Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 26 June 1913, Page 3

Friends at Court

—— ■ GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR s “ June 29, Sunday.—Seventh Sunday after Pentecost. SS. Peter and Paul, Apostles. ~ 30, Monday.—Commemoration of St. Paul, Apostle. July 1, Tuesday. Commemoration of All the Holy Roman Pontiffs. ~ 2, Wednesday.—Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. ~ 3, Thursday. —St. Paul 1., Pope and Confessor. ~ 4, Friday. —St. Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr. ~ 5, Saturday. —St. Antonio Zaccaria, Confessor. 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 tho Apostolate. At the end of that time he proceeded to Jerusalem to confer with St. Peter. During his stay in the Holy City he preached in the synagogues with such success that the fanatical Jews endeavoured 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 i. sufferings occupied the greater part of the book of 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 zeal 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. St. Paul 1., Pope and Confessor. St. Paul was elected Pope on the death of his brother, Stephen 111., in 757. His biography states that he spent whatever time remained, after discharging the special duties of his high office, in visiting and assisting the sick and poor. Ho died in the eleventh year of hia pontificate. GRAINS OF GOLD OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL. . Downcast, sweet Lady, is thy face, Thine eyes look sadly down. Dost thou, sweet Mother, haply, trace The sharp and thorny crown On brow and head, that gently press Thy cheek with loving, soft caress tx, Dost thou, sad Mother, haply, see The nails so rudely thrust Through baby-hands that cling to thee With loving, childlike trust, e That fain would ward from thee all harm, Soothing thy grief with heavenly balm ? Hast thou, already, glorious part . In that great wound so wide, That pierced at once thy mother-heart, And His most sacred side ? The cross, so bitter, haply, thou Dost see all darkly looming now ! No heart may know thy pain and bliss—#The gentle wounding of His kiss ! Ave Maria. The day that prayer dies in a man’s soul he commits spiritual suicide. Keep young, keep innocent. Innocence does not come back, and repentance is a poor thing beside it. Don’t spend half your time in the making of promises unless you want to give up the other half to the making of excuses.