Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 29, 16 July 1903, Page 31

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR July 19, Sunday.— Seventh Sunday after Pentecost. St ™ „ Symmachus, Pop© and Confessor. 20, Monday.— St. Jerome itaiilian, Confessor 21, Tuesday.— St. Alexius, Confessor. 22, Wednesday.— St. Mary Magdalen, Penitent. 23, 1 hursday,— St Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr. 24, Friday.— St. Vincent de Paul, Confessor. „ 25, Saturday. — St. James, Apostle. St. Symmachus, Pope and Confessor. St. Symmachus, who was Pope from 498 to 514, was born in Sardinia. He was the successor of Athanasius 11. He zealously combated the heresies of Nestorius and Eutyches, and some writers attribute to him the introduction into the Mass of the ' Gloria in Excelsis.' St. Jerome Emilian, Confessor. St. Jerome Emilian belonged to a noble Venetian family. Upon the death of his father, when he was about fifteen years of age ho enteied the army, to the great affliction of his mother, who soon beheld him fall into a dissolute way of life through the bad example of his companions. Having received a commission from the Venetian Senate to relieve the garrison of Castlenuvo, which was invested by a German army, Jerome succeeded m effecting an entrance to the citadel, and in repelling for some time the assaults of the enemy. Upon the fall of the castle he was seized, loaded with chains, and cast into a dark dungeon. In these straits he began to reflect with anguish on the state of his soul, and with sighs and tears acknowledged the justice of God in thus treating him according to his merits. Suddenly a ray of hope penetrated his heart when he thought of the tender mercy of our Blessed Lady, and he made a vow on the spot, in case of his deliverance, to visit barefoot her celebrated shrine at Treviso, and there publish aloud her bounty in his regard. As soon as he completed the terms of his vow he returned to Venice, and, renouncing the honors and of bees of the State, devoted himself henceforth to the service of God and the relief of the afflicted poor. St. Mary Magdalen, Penitent. According to an old tradition, St. Mary Magdalen was the sister of Martha and Lazarus, and was that sinner who anointed the Saviour's feet. After her conversion she became the most faithful and zealous servant of the Lord. She stood with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and Mary, the wile of Cleophas, under the Cross ; she was first at the sepulchre after the Sabbath, and there saw Jesus, whom she thought to be a gardener, until lie k.indly made Himself known, and commanded her to announce the news of His resunection to the Apostles and Disciples. She came into Provence, Gaul, with La/arus and Mai tha, and passed the rest of her days at St. Baume, in penance, prayer, and contemplation St. Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr. St Afjollmaris, who was the first Bishop of Ravenna, and the only one of this Church who suffered martyrdom was, it is behoved, a disciple of St. Peter. He is lamous m Church history although the acts of his life such as we have- them, are not authentic. His panegyric was pionounced by St. Peter Chrysologus, one of his successors Hungary claims him as its apostle His remains, loiinerly kept at Closse (ancient sea harbor four miles fiom Ravenna"), were transferred in 549 into a ■vault o! the .same church Pope Honorius founded a chinch at Rome in honor of St. Apollinaris about the orso. St. Vincent de Paul, Confessor. St Vincent de Paul was born in 157 G. The indications ol ability which he exhibited led to his being sent to school at Toulouse He was admitted to priest's ordeis in loon He laid the foundation of what eventually gievv into the great and influential Congregation of I'uests o! the Missions ' Vincent's preaching was of the most simple kind, singularly effective and progressi\e IV founded the Order of the ' Daughters of CharCv 'at Paris in lfi.'H The Order is popularly known by the title of 'The Sisters of Charity,' or 'Grey Nuns,' ,\ii(l its membeis have won for their Order as w r ell as themselves the admiration, esteem, and well-deserved piaise of all nations for their godlike ministration 'to the sicV and afflicted during" times of war and peace. St. \ incent died at the advanced age of 85, at St. Lazare, September 27, 16G0 ; and was canonised by Clement \JI. in 1737.