Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 15 May 1919, Page 3

Friends at Court

-GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR -May 18, Sunday.—Fourth Sunday after Easter. ~ 19, Monday. —St. Peter Celestine, Pope and ' Confessor. .. ' ~ 20, Tuesday.St. Bernardine of Siena, Confessor. 21, Wednesday. —Of the Feria, >, 22, Thursday. —Of the Feria. ~ 23, Friday. — Of the Feria. ~ 24, Saturday. Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians. Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians. This feast was instituted by Pope Pius VII. at the beginning of last century. Napoleon, in his ambitious attempt to become autocrat of the world, found . a formidable obstacle in the opposition of the Supreme Pontiff, who refused to surrender the patrimony of the Church, or to allow the French Emperor to control the management of ecclesiastical affairs. As a consequence of his firmness, Pius VII. was detained in captivity for several years. In gratitude for his liberation, which seemed an answer to, the prayers of the Church, invoking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin on his behalf, he ordered the present feast to be celebrated. Under the title of “Help of Christians,” the Blessed Virgin Mary has been selected as patron of the Catholic Church in Australasia. GRAINS OF GOLD. MATER CHRIST I. Ad own the linked years there sweetly rang Thy praises, as inspired prophecy In chorus grand thy matchless beauty sang: Unspotted Mirror of God’s majesty, In type and figure beautiful foretold. The City of our God, the Ivory Tower, The Lily pure whose blooming should unfold A chalice whiter than earth’s whitest flower; The Star before the Dawn whose rising bright Should promise Him, the World’s unlading Light. Fair names,. O Mary! Yet there still was one More than all these thy stainless Heart should thrill ; No prophet sang it, for thy Blessed Son Himself would speak it; and, by speaking, fill His soul and thine with rapture heavenly. Long seemed thy waiting, while the holy fire Of yearning glowed more radiantly than He Might say that word. His, too, was thy desire: Both Hearts are ever one. And came a day, Smile meeting smile, when Christ did “Mother” say. “Mother” He called thee first in Egypt’s night, And “Mother” lingered like a sweet refrain Through Nazareth’s years. In Resurrection light Of Easter morn, oh, hear again the strain ! The Risen Lord sought for no dearer name, But “Mother” said. We fancy that was all. Mother of i Christ, it is our joy to claim Thee Mother of Christ’s Body Mystical ; . Mother of Christ, and still our very own: Speak thou good things for us before His throne. It is not wealth" or ancestry, but honorable conduct and a noble disposition, that make men great. — Ovid. /' ; $ p/> Whereas a prayer, a sign, a tear would have i sufficed for the salvation of humanity, our ’ Saviour strove to conquer our souls by every means that could touch and move us, that could make us love Him, and ■pass. by Him to the love of His - Father. Cardinal H6rCi6f , .