Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 4 August 1921, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOE NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR. August 7, Sunday. Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost. ~ 8, Monday. — SS. Cyriacus, Largus, and Smaragdus, Martyrs. ~ 9, Tuesday. —Vigil of St. Laurence. ~ 10, Wednesday. —St. Laurence, Martyr. ~ 11, Thursday.—SS. Tiburtius and Susanna, Martyrs. ~ 12, Friday.—St. Clare, Virgin. ~ 13, Saturday. Vigil of the Assumption. No fast. fl r, St. Laurence, Martyr. St. Laurence, Deacon and Martyr, was born near Huesca, Spain. He was the chief among the seven deacons of the Roman Church. In the year 258 Pope Sixtus, as one of the victims of the persecution of Valerian, was led put to die, and St. Laurence stood by, weeping that he could not share his fate. The holy Pope comforted him with the words: “Do not weep, my son; in three days you will follow me.” This prophecy came true. Christ, 'Whom Laurence had served in His poor, gave him strength in the conflict which ensued. His remains were buried in the Catacombs of Campo Verano. Constantine built over his tomb a basilica, which is one of the five patriarchal churches, and one of the seven principal stations. 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 religious austerities. She died in her sixtieth year, A.D. 1253.

GRAINS OF GOLD BENEDICITE. May every creature hymn Thy praise, O merciful and loving God, From brilliant sun that lights our days To humble-hearted goldenrod. The stars that jewel heaven’s vault, The torrents rushing through the land, The seas in calm and storm, exalt The greatness of Thy kingly hand. The pale moon silvering our nights, The north lights flashing through the sky, The mornings laden with delights, The gorgeous rainbow arched on high; Dumb beasts that on the land abide, And happy birds that cleave the air, The fish that through the waters glide, Thy wisdom and Thy power declare. Let priests anointed praise Thy name, And cloistered nuns rejoice in Thee; Just souls on earth Thy might proclaim, Mho livest from eternity. May earth become a temple vast, And all Thy works their homage give; But call Thy children Home at last, Great God, in whom we move and live/ Maureen M’Ardle, in Ave Marin. REFLECTIONS. Abiding things, therefore, and divine must be our pursuits, and all be done after the will of God,—St. Cyprian. Sins are forgiven in the Church in three ways: in Baptism, in Prayer, and in the greater humiliation of Penance. Augustine. Be not afraid, ye shall have peace; but bless God for ever. St. Raphael.