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New Zealand Tablet, 18 February 1915, Page 3

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR

February 21, Sunday.—First Sunday in Lent. ' t ~ 22, Monday.—The Chair of St. Fetor at

Antioch.

~ 23, Tuesday. —St. Peter Damian, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor.

~ 24, Wednesday.—St. Matthias, Apostle. Ember Day. ~ 25, Thursday.—Of the Feria. -

~ 26, Friday.—Of the Feria. Ember Day. ~ 27, Saturday.Of the Feria. Ember Day. No Abstinence.

Chair of St. Peter at Antioch.

On this day we commemorate the establishment by St. Peter of his Episcopal See at Antioch, where for seven years he ruled the Church as Universal Pastor, before finally fixing the seat of his spiritual government at Rome. ;

St. Peter Damian, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor.

-St. Peter was born at Ravenna, in the north of Italy, about 988. After a youth of hardship, be entered a Benedictine monastery at the foot of the Apennines, where for many years he led a life of austerity, prayer, and study. His great piety and learning having brought him under the notice of his ecclesiastical superiors, he was employed by more than one Pope in important affairs, and displayed great zeal and prudence. In 1057 he was created Cardinal and Bishop of Ostia, but, five years later, he succeeded in obtaining permission to resign his bishopric and return to his monastery. His death occurred in 1072.

St. Matthias, Apostle.

After the Ascension of our Lord, St .Matthias was chosen by lot to fill the place which the treachery and suicide of Judas had left vacant. Tradition assigns Cappadocia as the place of his labors and martyrdom.

GRAINS OP GOLD.

TO-NIGHT.

To-night, dear Lord, I can not pray ; My heart is sore oppressed —- So long and weary was the day, That fain would I have rest !

Before Thy altar see me now— I know that Thou art near—

And to Thee all my faith I bow, My Jesus, present here 1

Although no word to Thee I speak, Thy love my heart can read, And see how poor, and vile, and weak Am I, in all my need ! Most humbly, Lord, I come before Thy majesty and might, And ask that to a heart grief-sore Thou givest peace to-night! —Amadeus, O.S.F.

it is better to prefer honorable defeat to a mean victory, to lowering the level of our aim that we may more certainly enjoy the complacency of success. A virtuous life may lie under more burdens than a free-and-easy one, but it is supported by all the strength of charity and religion, and these burdens are delightful. It is supreme folly to attempt to find happiness by taking the short cut across the lawns of life. There is but one end to all these endeavors. They all end in tragedy. Each complaint drags us down a degree in our upward course. If you would discern in whom God s spirit dwells, watch that person and notice whether you ever hear him murmur.