Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 22 April 1915, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR April 25, Sunday. Third Sunday after Easter. ~ 26, Monday. —SS. Cletus and Marcellinus, Popes and Martyrs. ~ 27, Tuesday.— Of the Octave. ~ 28, .Wednesday. — Octave of the Feast of St. . Joseph. pg !29, Thursday. —St. Peter, Martyr. ~ 80, Friday. — St. Catherine of Siena, Virgin. May 1, Saturday.— SS. Philip and James, Apostles. St. Peter, Martyr. St. Peter was born at Verona, in Italy. At the age of 15 he was received into the Dominican Order by the great St. Dominic. To a profound humility he joined exceptional talents. He was very successful as a preacher, and in particular brought about the conversion of many Manichaean heretics, a sect which was still very numerous in the neighborhood of Milan. Fie met his death at the hands of some sectarians, who, remaining obstinate in their heresy, were enraged at his successful efforts to propagate the genuine teaching of Christ. A.D. 1252. St. Catherine of Siena, Virgin. 1 Siena, in Italy, has the honor of having been the birthplace of this great saint. From her earliest years St. Catherine cultivated a spirit of perfect union with God, and even when engaged in the most distracting occupations succeeded in keeping' herself no less sensible of His presence than if she had no exterior employment. She was indefatigable in her efforts to bring souls to God, and her words and example, and even the very sight of her emaciated but saintly countenance, were the cause of many conversions. She seemed to have a special grace for effecting the reconciliation of enemies. Her powerful influence in this direction was exercised, not only in the case of private individuals, but also in reconciling States that were at variance, and in obtaining the submission and pardon of rebellious cities which had incurred the censures of the Holy See. But the most important service she rendered to the Church was the restoration of the Sovereign Pontiff to his episcopal city, after a residence of nearly seventy years at Avignon, in France, an end being thus put to the innumerable evils resulting to the Church from the prolonged absence of the Vicar of Christ from Rome. St. Catherine died in 1380, at the age of 47, and was buried in Rome, in the Church of the Minerva, where her remains arc still preserved. GRAINS OF GOLD. FRAGRANCE OF THE FLOWERS. The flowers on the altar fair Surround their hidden King. To Him their exhalations rare A cheerful solace bring. , Would that our hearts were like the flowers Each day with fragrance fraught. Would that our thoughts throughout the hours, k The gentle Saviour sought. * Rev. T. L. Crowley, O.P. Regard not your misfortune (says St. Francis de Sales) ; look only to God ; He will have care of . you. * Cast thy solicitude on Him, and He will provide for thee.’ Why trouble yourself by sighing or pining about the accidents of this world, since you know not what you ought to wish for, and God will always wish what is best for you? Await, then, in repose of spirit, the effects of the divine good pleasure, and let it suffice for you, since it is always good, so our Lord ordered St. Catherine of Siena, saying, ‘ Think of Me, and I will think of thee.’