GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 46, 14 November 1907, Page 3

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

November 17, Sunday.— Twenty-sixth ' Sunday after Pentecost. St. Gregory Thaumatur- , gus, Bishop and Confessor. „ 18, Monday.— Dedication, of the Basilicas of SS. Peter and Paul. „ 19, Tuesday.— St. Pontian, Pope and Martyr. „ 20, Wednesday.— St. Felix of Valois^ Confessor. - „ 21, Thursday.— Presentation of - the Blessed Virgin Mary. „ 23, Friday.— St. Cecilia, -Virgin and Martyr. „ 23, Saturday.— St. Clement, Pope and Martyr.

Dedication of the Basilicas of SS. Peter and Paul. These^ two basilicas are situated in Rome, the one on the Vatican Hill, the other on the road which leads to the mouth of the Tiber. They are famous tKtougliout the world for size, richness, and magnificence of decoration, but the most precious "treasures which they contain are the relics of the two great Apostles— .St. Peter, the Vicar of Christ, and St. Paul, the zealous missionary of the infant Church. Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to a pious tradition, datang from the earliest times, the Blessed Virgin, when a cuuu, was taKen fry her parents to the temple of Jerusalem, where she was carefully instructed' and trained by pious matrons in the practice of virtue. The feast we celebrate to-day commemorates the generous enthusiasm with _ which the Blessed - Virgin dedicated her life to the service of her Creator— an offering which she never recalled by tEe slightest sinful act. St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr. St. Cecilia was a member of a noble Roman family. Betrothed by her parents, against her . awn wishes, to Valerian, a pagan, "she succeeded in converting him and his brother to the Christian religion. On this coming to the ears of the Prefect of the city, the two brothers "were beheaded. Ihe same sentence was passed on St. ' Cecilia, .but, owing to the clumsy manner in which the executioner performed his task, the holy virgin lingered for three days in great agony. •