Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 35, 27 August 1903, Page 31

Friends at Court

GLEAMNQS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR August 30, Sunday .-Thirteenth Sunday after Penteo, « „ cost> St - Fl acre, Confessor. 31, Monday.— St. Raymond Nonnatus, Confessor. September 1, Tuesday.— St. Ludovicus, Confessor 2, Wednesday.— St. Stephen of Hungary King. ° " 3, Thursday .-St. Elizabeth of Portugal Queen. ' 4, Friday .-St. Rose of Viterbo, Virgin. „ 5, Saturday.— St. Lawrence Justinian, Bishop and Confessor. St. Fiacre, Confessor. St. Fiacre was an Irishman, who, having crossed over into France, lived for many years in a solitude not far from the city of Meaux. His life there was mdtet austeuef—a continued exercise of prayer and heavenly contemplation, which he interrupted only to afford relief to the poor, or to attend to those who, led by the fame of his sanctity, came to seek his advice. After his death, in 670, his tomb became famous for numerous miracles, and was resorted to by pilgrims from all parts of France. St. Raymond Nonnatus, Confessor. According to the rule laid down by Christ that Christian proves himself His most faithful disciple, and gives the surest proof of his love of God, who most perfectly loves his neighbor for God's sake. Judged by this test of true sanctity, St. Kaymond should rank high among the saints. Born in Spain, in 1204, he gave not only his. property but all his liberty, and even exposed himself to the most cruel torments, and risked his very life in order to promote the spiritual welfare, and accomplish the redemption of Christians held in captivity by the Moors. After a life wholly spent in the service of his neighbor, he died near Barcelona in 1240. St. Stephen, King of Hungary. One of the first acts of St. Stephen, King of Hungary, on ascending the throne was to unite himself to Latin Christendom. By his marriage with Gisela, the lister of Emperor Henry 11., he became closely connected with Catholic Germany, whose civilisation he sought, by every means, to introduce among his subjects. Assisted by German and Bohemian priests, Stephen succeeded in extending the Christian religion over the whole kingdom ; throughout the land churches and monasteries lose. He sent an embassy to Pope Sylvester 11., and received from him the present of a royal crown and a papal edict empowering him to regulate the ecclesiastical afiairs of his realm. His religious zeal gained him the title of ' Apostolic King ' from Pope Sylvester 11., with the right of having the cross borne before him. St. Elhabeth, Queen of Portugal. St. Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal, was a daughter of Pedro 111., of Arragon, being named after her aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary. At 12 years of age she was given in marriage to Denis, King of Portugal, and from being a holy child became a saintly wife. Her husband caused her much sorrow, both by his unfounded jealousy and by his infidelity to her. Her patience and the wonderful charity with which she ever cherished the children of her rivals, completely won the king from his evil ways, and he became a devoted (husband and a truly Christian king. She built many charitable institutions and religious houses, among others a convent of Poor Clarets. After her husband's death she wished to enter this Order ; but being dissuaded by her people, she took the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis, and spent the rest of her lue in redoubled austerities and almsgiving. St. Lawrence Justinian, Bishop and Confessor. St. Lawrence Justinian, who was the first Patriarch of Venice, was born in that city about the year 1380. lie was General of the Canons Regular of the Congregation of St. George, was appointed Bishop of Venice in M 33, and Patriarch in 1451. He built at Venice 10 churches and several monasteries.