Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 6 April 1911, Page 603

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR April 9, Sunday.—Palm Sunday. „ 10, Monday.—Of the Feria. „ 11, Tuesday.—Of the Feria. „ 12, Wednesday.—Of the Feria. ~ 13, Thursday.— Thursday. „ 14, Friday.—Good Friday. ~ 15, Saturday.—Holy Saturday. Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday derives its name from,the procession with palms, which takes, place, wherever practicable, before the principal Mass, and which commemorates the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem. The procession is an expression of joy and triumph, but blended with these feelings to-day is one of sadness, for this triumph of Our Blessed Saviour was the prelude to His Passion. Monday in Holy Week. The week which begins on Palm Sunday is called Holy Week,' and also the Great Week,' on account,' says St John Chrysostom, ' of the great things which were wrought in it. For on these days was the tyranny of the devil overthrown, death disarmed, sin and its ci.urse taken away, heaven opened and made accessible, and men made fellows with the angels.'

Tuesday in Holy Week. St. Bernard exhorted his religious to fervor during Holy Week in the following words: —'Let not the commemoration of these great mysteries pass you in vain. God is going to pour forth His most abundant blessings. Let your hearts be penetrated with niety and devotion; restrain your senses under a strict discipline; cleanse your consciences; purify your affections; and prepare your souls to receive the excellent gifts which will be most plentifully conferred on those who shall be disposed.' Wednesday in Holy Week. On this and the two following days the Office of Tenebrae is chanted in those churches in which the presence of a sufficient number of priests is obtainable. The Office consists of a number of Psalms, with lessons from the Sacred Scriptures, and the writings of the Fathers of the Church appropriate to the season. The name of Tenebrae (darkness) is given to the Office because, at its close, the lights are extinguished to express the mourning of the Church, and to represent the darkness which covered the face of the earth on the death of Our Blessed Lord. GRAINS OF GOLD A SOUL'S SURRENDER. ' 0 Sacred Heart, with love consumed, Thy love compelleth mine! Take it, my wayward rebel heart, Make it be wholly Thine! Break Thou, O Jesus, break the chains Of earth that hold me fast! Draw me till I capitulate And live for Thee at last I In Crib, on Cross, in Sacrament, Dear Lord, keep drawing me, To love Thy loving Heart Divine, No creature but in Thee! To love with deep and generous love, With love that counts no pain, Thee, O my God, Who naught did'st spare Thy creature's love to gain!' A kind word is often as welcome as alms, and as great an act of charity as if a gift of money. The essence of true nobility is neglect of self. Let the thought of self pass in, and the beauty from a great action is gone like the bloom from a boiled flower. If our religion brings us courage, jov, and peace, we shall not rail at the faults of* men, but ■shall rather strive from a happy and loving heart to lead them towards the light. The greatest strength and nobility of character lies always in making a firm stand on the side of right and allowing oneself to be influenced by nothing that will weaken this stand. Men who live for self never succeed in satisfying self, or in quite satisfying anybody else; men who Jive for others in God-like unselfishness have joy themselves while giving joy to others. Wisdom consists not in knowing many things, nor even in knowing them, thoroughly, but in choosing and in following what* conduces the most certainly to our lasting happiness and glory.