Friends at Court

New Zealand Tablet, 17 November 1921, Page 3

Friends at Court

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR. November 20, Sunday.— Sunday after Pentecost. „ 21, Monday.—Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. - „ 22, Tuesday.—St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr. ~ 23, Wednesday.St. Clement 1., Pope and , Martyr. „ 24, Thursday.—St. John of the Cross, Confessor. „ 25, Friday.—St. Catherine, Virgin and Martyr. ~ 26, Saturday.—St. Silvester, Abbot. r St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr. St. Cecilia was a member of a noble Roman family. Betrothed by her parents, against her own wishes, to Valerian, a pagan, she succeeded in converting him and his brother to the Christian religion. On this coming to the ears of the Prefect of the city, the two brothers-were beheaded. The same sentence was passed on St. Cecilia, but owing to the clumsy manner in which the executioner performed his task the holy virgin lingered for three days in great agony, A.D. 230. St. John of the Cross, Confessor. St. John was a Spaniard. He received his surname from his special devotion to the Passion of Christ. He was associated with St. Teresa in reforming the Carmelite Order, of which he was a member. At the time of his death, in 1591, St. John was in his fiftieth year. St. Catherine, Virgin and Martyr. St. Catherine, a native of Alexandria, and illustrious for her brilliant talents and profound learning, was, after suffering many cruel torments, beheaded -by order of the Emperor Maximin 1T..,, in the beginning 0 f the fourth centur.V. St. Silvester, Abbot. St. Silvester was born near Loreto, in Italy, in' 1177. At the age of 40 he retired into a desert, in order that, free from worldly cares, he might lie able to devote more time to prayer and contemplation. Having been followed by a number of disciples, he founded several monasteries, to which he gave the strict rule of St. Benedict. St. Silvester died in 1267. GRAINS OF GOLD THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LADY. Day breaks on temple roofs and towers; The city sleeps, the palms are still;. The fairest far of earth's fair flowers Mounts the Sior/s sacred hill. Not all the vast angelic choirs. That worship .'round the eternal throne, With all their love can match the fires Of thy one heart alone. Since God created land and sea No love has been so like divine; For none was ever like to thee, No worship like to thine. Angels in heaven and souls on earth Thousands of years the songs may raise, Nor equal thee, for thine was worth All their united praise. Not only was thy heart above All heaven and earth could e'er attain— Thou vest it with so much love, 'Twas worth as much again. 0 Maiden most immaculate!'" Make me to choose thy better part, And give my Lord, with love as great, An undivided heart. » Would that my heart, dear Lord, were true, Royal and undefiled and whole, . Like hers from whom Thy sweet love took . * The Blood to save my soul. »j "v, k ' —Father Faber.