Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 29 September 1921, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR. October 2, Sunday.—Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost. ~ 3, Monday.—Of the Feria. ~ 4, Tuesday.—St. Francis of Assisi, Confessor. *,, 5, Wednesday.—SS. Placid and Companions, Martyrs. ~ 6, Thursday.—St. Bruno, Confessor. ~ 7, Friday.—Feast of the Holy Rosary. ~ 8, Saturday.—St. Bfigid, Widow. St. Francis of Assisi, Confessor. The great founder of the Franciscan Order was born at Assisi, in the Papal States, towards the close of the twelfth century. While yet in his father's house, he showed a more than ordinary compassion for the poor, often depriving himself of food and clothing in order to come to their assistance. To charity he joined the most profound humility of heart. Base and contemptible in his own eyes, he desired to be reputed such by all, and sincerely shunned honor and praise, saying: "What a man is in the eyes of God, that he is, and no more." St. Francis died at Assisi in 1226, in his 45th year. Feast of the Holy Rosary. On the first Sunday of October, 1571, was fought the great battle of Lepanto, which saved Europe from the Turks, and gave the death-blow to the Ottoman power. In memory of this victory, gained at the very moment when the faithful were reciting the Rosary for the success of the Christian arms, Gregory XIII. ordered the present feast to be celebrated. St. Brigid, Widow. St. Brigid belonged to the royal family of Sweden. From childhood she was remarkable for charity, love of retirement, and a distaste for worldly enjoyments. On the death of her husband she divided her property amongst her children and withdrew into a convent which she herself had founded. She died in Rome in 1373, at the age of 71, on her return from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.