Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 5 August 1915, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEAN FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR August 8, Sunday.—Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost. ~ 9, Monday. -Vigil of the Feast of St. Law- , fence. ~ 10, Tuesday. — St. Lawrence, Martyr. „ 11, Wednesday. — SS. Tiburtius and Susanna, Martyrs. „ 12, Thursday. —St. Clare, Virgin ~ 13, Friday. — SS. Hippolytus and Cassian, Martyrs. x ~ 14, Saturday.- of the Assumption. No abstinence. St. Lawrence, Martyr. There are few martyrs whose names are so famous throughout the Church as that of St. Lawrence. St. Augustine and St. Ambrose join in praising him, and innumerable churches have been erected in his honor, more particularly in Rome, which was the scene of his martyrdom. This extraordinary veneration is the result of the heroic constancy with which he suffered for the faith. He was slowly roasted to death in the persecution of Valerian, A.D. 258. Prudentius ascribes to his prayers the conversion of Rome, and states that his death was the death of idolatry in that city. St. Clare, Virgin. St. Clare of Assisi, who renounced wealth and rank to embrace'the religious state, was remarkable for her love of poverty and her devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. She became, under the direction of St. Francis of Assisi, the foundress of a very strict religious Order, the members of which practised the most rigorous austerities. ' She died in her sixtieth year, A.D. 1253. GRAINS OP GOLD. VIRGIN MOTHER MARY. O Virgin Mother, pure and sweet! As low before thee bending, We. cast our garlands at thy feet In faith and love unending ; We sing the glory of thy name • Who bore our Lord and brother, And since from heaven the angel came Ha-s been our loving Mother. Blessed name to God most dear, Sweetest name to sinners here, Holy name that all revere, Virgin Mother Marv I ■O « In every vale, to deck thy shrines The fragrant flowers are springing ; From leafy shrubs and towering pines The birds thy praise are singing. ...For thee, as offerings,,maidens fair Now pluck the scented roses, And search the shaded nooklets where The violet reposes. Votive wreaths are fondly hung, Silver bells are softly rung, While thy joyful hymns are sung, Virgin Mother Mary ! The murmur of the rippling rills, Through moss and pebbles flowing ; The sunshine on the sloping hills Where modest blooms are 4 blowing; The rustling of the leaflets green ; The breezes soft complaining, ’ Express their love for thee, our Queen, .Who far in heaven art reigning. Purest maid of mortals born, Help of wretched and forlorn, Heavenly gems thy head adorn, ' ’ ' Virgin Mother Mary! Rev. William Livingston.