Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 28 December 1911, Page 2619

Friends at Court

QLEANJNQS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

December 31, Sunday.—Sunday within the Octave. St. Sylvester 1., Pope and Confessor.

January 1, Monday.—The Circumcision of Our Lord

Jesus Christ.

„ 2, Tuesday.—Octave of the Feast of St.

Stephen. ~ 3, Wednesday.—Octave of the Feast of St.

John.

~ 4, Thursday.—Octave of the Holy Innocents. ~ 5, Friday.—Vigil of the Epiphany. ~ 6, Saturday.—The Epiphany.

The Circumcision of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Circumcision was a rite which, in the Old Law, admitted the male descendants of Adam to share inthe promises made by God to Abraham, and cleansed them, if necessary, from original sin. The law of circumcision could not regard the sinless Saviour, Who, being by nature Son of God, did not require adoption into the number of His children. He submitted to this painful rite, however, in order to begin from His very cradle those sufferings by which cur redemption was accomplished. The feast of the Circumcision dates from very early times. From mention made of it in the Council of Tours, A.D. 567, it appears to have been even then of considerable antiquity.

The Feast of the Epiphany of Our Blessed Lord. From the fourth century the Epiphany, or Manifestation of Our Lord, has been regarded as one of the greatest of ecclesiastical solemnities. Three events in the life of Our Blessed Saviour are commemorated on this day:—(l) The manifestation of the Infant Redeemer to the wise men from the East. (2) The Baptism of Our Lord at the hands of St. John, when a voice from the heaven""was heard declaring: 'This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.' (3) The changing of the water into wine at the marriage feast of —the first miracle by which Christ showed His Divine power.

GRAINS OF GOLD

THE OLD AND NEW YEARS' BELLS.

Hark! a sound both sad and joyful On the sacred stillness swells; Listen to the solemn tolling Of the Old and New Years' Bells.

'O'er time's river I have drifted, Now I breathe a fond farewell, As I join th' Eternal Ocean.' Thus laments the Old Year's Bell.

' With youth's vigour I am singing, O'er each mountain, lake and dell; Come, rejoice, be always hopeful!' Thus resounds the New Year's Bell.

And as envious time glides onward, We hear many funeral knells; Sad and joyful as the blending. Of the Old and New Year's Bells.

Aust ml Light.

m No man can ever travel away from God without doing it at his own expense. One's personal enjoyment is a very small thing ; one's personal usefulness a very important thing. Many an honorable career has resulted from a kind word spoken in season, or the warm grasp of a friendly hand. You must try to be good and amiable to everybody, and do not think that Christianity consists in a melancholy and morose life.—Lacordaire.