Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 22 May 1919, Page 3

Friends at Court

CLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR ■- ■ I May 25, Sunday.— Sunday after Easter. ~ 26, Monday. — St. Philip Neri, Confessor. ~ 27, Tuesday. — St. Bede the Venerable, Confessor. ~ 28, Wednesday. — St. Augustine, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor. ~ 29, Thursday.-—Feast of the Ascension. Holiday of Obligation. ~ 30, Friday.—Of the Octave of the Ascension. ~ 31, Saturday.—Octave of the Blessed Virgin. Mary. Feast, of the Ascension of Our Blessed Lord. Christ risen from the dead remained 40 days on earth instructing His Apostles, and proving beyond doubt the truth of His Resurrection. At the end of that time He ascended into Heaven from Mount Olivet, in full view of His Apostles. Thus He secured for His sacred humanity the happiness and glory which He had merited by His sufferings, and at the same time opened to us the gates of Heaven. From the time of the Apostles this event has been commemorated in the Church, by a special feast. St. Augustine, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor. St. Augustine was born in Algeria in 354. In spite of the watchful care of his mother, St. Monica, he gave himself up in his youth to many excesses. When he was 33 years of age, the prayers of his pious mother at length obtained for him the grace of a complete conversion. During the remainder of his life he endeavoured to undo the evil which his teaching and example had wrought. He composed, in defence of the Faith, a long series of treatises, which have rendered his name illustrious throughout the world as one of the most profound, ingenious, and prolific writers that have adorned the Church of God. During the 35 years he governed the See of Hippo, he was the centre of ecclesiastical life in Africa, and the Church's mightiest champion against heresy. GRAINS OF GOLD. i— * CHRIST IN THE TABERNACLE. (For the Tablet I have not seen your face to-day, Where were you ? A hundred others came to pray, Where were you ? From out My prison I have gazed At thousands who have, kneeling, praised — I wanted you. I wanted you—you did not come, Where were you? I waited there— in silence— dumb — Where, wei;e you ? Ah ! Could you not one moment spare 1 Ah ! Surely you a little care ! 1 wanted you. You had not. timeah ! so you said, Where were you ? While My sad Heart in silence bled, Where were you ? Among your friends long hours you spent, While I—My loving Heart was rent, In solitude. I do not like to be alone, I wan t you Much more than all the friends you own, I want you.' v To-morrow you will surely come v Remember I am helpless, dumb — Uncomforted, ... ... Angela Hastings.