Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 22, 28 May 1903, Page 31

Friends at Court

QLEANINQS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR.

May 31, Sunday. — Feast of Pentecost. June 1, Monday. — Whit Monday. 2, Tuesday.— Whit Tuesday (St. Alary Magdalen de Pazzi, Virgin). 3, Wednesday. — Ember Day (St. Francis Corracciolo. Confessor). 'i, Thursday.— Fifth day in Octave (St. Boniface, Bishop and Martyr). 5, Friday.— Ember Day (St. Norbert, Bishop and Confessor). 6, Saturday. — Ember Day (St. Augustine, Bishop and Confessor).

Feast of Pentecost

Pentecost was the name given to the feast among the Jews held on the 50th day after the Passover, in celebration of the ' ingathering,' and in thanksgiving for the har\est. From the Jewish use, it was introduced into the Christian, and with special solemnity, as being the day oi the descent of the Holy Ghost on the Apostles, and of the first solemn preaching of the Christian religion. From early times Pentecost has been regarded as one of the great Festivals of the Christian year, and it was chosen as one of the times for the solemn administration ol Baptism. Ihe English name of the lestnal, Whit Sunday, is dei ived from the white robes in which the newly-baptised were clad. It is regarded as especially sacied to the Thud Poison oi 1 the Blessed Tri ni Ly, in whose honor the ser\ices of the day are directly addiessed.

Ember Days

The Ember Days are the first Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of each of the four seasons of the year, set apart as fa-st days by the Catholic Church. According to the testimony of Pope Leo they originated in *the time of the Apostles, who were inspired by the Holy Ghost to dedicate each season of the \ ear to God by a lew days of penance , or, as it were, to pay three days' interest, e\erv three months, on the graces received from God The Chinch always commanded the faithful to last at the beginning of each of the four seasons of the \eai, because it us at this time that she oidains the pi lests and other ser\ants of the Church, which even the Apostles did with much prayer and fasting. Thus she desut's that dining the Ember Days Christians should lei\ently ask ol God by prayer, fasting, and other good woiks, lor worthy pastois and servants, on whom depends the welfare ol the whole Christian flock ; she also desiies that in the spring Ember Days we should ask God's blessing for the feitilitv of the earth , in summer loi the ]v esei \ation of the lruits of the field ; m autumn whin tlie hai\est is ripe, and in winter when it is sheltend, t li.it we should oflei to God, by lasting and pi.ui'i, a saci idee ol thanks, pititionnig Him to assist us, that we may not use His infls for our soul's detriment, but icier'all praise to Him, the fountain of all good, and assist our neighbor accoidmg to our means.

St Maiy Magdalen de Pa?/i

St Mary Magdalen de Pa//i was bom in Florence in 1 ,"i(,ii vShe was ol an lllu^tnous iamily. which was allied to the Medicis At the age of 16 she took the veil. She died in I<S(»7, and was canonised in 16G9.

St Bonnace, Bishop and Martyr

St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany, was born in. (>S<» in Wessex. At an early age he showed a strong pu dilec lion loi a monastic- life, and at the age of 30 was oidained priest, being then noted for his ability and learning Being imbued with the desire of spreading the (hiisii.in Kuth among the (ieunan people, he left London, ace mill amed by thiee other missionaries, for the coast oi Fi le-land in 71 tt 'I he disturbed state of the count ly compelled him to letuin to England, and two \e.irs later he went to Rome, and theie obtained from Pope Giegoiy II an apostolic mission to Noi thorn Cernianv lie began his apostolic caieer m Thuringia, in 71 W. wheie he labored lelotming the clergy and instructing the propli- From Thuringia he went to Hesse, where he made in, my con\erts In 72."5 lie was summoned to I tonic where he was consecrated regionary bishop by Pope Gregoiy N Returning to Ceimany, he continued Ins lal.ois, and in 7M2 w<is made \ icar-Apostolic. Six m,u s Liter he made another a isit to Koine, and, returning with incitMM'd powets lie pioceeded to settle the ec < lcsia-tical <li\ isions ol Geim.iny and held several synods In 717 he was appointed Archbishop of Mentz, and Pinnate ot Germany Alter laboring for thirty years for the sahation ol the German people, he resigned his atdiicpiscopal See in order to undertake the conversion ol the Frisians He had abcad.v converted several thousands of this nation when he was attacked and slain b\ a band of pagans m 755 The remains of the illustrious uiart\,i weie deposited in the monasteiy of Fulda.