GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

New Zealand Tablet, 20 December 1906, Page 3

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

December 23, Sunday.—Fourth Sunday of Advent. • „ 21, Monday .—Vigil of the Nativity. Fast, Day/ „ 25, Tuesday. —The Nativity'of Our Lord Jesus ' - Christ. » „ 26, Wednesday.—St.Stephen, First Martyr. .- 2F, Thursday.— St v John, Apostle .and Evange-. • i list. ""-■ - ■"/'"" „ 28, Friday.—The Holy Innocents, Martyrs. „ 29, Saturday.—St..'lliojna's, BiSliop and Martyr.The Nativity of Our Lord. Jesus Christ. To-day the CJhurch rejoices over the birthday ofher Divine Founder—the Redeemer of mankind. ' .Tfoe^' time, appdintea^fpi" the entrance of the Son of 'Go-d^ ; into the world-shaving arrived,-oVlary and 1 Joseph were :" led by Divin"e Prpvidence into Bethlehem. Failing' "to i obtain admittance into the inns, were compelled 1o ta'!:e refuge in a grotto, which' served as a shelter for cattle. -Thcrte our Blessed Saviour was born to a Aie of "poverty, jlunniliatiou, and suffering. He came' '. to redeem the world, and, to draw to- Himself . the L affections of men, and therefore He'presented Himself in tbe most amiable form that can be imagined —that * of an innocent, helpless .babe. The, Iloly Innocents, Martyrs. -' " j On this Say we comniernorate those innocent .children I whose martyrdom is mentioned by St, Matthew in the r Second chapter of his Gosoel. Herod; wishing to .destroy ;- t-he new-born Saviour, ' sending, killed ail" the -male chil- J dren that were in Bethlehem, and in all the- borders ' theieof, from two «y,,ears old and under. 1 St! ,Thomas, Bishop" and Martyr: St. Thomas A'Beckett was^ born in. 'London in 1117.' Having embraced the ecclesiastical ■ stated- and' givenproof of singular ability and fervent piety, he was soon called to 'occupy very important positions in the. Church. In 1157 he was appointed Lord Chancellor of '■ England by King Henry 11., and in 1162 was -elected) Archbishop of Canterbury. Though remarkable for Ivu- - mility and meekness, he did not hesitate.to.. boldly do-" fend the rights or" the Church against the t attacks o_f the English king. His firmness cost him his -- life., lie was murdered' in his Cathedral by four kiAghts at tbe instigation of -the king, A.D.--J.170. (i T