Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 31 July 1913, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR August 3, Sunday. Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost. ~ 4, Monday.—St. Dominic, Confessor. ~ 5, Tuesday. Dedication of the Church of our Lady of Snows. ~ 6, Wednesday.—The Transfiguration of our Lord. ~ 7, Thursday.—St. Cajetan, ‘Confessor. ~ 8, Friday.—St. Cyriacus and Companions, Martyrs. ~ 9, Saturday.—St. Emygdius, Bishop and Martyr. St. Dominic, Confessor. St. Dominic, a Spaniard of noble birth, was remarkable from childhood for a tender love of the poor, and a filial devotion to the Blessed Virgin. After his ordination to the priesthood, these two characteristics' became still more marked. To his veneration for the Blessed Virgin is attributed the institution of the Holy Rosary, which was such a powerful factor in the conversion of the Albigensian heretics, and which has ever since remained a favorite devotion of Catholics. St. Dominic died in 1221, having some years previously founded the -well-known Order of monks called after him, Dominicans. Dedication of the Church of our Lady of Snows. The Church of our Lady of Snows, or, as it is more frequently called, St. Mary Major, is one of the four great basilicas of Rome, and the largest and most celebrated of the many churches in that city which are dedicated to . the Mother of God. Built in the fourth century, under Pope Liberius, it was rebuilt on a magnificent, scale in the following century. The title of ‘ Our Lady of Snows ’ has reference to a tradition connected with the building of the church. St. Emygdius, Bishop and Martyr. St. Emygdius, a native of Rhenish Prussia, was consecrated Bishop of Ascalon by Pope Marcellus. After a saintly life, memorable for the miracles which God wrought through his instrumentality, he was martyred during the persecution of Diocletian. GRAINS of gold THE HOLY HOUR. One hour with Thee in silent adoration, To taste the sweetness of Thy holy place; To bow my soul, in peace or desolation, Before the pity of Thy Sacred Face; The world shut out, from sin and turmoil free — Only one little hour, my God, with Thee ! One hour with Theeone short and precious hour, Snatched from the rush and clamor of the day; . O gracious gift of love, O welcome shower Of tranquil joy, that melts my soul away ; Making all things outside of Thee to seem A vain illusion, an unhappy dream ! —Sacred Heart Review. We must stir a stagnant pool before it will reveal its depths. Many hearts have become stagnant through want of being stirred. Let us ask of Mary to obtain for us from the Holy Ghost the gift of Divine love, for then all the crosses of this life will seem sweet to us. The most unlovable people, though they are often well-intentioned people, are those who are perpetually .engaged in the ideal task of setting others right. Daily resolutions to fulfil at all cost every duty demanded by God is the lesson we must learn if we would overcome our corrupt nature and reform our lives.