Diocese of Christchurch

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 3, 21 January 1925, Page 29

Diocese of Christchurch

(From our own Correspondent.) January 7. The ladies of the Cathedral parish are holding a meeting for the purpose of promoting a stall to assist the Sisters of Nazareth in the forthcoming garden fete. , The additions at Mount Magdala convent are making rapid progress, the walls having now reached the second floor. The ceremony of profession was held at the convent of the Sisters of the Missions on Thursday. His Lordship the Bishop presided. Seven Sisters pronounced their vows and five postulants took the holy habit. . The,, Retreat for the diocesan clergy commences on the 26th and concludes on the 30th of the present month- y The half-yearly meeting of St. Mary’s branch (No. 624) of the H.A.C.B. Society was held on last Monday evening, Bro. L. M. O’Sullivan presiding. The election of officebearers for the ensuing term resulted as follows:President, Bro. L. M. O’Sullivan (re-elected) ; vice-president, Bro. E. Parkin ; secretary, Bro. J. H. Johnston assistant secretary, Bro. F. H. Wilson treasurer, Bro. N. Hooper: warden, Bro. Bean; guardian, Bro. W. Randall; sick visitors, Bros. P. Gunn and J. Ormandy. The installation was conducted by Bro. G. Rogers, assisted by Bro, J. ,Ormandy. The installing officer congratulated the .‘now office-bearers and wished them a happy and successful term; and.each; suitably replied; ■

’ turn laid upon the saint, and his heart reW joiced as monastery after monastery returned T _ to its first fervor. But opposition from with-, ' 1 'id still stormed around huh, and it reached the climax when he silenced two of his subjects as famous for their preaching as they were indifferent in their way of living. These 'fu'i once used their great influence to depose - : .the saint, and so successful were they that h he was removed to a distant monastery in .. the' Sierra Moreno mountains. Crushed by bodily ills and this lengthy persecution, his life became endangered and change of scene was prescribed. Given the choice of two £ houses, one governed by a lover of the Reform, the other by one of the religious whom he had silenced, he chose to live with the . latte] that he might have a greater share in the Cross he loved so well. The helpless old mall had many trials to put up, but ho never complained, rather he rejoiced “that he was > accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus.” Holy Death. However, the time of his trials and sufferings was about to end ; on December 14, 1591, ho departed from this world. The numberless miracles, afterwards obtained through his intercession, covered with confusion his persecutors or rather broke for them the bondsof sin, as they immediately yielded to those reforms they had so long refused. John’s triumph' was complete ; his vengeance Godlike. In 1726 the Church, by the mouth of Benedict XIII, declared him a saint, powerful with the Most High, and able and vailing to obtain for us the graces we need. > From the mere recital of the happenings in this saint’s life we clearly see the approI* 9 * in this saint’s life “John of the Cross.” ■ priateness of the title “John of the Cross.” Constantly struggling against persecution, treachery, the falling away of friends, the . mockery of the indifferent, one could imagine that it was of him Jesus said, “I will show him how great things he must suffer for My Name’s sake” (Acts ix, 16). But if with loving scrutiny we look into his interior life Ave shall see‘tha no other name could more justly be given him, for truly “through many tribulations he entered into the kingdom of God.” > No instant of his life seems to have been free from violent temptations by which the devil sought to cripple this champion of the Lord. Day and night he was tormented also by scruples to such an extent that once he was about to flee as one unworthy to the absolute retirement of a -Carthusian monastery. But to one who sought only Christ and Him Crucified such troubles from without did not satisfy his craving for the Cross. With constant fasting, mortification, and the daily use of instruments of penance, he ran on with great strides in the footsteps of Jesus, • and his soul was ever united with the Sacred Heart by constant prayer. St. Theresa said of him. that no purer soul was to be found in the Church Militant, that even before embracing the Reform he was a gj saint and • that God had communicated to ■/- ‘ him. treasures of Divine light. Like that of j his Master his life was folly in the eyes of j the world ; but to those who have tasted the sweets of suffering for- Jesus, .of accepting every , trial as a gift, from His hands, of eagerly seeking bodily and mental tortures

in order the more closely to resemble Him, St. John of the Cross, seated on his throne" in heaven, is an encouragement to us all in time of distress and sorrow, as he is a. powerful intercessor for the strength to persevere. And as for three centuries he has promptly succored all who pray to him, so he will not now fail to obtain comfort for us, the poor of the flock. Wander where we will the Cross awaits ns, to condemn us if we are “shirkers” ; if we accept it then to raise us aloft in glory. Canadian Messenger. — :— DIOCESE OF CH RISTCHURCH (Continued from page 29) The death occurred on Tuesday morning of Mr. J. Horton, who held the position of verger at the Cathedral for the past 18 years. A model of fidelity and punctuality in the discharge of his many duties, he was always courteous towards those with whom he came in contact. The funeral took place at the Bromley cemetery on Thursday. Requiem Mass for the repose of his soul was celebrated at the Cathedral on Thursday, and his Lordship the Bishop gave the absolution. The deceased has a daughter, a Sister of Mercy, in a convent in New South Wales. — R.T.P.