Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 22 June 1911, Page 1131

Friends at Court

.. »-• GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR June 25, Sunday.—Third Sunday after Pentecost. St. Gallican, Martyr. ~ 26, Monday.—SS. John and Paul, Martyrs. ~ 27, Tuesday.—St. William, Abbot. 7 „ 28, Wednesday.—St, Leo 11., Pope and Confessor. ~ 29, Thursday.—SS. Peter and Paul. Apostles. ~ 30, Friday.—Commemoration of St. Paul, Apostle. July 1, Saturday.—Octave of the Feast of St. John the Baptist. 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, 1 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, 1 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 — imprisonment, his government of the Church from Antioch, and finally from Romeare commemorated by special feasts. Today 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 haying labored with him for the conversion of Rome, he received the crown of martyrdom on the same day. Commemoration of . St. Paul, Apostle. . The miraculous conversion of St. Paul is commemorated on January 25. After his baptism he spent three years preparing himself in solitude and prayer for the work of the Apostolato. At the end of that time he proceeded to Jerusalem to confer with St. Peter. During his stav in the Holy City he preached in the synagogues with such success that the fanatical Jews endeavored to take away his life. The missionary career on which he thus entered terminated only with his death. The history of his labors, journeys, and sufferings occupied the greater part of the book of the - Acts of the Apostles. In the midst of his labors he found time to write to different churches the fourteen epistles which form part of the New Testament, and which manifest so clearly his lively faith, his zeil for souls, and especially his ardent love of his crucified Lord. St. Paul was beheaded outside Rome, near the place where the magnificent basilica which bears his name now stands. ” GRAINS OF GOLD WHO HATH KNOWN THEE? Who hath known Thee, Holv One, Brightest Saviour, Mary’s Son, — Have the hosts of Saints, that harbor in the skies? ; No —forever and for aye, New glories thou’lt display, New charms to feed the hunger of their eyes! Mother Mary knows Thee best, — She who held Thee to her breast. - She who watched to see Thy baby eyelids part. Yet, while endless ages grow, Mary’s self shall never know All the deeps of glory flowing in Thy heart! Sacred Heart Review. To live for others, to suffer for others, is the inevitable condition of our being. To accept the condition gladly, is to find it crowned with its joys. Kindness is the overflowing of self upon others. Wo put others in the place of self. We treat them as we would wish to be treated ourselves.—Father Faber. -It is better to reconcile an enemy than to conquer him. Your victory may deprive him of his power to hurt for the present; but reconciliation disarms him even of his will to injure. It would be hard to portray the darkness of a world in which there were no reverence. Happiness would he impossible, for there could be no friendships upon which to build it and no values out of which it might spring. To view life thus would be to put it on. the basis of pessimism, and pessimism is in its last analytical misery. Tho inner knowledge that one has been honest is a reward which passes words. One thus rewarded is rich beyond measure of wealth that might be dishonestly gained. These are not fancies, but facts. Humanity should have learned them as such, and made use of them long ago. Not having done so, humanity should begin now. The first step is to bo honest with self.