GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 34, 25 August 1904, Page 31

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

August 28, Sunday.— Fourteenth Sunday after Tentecost. Feast of the Most Pure Heart of Mary. „ 29, Monday.— Beheading of St. John the Bapti&t. Uli, Tuesday —St Fiacre, Confessor. 31, Wednesday —St. Raymond Nonnatus, Confessor. September 1, Thursday —St. Louis, Confessor. 2, Fnday.~St. Stephen, King of Hungary. 3, Saturday.— St. Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal. « St. Fiacre, Confessor. St. Fiacre was an Irishman, who, haying crossed over into France, lived for many years in a solitude not far from the city of Meaux. His life Mere was most austcie— 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 came to seek his advice. After his death, in 070, his lomb became famous for numerous miracles, cuitf was lesmtcd to by pilgrims from all parts of Ficin:e. St. Raymond Nonnatus, Confessor. According to the rule laid down by Christ that Ctmstian proves himself His most faithful disciple, and gives the surest proof of his love of God, who most perfectly loves 'his neighbor for (iod's sake. Judged by this test of true sanctity, St. Raymond 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 oilier to promote the spiritual welfare, and accomplish the redemption of Christians held in captivity by the Moors. After a life wholly s-pent in the service of Ins neighbor, he died near Barcelona in 1240. St. Louis, Confessor. St. Louis was King of France, and it may be truly said that country never enjoyed the blessing of a "wiser or more virtuous ruler. 1 hough his life in the midst of. his court was i.iat of a perfect religious, he never neglected the affairs of Government, the public duties of his position, or the wants of his people. His alms deeds were unbounded, and one of his greatest pleasures was ministering to the sick in the public hospitals. St. Louis died in 1270, at the age of 55. St. Stephen, King of Ilungaiy. One of the first acts of St. Stephen, King of Hungary, on ascending the throne was to unite himself to Latin Christendom. By his mamagc with Gisela, the sister of Emperor lleinry 11., he became closely connected with Catholic Germany, who^e civilisation he sought, by every means, to mtioduce 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 rose. He sent an embassy to Pope Sylvester 11., ani received from him the present of a royal crown and a papal edict empowering him to regulate the ecclesiastical adaks of his realm,: Ihs religious zeal gained him the title of ' Apostolic King ' from Pope Sylvester 11., with the right of having the eros« home before him. St. Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal. St. Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal, was a daughter of Pedro 111 , of Arragon, being named after her aunt, St. Eh,/ abet h of Hungary. At 12 years of age she was given in marriage to Doms, King of Portugal, and from being a holy diild became a saintly wife. Her husband caused her nVuch sorrow, both by his unfounded jealousy and by his infidelity to hei\ Her patience artd 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 Clares. After her hus'bajtd's death she wished to emter 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 life in redoubled austerities and almsgiving.