Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 27, 3 July 1902, Page 7

Friends at Court

QLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

July 6, Sunday.— Seventh Sunday after Penteoost. „ 7, Monday.— St. Benedict XI., Pope and Confeßsor. „ 8, Tuesday.— St. Kilian. Biehop and Martyr. „ 9, Wednesday.— Prodigies of the Blessed Virgin Mary. „ 10, Thursday.— The Seven Brothers, Martyrs. „ 11, Friday. -St. Pins 1., Pope and Martyr. „ 12, Saturday.— St. John Gualbert, Abbot. PT. KILIAN, BISHOP AND MARTTB. St. Eilian was an Irish bishop who was martyred at Wurzburg. He was the first to preach the Gospel in the north of Bavaria, the country now known as Franconia. With two companions, Coloman a prieet, and Totnan a deacon, Kilian left Ireland, his native country, in 686, and with the sanction of Pope Conon, established a mission at Wiinburg. Duke Goabert received him kindly and was converted, and his example was followed by a great number of his subjects. But St. Kilian fell a victim to the hatred of Geilana, whose marriage with Gozbert, brother of her former husband, he declared to be contrary to the law of God. He and his companions, in the absence of the duke, were cruelly murdered, in 689. ' THE SEVEN BROTHERS AND THEIR MOTHER, FELICITAB, MARTYRS, The family of paints and martyrß whom we honor on July 10 were of noble blood and dwelt at Rome, where they suffeied for the faith about the middle of the second century. Felicitas, who had been left a widow, brought up her eons in sentiments of heroic virtue. At length the pagan priests, enraged at the numerous conversions from idolatry which they attributed to the influence of Felicitas and her sons, so far worked upon the superstitious fears of the Emperor Antoninus, that he gave orders to Publius, the Prefect of the city, to deal with them in such a manner that the anger of the gods might be appeased either by their prompt submission or their condign punishment. Having summoned the whole family before his tribunal, Publius first took Felicitas aside and exhorted her to saorifice to the gods, in order that he might not be obliged to proceed to extreme measnres. To which Bhe replied : 'Do not think to frighten me by threats or win me by fair speeches. My children will live eternally with Christ if they are faithful to Him, but must expect eternal deatb if they sacrifice to idols.' Then turning to her eoua she said : 'My Bons, look up to heaven where Jesus Christ with His saints expects you. Be faithful in His love and fight courageously for your ponla.' On hearing these words Publius flew into a rage and ordered her to be cruelly buffeted. Being informed of their constancy, the Emperor gave orders that they should be distributed among the several tribunals and condemned to various deaths. Januaris was scourged with whips laden with leaden plummets till he expired. Felix and Philip were beaten to death with clubs. Sylvanua was thrown down * steep precipice, and the three youngest, Alexander, Vitalis, and Martialis, -were beheaded. The heroic mother of this noble band followed her children by the sword of the executioner four months later. ST. PIUS 1., POPE AND JIARTTB. St. Pius I. was Pope from 142t01:>7. Assisted by St. Justin the Philosopher, he combated the heresies of Valentinus and MarcioD, who denied the resurrection of the body and condemned marriage. 6T. JOHN GUALBERT, ABBOT. St. John Gualbert was the founder of the celebrated abbey of Vallombrosa, iv Tuscany, in the year 1038. He waR a member of a noble Tuscan family, and had been charged by his father to take a bloody revenge upon the murderer of his brother Hugh, and, coming up with the object of his search on Good Friday, in a narrow defile, where escape was impossible, he made directly for him. The murderer threw himself upon his knees, and, arrranging his arms in the form of a cross, besought hia antagonist to show mer jy out of love of Him Who that day suffered for all. From respect for the symbol of salvation, and touched with the beauty of the appeal, John not only granted the prayer of the murderer, but took him to his bosom and adopted him in place of the brother he had lost. He then withdrew to pray in the neighboring monastery of San Miniate, and, while kneeling there before a crucifix, saw the figure of our Saviour incline its head towards him. Accepting this as a token of divine approval of what he had done, he at once entered upon an ascetic life, commenced the practice of great austerities, and ended by founding an order, whose members were clothed in an aßh-colored garment and observed the rule of St. Benedict in its more severe form. At the death of St. John Gualbert (1072) the community counted 12 monasteries.