Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8, 25 February 1909, Page 283

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR -

ITebruary 28, Sunday. — First Sunday in Lent. March 1, Monday. — The -Seven Holy *Founders. ' " „ 2, Tuesday. — St. Simplicius, Pope and Confessor. „ 3, Wednesday. — St. Hyginus; Pope and Martyr. Ember Day. „ - 4, Thursday .—St. Lucius 1., Pope and. Martyr. „ 5, Friday. — The Lance and Nails. Ember Day. ,*, 6, Saturday. — St. Fridolinus, Abbot. Ember Day. The Seven Holy Founders. ■ " These were seven noblemen of Florence, who in the thirteenth century renounced the pleasures and honors which lay within their reach, and embraced tlie religious life. They founded an Order of monks, popularly known as Servites, or Servants of Mary, having as principal patron the Blessed Virgin, under the title of ' Mother-^of Sorrows.' St. Simplicius, Pope and Confessor.' At the time of the accession of St. Simplicius to the papal throne in 467, the greater part of the Western Empire had fallen into the hands of heretical and idolatrous barbarians. In 476 they gained possession of Borne. St. Simplicius labored with great siiccess to bring about the conversion of these barbarians, and to relieve the necessities of those who suffered from their cruel oppression. In the East his efforts were devoted to crushing the Eutychian heresy, which, owing to the favor of the Emperor, had assumed alarming proportions.