of the Duke of Mantua, his near relation. There they continued the couree of their studies. About this time Aloysius formed the design of resigning his title to the Marquisate in favor of his brother, and devoting himself to the service of God in the religious state. Hearing that St. Charles Borromeo, the Cardinal-Archbisbop of Milan, had arrived at Breßcia, Ali/y Bius went thither to ask his blessing. St. Charles received him with paternal kindnesH, which encouraged Alny&iua to lay before him the secrets of his toul. The holy Cardinal was much edified on discovering the angelic innocence and eminent sanctity of his penitent. Finding that he had not yet ma'se hia First Communion, though he was 12 years of age, he prepared him for it and administered to him the Bread of Angels with his own hands. Soon afterwards the Marquis, passing into Spain, placed his two sons at the court of Madrid, where they served as paged of honor to the young Prince James. Upon the death of the Prince two years later Aloysius and his brother returned to Italy. Already had our Saint, who bad now attained his 16th year, solicited from his father permission to enter the Society of Jesus, but had met with a peremptory refusal. Upon his return home every means were employed to divert him from his re-olution, but though greatly grieved at being the cause of displeasure and disappointment to a beloved parent, he continued firm in his purpose, being convin eri that he was following the call of God. More than once did the Maiquis give his consent and afterwards withdraw it, but at the end of thiee years, after a severe struggle with himst If, he suirendered to the earnest entreaties of his son, who, arttr making a formal (enunciation of his rights in favor his brother, wa* received into the Jesnit noviciate. From that moment his life, uneventful in the eyes of men, was hidden with Almighty God aud spent in the most perfect exercise of obedience to the will of his superiors. A malignant fever broke oat in Rome and Aloysius got permission to serve the sick in the hospitals, ne catechised and exhorted the poor patients, and at the same time rendered them the most laborious and meanest services. After many of his companions had fallen victims to the disease, Aloysius fell sick and received the last rites of the Church. His holy death took place on the Octave of Corpus Christ', in the 24th year of his age and sixth of his religious profession. St. Aloysius is regarded as the perfect model of Christian youth and has been designated by the Holy See as their patron.

Rev. John O'Shea, who has been doing duty as assistant to the Very Rev. Dean Beechinor, at Launceston, for the past two months, has been appointed to St. Joseph's, Hoburt, in succession ta the Rev. Father Prenderga&t, who ia leaving Tasmania. Those who bad the gr od fortune on previous occasions of being present at Mr A. H. Burton's ' Evenings with Great Authors' will learn with pleasuie that he has decided to give a series of readings this winter. The firht of the series will take place in the Choral Hall, Dunedin, on Monday evening, when Mr Burton will give selections from Dickens' works... If Cyclists or Footballers meet with arcidente, they will find that Evan's WITCH'S OIL is infallible.—*,,* For Chilblains there is positively no remedy to approach Evan's WITCH'S OlL— an absolutely certain cure.— %*