CLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 25, 25 June 1908, Page 3

CLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

June 28, Sunday.— Third Sunday after Pentecost. .St. Leo 11., Pope and Confessor. „ 29, Monday.— SS. Peter and Paul, Apostles. „ 30, Tuesday. — Commemoration of St. Paul, Apos-

tie. July 1, Wednesday . — Octave of St. John the Baptist. „ 2, Thursday. — Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. „ 3, Friday.— St. Paul- 1., Pope- and Confessor. „ 4, Saturday.— St. Ircnaeus, Bishop and Martyr.

SS. Peter and Paul, Apostles.

St. Peter was known originally as Simon Barjona — that is, Simon, son of John. The name Peter, which means rock, was given to him by our Divine Lord to signify, that he was to be the solid foundation -of Christ's future Church. ' I say to thee,' said Christ, • that thou art Peter (that is, Rock), and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,' etc. This solemn promise of Christ was fulfilled after His Resurrection, when He said to St. Peter, ' Feed My lambs, feed My sheep,' words which, in the figurative language of the East, signify the exercise of supreme power over the Church. The principal events in the life of St. Peter — his imprisonment, his government of the Church from Antioch, and finally from Rome— are commemorated fciy special feasts. To-day we consider more particularly the glorious death by which he atoned for his former denial of his Divine Master. St. Peter was crucified at Rome, under the Emperor Nero, about the year 67. St. Paul is associated with St. Peter in this day's solemnity, because, after having labored with him for the conversion of Rome, he received the crown of martyrdom on the same day.

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The event which this feast commemorates is the visit of congratulation paid by the Blessed Virgin to her cousin, St. Elizabeth. The circumstances of -this visit, as narrated in the Gospel of St. Luke (Chap. 1., 36, etc.), reveal to -us the greatness of Mary's charity, and teach us that we ought to rejoice at the favors which God bestows on our neighbors,' as if we ourselves had received them.