ST. Paul's tide. 27 



JAN. 27. St. John Chrysostom, abp. a.d. 407. 

 St. Julian, first bishop of Mans, &c. 



Castoris et Pollucis templum. — Julian Cal. 



(Ms. St. John Chrysostom, one of the most illustrious and elo- 

 quent defenders of the Catholic faith in the fourth century, was 

 born at Antioch about the year 344. His eloquence obtained for him 

 the surname of Chrysostom, that is Goldenmouth, which was given 

 him by St. Ephrem of Antioch, Theodoret, and Cassiodorus. He 

 was the son of Secundus and Anthusa, and died Archbishop of 

 Constantinople in the year 407. He had previously to his holding 

 that see lived two years in seclusion as a hermi), but the dampness 

 of his cave bringing on him a dangerous state of ill health, he was 

 induced to return to his native city. He exhorted the laity to rise 

 at midnight to matins with the clergy. He entertained an opinion 

 that Visions of Angels often appeared at the altar during canonical 

 hours, and instanced the visions of hermits in proof of his opinion. 



Earth Moss Phascum cuspidatum fructifies. 



' This is the day whereon, according to the Old Calendar, the 

 Romans celebrated the dedication of the Temple of Castor and 

 Pollux. As we must regard the story of these heroes to be an 

 Atmospherical Fable, and to have been the phenomena now called 

 Fires of St. Helmo, we may properly notice them on this anniver- 

 sary. The alighting of one or two of them on a ship's mast by 

 night is considered ominous of a storm by mariners, and Horace's 

 invocation of them for a prosperous voyage for his friend corres- 

 ponds with this idea. Castor and Pollux may be seen on the 

 meridian between ten and eleven o'clock tonight. 

 Horace observes : — Ad Navim. 



Sic te diva potens Cypri, 



Sic fratres Helenae, lucida sidera, 



Ventorumque regat pater. 



Catullus dedicates his bark thus : 



Gemelle Castor et Gemeile Castoris. "Castor and Pollux, or the 

 Twin Stars, are two stars in the Constellation Gemini." 



In the " Electricite des Meteors," 2 vol. 8vo. published many 

 years ago at Lyons, are recorded some curious accounts of these 

 fires of St. Elme. 



The lengthening of the day is now perceived, and, as the proverb 

 says, it ol'ten happens that as the day lengthens so the cold 

 strensthens. 



