7 December 08

SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT

7 DECEMBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS


Morning Prayer: Psalm 119:1-16; Isaiah 55; II Timothy 3


Mass: Romans 15:4-13; St. Luke 21:25-33


Evening Prayer: Psalm 67, 111; Isaiah 11:1-10; St. John 5:30-40


REFLECTION

FROM the duty of preparation we pass to the means of preparation provided for us by God; and the first of these to be considered is the Bible. We are to think of the Bible as a means rather than an end. The perfection of the Bible lies in its adaptation to human needs. The inspiration of the Bible is to be sought in its power to inspire human hearts, and is not of the letter, but of the spirit. The proof of inspiration given in 2 Tim. iii. 16 is that Holy Scripture is “profitable for instruction in righteousness,” just as the excellence of a teacher does not consist in omniscience but in his power to teach, and the excellence of a physician in his power to cure. The Bible is a practical book written with a practical object, “for our learning,” and if it fulfils this object, and when rightly used “makes us wise unto salvation,” it is the book we need, and it is futile to object that “it is not of such a sort and so promulged as weak men are apt to fancy should have been the case with a book containing a Divine Revelation.” (Butler.)

THE EPISTLE.

ROMANS xv. 4. A BOOK OF HOPE.

This is concerned with the Old Testament only, as containing the “things which were written aforetime.” We are to regard the Old Testament as :—
A. A Book of Hope.
Its very object was to kindle hope, and keep it alive. Its cove-nants’ all pointed to a better covenant; its sacrifices, so inadequate in themselves, all pointed to a more availing sacrifice that could take away sin; its prophecies, to a better dispensation surely coming in the dim future. To Christians this record has an abiding value, as the history of men who “trusted in God and were not confounded.” These Old Testament Scriptures were “written for our learning,” and still have a lesson for us.
S. Paul adds that we who have received good hope in Christ must be patient towards others.
B. A Book of Hope for the Jews.
Christ came to fulfil all the hopes of the Jews, and “to confirm the promises made unto the fathers,” and to set His seal on all the promises of the Old Testament. He came as “A Minister of the Circumcision,” i.e., with a special mission to the Jews. Their nation was big with Messianic hope. Christ came to show that this hope was not mistaken, and, as Prophet, Priest, and King, He fulfilled all that God had promised.
C. A Book of Hope for the Gentiles.
Many promises of God to the Gentiles were scattered through the Old Testament. Christ came to fulfil these, and “open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.” Nothing is more remark. able than the presence of these passages so apparently alien to Jewish exclusiveness, yet so necessary to prepare the way for a wider dispensation under the spreading tree that was to spring from the root of Jesse.
D. A Book of Hope for Us.
The Old Testament has still a message, and a message of hope. In our own trials and difficulties we may turn to the example of those who in darker days still kept faithful to the God of Hope, and were not confounded, and may draw lessons of patience and comfort. We have in this passage a most happy Pilgrim’s Progress— first “patience,” then “comfort,” then “hope,” and lastly, something higher still, “joy and peace in believing.”

THE GOSPEL.

S. LUKE xxi. 25. A MESSAGE OF HOPE.

This contains the New Testament message of Hope, and our great duty of preparation for the final Advent.
A. The World in Despair.
Without Christ the course of this world will be without hope. All will be distress, perplexity, fear, and foreboding, and those who have not learned to love Christ will ever dread His appearing.
B. The Christian Hope.
That which will make others fear will inspire the Christian with eager hope. He will look up and lift up his head as he sees redemption drawing nigh. He will look upon the coming storms as the equinoctial gales that usher in the spring and summertide of God’s Kingdom, and the perfect sunshine of Christ’s presence.
C. The Certainty of the Christian Hope.
It is sure as the sure word of Christ. All else shall pass away, but Christ’s words never, and each generation shall find them true. Science can only tell us that heaven and earth shall pass away, and that the powers of heaven shall be shaken. The Bible is a book of calm confidence. It sees the worst and yet hopes for the best, looking onward to the Kingdom that cannot be shaken, and full of faith in Him Who is “the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.” Hence, from cover to cover, the Bible is a Book of Hope, and the Book of the God of Hope.

THE COLLECT.

A prayer for the right use of Holy Scripture, especially as a preparation for the Second Advent.
A. The Nature of the Bible.
It is both human and Divine, human because “written by holy men of old,” Divine because they wrote as “moved by the Holy Ghost.” Our Church recognises both elements in the phrase, “‘Who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be written.”
The Bible is our lesson-book as “written for our learning.” It is not out of date, for every age may say it was written for our learning. If merely human it would lack authority to teach; if merely Divine we could not attain to its lessons.
B. The Right Use of the Bible.
This is to be a matter for prayer, for He by Whom it was caused to be written can alone cause it to be read with profit. It is not merely to be heard when read by others, but to be read by ourselves, and read with attention—not merely read, but studied andassimilated.
C. The Blessings of such Spiritual Study.
These are threefold—Patience which can endure trials, Comfort that can be happy beneath the rod, Hope that all trial will one day be at an end. Such spiritual study is to be a great means of preparation for the Second Advent as giving hope of everlasting life, to be welcomed with eagerness and retained with perseverance.

***PREPARATION BY THE WORD, by the Rev. Prebendary Melville Scott, D.D., from The Harmony of the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels, A Devotional Exposition of the Continuous Teaching of the Church Throughout the Year, S.P.C.K., London, 1902***

THE COLLECT FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE COLLECT FOR ADVENT

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.


SAINT FOR TODAY

St. Ambrose, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor (340-397)

Ambrose was governor of Northern Italy, with capital at Milan. When the see of Milan fell vacant, it seemed likely that rioting would result, since the city was evenly divided between Arians and Athanasians. (Explanatory Note: Athanasians affirm that the Logos or Word (John 1:1) is fully God in the same sense that the Father is, while Arians affirm that the Logos is a creature, the first being created by the Father. East Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Prebyterians, Reformed, Baptists, Methodists, etc. are Athanasians. The Watchtower Society (J_____h's Witnesses), the Philippine group called the Iglesia ni Christi (spelling?), and some other groups are Arians. The Unitarians started out as Arians, and some of them still hold this position.) Ambrose went to the meeting where the election was to take place, and appealed to the crowd for order and good will on both sides. He ended up being elected bishop with the support of both sides.

He gave away his wealth, and lived in simplicity. By his preaching, he converted the diocese to the Athanasian position, except for the Goths and some members of the Imperial Household. (Note: The Arian emperor Constantius (son of Constantine the Great) had sent missionaries (Arians, of course) to convert the Gothic tribes. The Goths were the chief source of mercenary troops for the Empire. Thus for many years the Army was Arian although a majority of civilians were Athanasian.) On one occasion, the Empress ordered him to turn over a church to the Arians so that her Gothic soldiers could worship in it. Ambrose refused, and he and his people occupied the church. Ambrose composed Latin hymns in the rhythm of "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow," and taught them to the people, who sang them in the church as the soldiers surrounded it. The Goths were unwilling to attack a hymn-singing congregation, and Ambrose won that dispute.

He subsequently won another dispute, when the Emperor, enraged by a crowd who defied him, ordered them all killed by his soldiers. When he next appeared at church, Ambrose met him at the door and said, "You may not come in. There is blood on your hands." The emperor finally agreed to do public penance and to promise that thereafter he would never carry out a sentence of death without a forty-day delay after pronouncing it. Less creditable, to modern Christians, is Ambrose's dispute with the emperor when certain Christians burned a Jewish synagogue, and the emperor commanded them to make restitution. Ambrose maintained that no Christian could be compelled to provide money for the building of a non-Christian house of worship, no matter what the circumstances.

Ambrose was largely responsible for the conversion of St. Augustine. The hymn Te Deum Laudamus ("We praise Thee, O God") was long thought to have been composed by Ambrose in thanksgiving for that conversion. The current opinion is that Ambrose did not write it, but that he may well have written the Creed known as the Athanasian Creed. He is perhaps the first writer of Christian hymns with rhyme and (accentual) meter, and northern Italy still uses his style of plainchant, known as Ambrosian chant, rather than the more widespread Gregorian chant. On the negative side, many Christians will regret his contribution to increased preoccupation with the relics of martyrs. He died 4 April 397, but (because this date so often falls in Holy Week or Easter Week) he is commonly remembered on the anniversary of his consecration as bishop, 7 December.

Ambrose is regarded as one of the Eight Great Doctors (=Teachers) of the Undivided Church. The list includes four Latin (Western) Doctors (Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, and Pope Gregory the Great), and four Greek (Eastern) Doctors (Athanasius, John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, and Gregory of Nazianzus -- not to be confused with Gregory of Nyssa, the brother of Basil).

***written by James Kiefer, www.missionstclare.com***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. AMBROSE

O God, by whose providence Saint Ambrose was sent to guide thy people in the way of everlasting salvation : grant, we beseech thee; that as we have learned of him the doctrine of life on earth, so we may be found worthy to have him for our advocate in heaven. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

30 November 08

THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT

30 NOVEMBER 08>

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 46, 97; Isaiah 28:14-22; Hebrews 12:14-end

Mass: Romans 13:8-end; St. Matthew 21:1-13

Evening Prayer: Psalm 18:1-20; Isaiah 13:6-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

REFLECTION

From the first institution of the great Festivals of the Church each of them occupied a central position in a series of days; partly for the sake of Christian discipline. Thus Christmas is preceded by the Sundays and Season of Advent, and following by twelve days of continued Christian joy which end with Epiphany.

Under its present name the season of Advent is not to be traced further back than the seventh century; but Collects, Epistles, and Gospels for five Sundays before the Nativity of our Lord, and for the Wednesdays and Fridays also, are to be found in the ancient Sacramentaries, and in the Comes of St. Jerome. These offer good evidence that the observance of the season was introduced into the Church at the same time with the observance of Christmas: yet there is not, properly speaking, any season of Advent in the Eastern Church, which has always carefully preserved ancient customs intact; though it observes a Lent before Christmas as well as before Easter.

Durandus (a laborious and painstaking writer, always to be respected, though not to be implicitly relied upon) writes that St. Peter instituted three whole weeks to be observed as a special season before Christmas, and so much of the fourth as extended to the Vigil of Christmas, which is not part of Advent. [Durand. vi. 2] This was probably a very ancient opinion, but the earliest extant historical evidence respecting Advent is that mentioned above, as contained in the Lectionary of St. Jerome. Next come two homilies of Maximus, Bishop of Turin, A.D. 450, which are headed De Adventu Domini. In the following century are two other Sermons of Caesarius, Bishop of Arles [501-542] (formerly attributed to St. Augustine, and printed among his works), and in these there are full details respecting the season and its observance. In the latter part of the same century St. Gregory of Tours writes that Perpetuus, one of his predecessors, had ordered the observance of three days as fasts in every week, from the Feast of St. Martin to that of Christmas; and this direction was enforced on the Clergy of France by the Council of Macon, held A.D. 581. In the Ambrosian and Mozarabic liturgies Advent Season commences at the same time: and it has also been sometimes known by the name Quadragesima Sancti Martini: from which it seems probable that the Western Churches of Europe originally kept six Advent Sundays, as the Eastern still keeps a forty days’ fast, beginning on the same day. But the English Church, since the Conquest, at least, has observed four only, although the title of the Sunday preceding the first seems to offer an indication of a fifth in more ancient days.
The rule by which Advent is determined defines the first Sunday as that which comes nearest, whether before or after, to St. Andrew’s Day; which is equivalent to saying that it is the first Sunday after November 26th. December 3rd is consequently the latest day on which it can occur.

In the Latin and English Churches the Christian year commences with the First Sunday in Advent. Such, at least, has been the arrangement of the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels for many centuries, although the ancient Sacramentaries began the year with Christmas Day, and although the Prayer Book (until the change of style in 1752) contained an express “Note, that the Supputation of the year of our Lord in the Church of England beginneth the Five and Twentieth day of March.” By either reckoning it is intended to number the times and seasons of the Church by the Incarnation: and while the computation from the Annunciation is more correct from a theological and a chronological point of view, that from Advent and Christmas fits in far better with the vivid system of the Church by which she represents to us the life of our Lord year by year. Beginning the year with the Annunciation, we should be reminded by the new birth of Nature of the regeneration of Human Nature: beginning it with Advent and Christmas, we have a more keen reminder of that humiliation of God the Son, by which the new birth of the world was accomplished. And as we number our years, not by the age of the world, nor by the time during which any earthly sovereignty has lasted, but by the age of the Christian Church and the time during which the Kingdom of Christ has been established upon earth, calling each “the Year of our Lord,” or “the Year of Grace:” so we begin every year with the season when grace first came by our Lord and King, through His Advent in the humility of His Incarnation.
In very ancient times the season of Advent was observed as one of special prayer and discipline. As already stated, the Council of Macon in its ninth Canon directs the general observance by the Clergy of the Monday, Wednesday, and Friday fast-days, of which traces are found at an earlier period: and the Capitulars of Charlemagne also speak of a forty days’ fast before Christmas. The strict Lenten observance of the season was not, however, general. Amalarius, writing in the ninth century, speaks of it as being kept in that way only by the religious, that is, by those who had adopted an ascetic life in monasteries, or elsewhere: and the principle generally carried out appears to have been that of multiplying solemn services, and of adopting a greater reserve in the use of lawful indulgences. Such an observance of the season still commends itself to us as one that will form a fitting prefix to the joyous time of Christmas: and one that will also be consistent with that contemplation of our Lord’s Second Advent which it is impossible to dissociate from thoughts of His First. In the system of the Church the Advent Season is to the Christmas Season what St. John the Baptist was to the First, and the Christian ministry is to the Second, Coming of our Lord.

***From a Commentary from THE ANNOTATED BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, Edited by JOHN HENRY BLUNT, Rivingtons, London, 1884***

THE COLLECT FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

N/A

SATURDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

THE OCTAVE DAY OF ALL SAINTS

8 NOVEMBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 79; Leviticus 26:27-42; Philippians 4

Evening Prayer: Psalm 65 Deuteronomy 19:11-end; St. Matthew 28:11-end

REFLECTION

From the Treatise on Mortality by St. Cyprian the Bishop and Martyr

Dearly beloved : We should keep in mind, and ponder well ; that we have made a renunciation of the world, and so are supposed to spend our time here meanwhile as strangers and pilgrims. Let us reflect on that day which can see us each at home in one of the many mansions. That day will see us delivered hence, and disentangled from the nets and snares of things temporal. It will put us back into the true Garden of Eden, that is, the kingdom of heaven. Is there any in a far country that hath opportunity to return to his Fatherland, and maketh not his way thereto with all possible speed? Was ever any in hast to make his voyage homeward, that longed not for a fair wind, that he might the sooner embrace his loved ones?

We reckon a paradise like unto Eden to be our home ; already we begin to know of the Patriarchs as our kinsmen. Why should we not make haste and run, to see our home, and to greet our kinsfolk? A great many of those we love are waiting for us there - father and mother and brothers and children. There in great company they await us, they who are sure now never to die any more, but not yet sure of us. O when we come to see them, and to embrace them, what gladness will it be both for us and for them! O what brightness of life is in that heavenly kingdom, where is no more fear of death, but the certainty of living everlastingly! O what consummated felicity! O what enduring joy!

There is the glorious company of the Apostles. There is the jubilant fellowship of the Prophets. There is the countless army of Martyrs crowned for victory in strife and in suffering. There triumph the Virgins who by noble self-control have tamed the desires of the flesh and of the body. There are repaid with mercy the Merciful, who by feeding and gifting the needy, have wrought righteousness, have kept the compandments of the Lord, and have exchanged heritages upon earth for treasures in heaven. Thitherward, dearly beloved brethren, let us hasten with eager hearts. Let us fain to be with these, so that soon their lot may be ours also, namely to be with Christ.

***From The Anglican Breviary, Frank Gavin Liturgical Foundation, Inc., New York, NY, 1998***

THE COLLECT FOR THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY ATER TRINITY

O Lord, we beseech thee, absolve thy people from their offences; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins, which by our frailty we have committed. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

THE COLLECT FOR THE OCTAVE OF ALL SAINTS

O Almighty God, who has knit together thine elect in onen communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou has prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

All Anglican Martyrs and Saints

Anglicanism has a rich heritage in those who have been martyrs for the Christ in various ways. Above is an ikon of St. Alban, often thought to be the first Anglican saint. Many others have followed in his footsteps. We simply cannot forget St. Patrick of Ireland, St. David of Wales, St. Augustine of Canterbury, St. Aidan of Lindisfarne, St. Columba of Iona, St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, the Venerable St. Bede, St. Bridgit of Kildare, St. Kevin of Glendalough, St. Thomas Cranmer, St. Nicholas Ridley, St. Hugh Latimer, King St. Charles the I of Enland, King St. Edward, St. John Keble, the Anglican Martyrs of Uganda, St. Janani Luwum, and so many more who are not listed here. I commend them to your own reading. May we embrace them as our friends in the journey of faith and discipleship. May we accept their encouragement as we continue our own race to the finish line, so that we may joine them in the eternal embrace of God's love and mercy.

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR ALL ANGLICAN MARTYRS AND SAINTS

We beseech thee, O Lord, to multiply thy grace upon us who commemorate all thy holy Servants, the Anglican Martyrs, Doctors, Missionaries, and other Saints : that, as we rejoice to be their fellow-citizens on earth ; so also we may have fellowship with them in heaven. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

7 November 08

FRIDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

SEVENTH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF ALL SAINTS

7 NOVEMBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 69:1-22, 30-37; Leviticus 26:1-13; Philippians 3

Evening Prayer: Psalm 80; Deuteronomy 18:15-end; Matthew 28:1-10

REFLECTION

From a Sermon by St. John Chrysostom

Whosoever wondereth, with reverent love, at the merits of the Saints, or whosoever speaketh, with oft much praise, on the glories of the Just, let him imitate their holy ways and their righteousness. For whoso findeth pleasure in the worthy deeds of any Saint should find pleasure in a like obedience in the service of God. Wherefore, if he praise, let him imitate. If he will not imitate, let him cease from praising. For whoso praiseth another ought to make himself worthy of a like praise. And whoso admireth a Saint ought also to strive for to be admirable for a like holy living. If we love the righteous and faithful because we respect their righteousness and faith, we ought for that very reason to do what they did, in order that we may become what they are.

It is not an hard saying, that we imitate their good deeds. For we now have their examples, whereas they of old times had no foregoing examples ; and so without being imitators of good examples, they nonetheless have become good examples to us. Thus, if we profit by them, others will profit by us, and Christ will ever be glorified, in a succession of servants of his holy Church. Begin at the beginning of the world, and consider these holy examples : Blameless Abel was slain ; Enoch walked with God, and was seen no more, for God took him ; Noah was found righteous ; Abraham was proved faithful ; Moses was the meekest of men ; Joshua was singleminded ; David was mild ; Elijah was taken up ; Daniel was holy ; and the Three Children were conquerors.

The Apostles, being disciples of Christ, are reckoned as the teachers of believers. Taught by them, the valiant Confessors give battle ; the triumphant Martyrs excel in victory ; and all the hosts of Christians, if they arm themselves with God, are ever vanquishing the devil. All these are men of like valour, though dis-similar in warfare, and so obtain glorious victories. Wherefore, O Christian, thou art an effeminate kind of soldier if thou thinkest to conquer without battling, or to triumph without struggling. Put forth thy strength. Contend like a man. Fight fiercely in thy battle. Know the warfare : the oath of loyalty thou hast taken ; the conditions under which thou has been accepted ; and the kind of war for which thou hast enlisted.

***From The Anglican Breviary, Frank Gavin Liturgical Foundation, Inc., 1998***

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS

O Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE COLLECT FOR THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

O Lord, we beseech thee, absolve thy people from their offences; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins, which by ouru frailty we have committed. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Willibrord, Bishop and Confessor (658-739)

Willibrord was born in Northumberland, being the son of a godly Englishman named Wilgis, who became a monk, and was a most holy man. Before Willibrord was seven years of age, he was taken to the monastery of Ripon, and given in charge to Saint Wilfrid, the founder and ruler thereof, to be trained up in a holy life and learning. There, in a short while, he wonderfully stepped forward, not in knowledge only, but also in grace, and led the life of a monk until the twentieth year of his age. Then he had a desire for a harder life, and with the leave of his Abbot and brethren, went into Ireland to the holy men Egbert and Wigbert, who both had journeyed thither for the love of heavenly things. In their devout companionship and conversation, and amid the most excellent teachers of godliness and sacred learning, with whom the Isle of the Saints then abounded, tihs future teacher of many nations passed twelve years, and himself gained learning and character.

Somewhere around the age of thirty he was ordained priest, and was sent by Egbert to convert the pagans of Friesland, along with eleven companions of his own countryfolk eminent for learning and holiness of life, among whom were Saints Swithbert and Adalbert. He landed at Utrecht, and was welcomed, along with his companions, by Pepin of Heristal, who had brought Southern Friesland under his power, and who mightily helped the preaching of the Gospel, so that in a short while many were turned from theh worshipping of idols unto the Christian Faith. Thereafter Willibrord journeyed to Rome to seek a wider knowledge of missionary work in that great Christian centre, where he was welcomed by Saint Pope Sergius I who sent him back much comforted. Later, when Saint Wilfrid had consecrated holy Swithbert as regionary bishop, Pepin sent Willibrord to Rome to be consecrated Archbishop by the same holy Pope Sergius.

Willibrord returned to Friesland as soon as he could, and established his See at Utrecht. He proclaimed the Word of God with much fruit in Friesland, Holland, Zeeland, and Flanders, (even unto the uttermost tribes of those countries,) brake their idols, destroyed their temples and shrines, dedicated many temples to Christ, and established bishops, priests, and other ministers of the Church, eminent for knowledge and grace. He founded houses of religious of both sexes, among which the principal was that for monks at Echternach, in Luxemburg, the government whereof he himself took, and held until his death. At length, after a life of holy and unwearied apostolic labours, he passed away, to be ever with Christ, on November 7th, 739, and of his own age the eighty-first. He is usually reckoned as the Apostle of the Frisians, for it was through is labours and those of his blessed companions, especially of Saint Swithbert, that this barbarous people were made gentle in Christ. He was buried in the Abbey of Echternach. After his death his apostolic labours were taken up by many other Englishmen, eminent among whom were Saints Willehad, Marcellinus, and Lebwin, all of whom are commemorated in the Martyrology.

THE COLLECT FOR SAINT WILLIBRORD

O God, who didst vouchsafe to send thy blessed Saint Willibrord to preach thy glory to the Gentiles : we humbly pray thee ; that, by his merits and intercession, we may both see and know the things which we ought to do, and by thy mercy be enabled to perform the same. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

21 October 08

TUESDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

21 OCTOBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 25; II Kings 21:1-3, 10-18; Titus 2

Evening Prayer: Psalm 29, 36:5-end; Deuteronomy 4:15-24; St. Matthew 24:29-41

REFLECTION

In the Gospel reading today, found in Evening Prayer, we are again confronted with images of the return of our Lord. Take some time today to read this read through slowly, and then to comtemplate what St. Matthew says while looking at the image of the second coming above.

I would also like to quote from Volume I of, Commentary on the Psalms, specifically from St. Venerable Bede as he wrotes on both the Psalms given for Evening Prayer:

Psalm 29: "The completion of the Tabernacle signifies the perfection of the Church ; which, since it wageth wars against carnal vices, hath rightly received the name of a military tent.

The Prophet, foreseeing that the ends of the world would be brought to the faith, first addresses all the nations, commanding them to bring sacrifices to God. Next, in a sevenfold series, by various allusions, he enumerates the graces of the Holy Ghost : The voice of the Lord is upon the waters. But that he may show that the power of the Father and of the Holy Ghost is one, he telleth, thirdly, how the Holy Trinity effectuates Baptism, and how the Lord giveth virtue and benediction to him who is regenerate from it: The Lord maketh the water-flood to be inhabited, etc."

Psalm 36: "Take, then, The servant of the Lord, is no other sense than of Him, Who, being in the form of God, took upon Him the form of a Servant, and became obedient even unto death. The whole Psalm is said in the person of the Prophet. In its beginning he vehemently accuseth the despisers of the Law, and saith that they have no portion with God, commemorating also their wicked designs. Next, still praising God, he describeth the gifts that are bestowed as the reward of His servants, and saith that they are filled with the plenteousness of the House of the Lord ; and this Psalm is briefly concluded with the destruction of the wicked.

Fr. Greg

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Hilarion, Abbot (291-371)

Hilarion was born of heathen parentage at Tabatha in Palestine, five miles south of Gaza, about the year 291. Saint Epiphanius, Bishop of Salarius, knew him well, and wrote his life, from which the following account is largely taken.

As a lad he was sent to study at Alexandria, where he bore a fair name for life and wit. There he embraced the religion of Jesus christ, and made wonderful headway in faith and love. When the name of Anthony became famous in Egypt, Hilarion made a journey into the desert on purpose to see him, and dwelt with him two months, to the end that he might learn his complete rule of life. After the death of his father and mother, he gave all that he had to the poor. And so, before he had completed the fifteenth year of his age, he went into the desert, and built a little house, scarcely big enough to hold him, and wherein he was used to sleep on the ground. He was a comely and delicate youth, and therefore set about to mortify and harden himself. His food was a few figs and some porridge of vegetables, and this he ate not before set of sun, but his pratyer was unceasing. Till his time neither Syria nor Palestine knew of the monastic life, so that Hilarion was the founder of it therein, as Anthony had been in Egypt. He had built many monasteries, and become famous for miracles, when, in the eightieth year of his age, he fell sick. As he was gasping for list last breath, he said " Go out, my soul; what art thou afraid of? And so he gave up the ghost.

THE COLLECT FOR ST. HILARION

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that the prayeres of thy holy Abbot, blessed Hilarion may commend us unto thee : that we, who have no power of ourselves to help ourselves, may by his advocacy find favour in thy sight. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

16 October 08

THURSDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

16 OCTOBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 10; 2 Kings 9:17-28; 2 Timothy 3

Evening Prayer: Psalm 16, 17; Ecclesiastes 9:11-end; St. Matthew 23:13-23

REFLECTION

Dear friends in Christ:

You and I have been called to be like Jesus, Who was sent into the world by God our Father to be the very tangible presence of God in the world. The world at the time of Jesus was a violent place full of suffering people who lived under the oppression of the powerful few. Yet, as God, Jesus came into the world in the most humble way and lived a very humble life, a very ordinary life that was not unlike that lived by the overwhelming majority of people in the world. At the same time, Jesus was the all powerful God of the universe. He came into our world, into our lives, to show us how to live and to show us the most amazing mercy, love and grace of the God who so desires to know each of us personally.

You and I are called into the very same humble ministry of building relationships, and reconciling persons and the world to our Lord Jesus Christ. You and I, as members of this family we call the Church of the Resurrection, are called into this powerful form of ministry by following the example our Lord has given to us. None of us are exempt from this calling, though our form of ministry may look different and be exercised in various ways. It is important we see the Church as the hub of our very lives, and that each of us are like spokes going out into various cultural contexts of our communities and neighbourhoods.

In the weeks and months ahead, as we begin to act on various ways of reaching out into our neighbourhoods, I ask you to remember the ministries of Church of the Resurrection in our daily prayers. Soak the life of our parish in daily prayers, and ask for the profound guidance of the Holy Spirit in the life of our parish. May each of us trust the Lord by stepping out in faith!!!

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Hedwig, Widow (1174-1243)

Hedwig was a daughter of the Duke of Croatia and Dalmatia, and sister to the mother of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. She was born in Bavaria, about the year 1174, and at the age of twelve was given in marriage to Henry, the Duke of Poland, who was himself at that time only eighteen years old. And she was a true helpmate to him all his life, especially in the governance of Poland, and in the many troubles which came to him thereby. God gave them seven children, of whom only one survived Hedwig's own death, namely, Gertrude, who had become a nun of the Cistercian Abbey of Trebnitz, and finally the abbess thereof. Hedwig and her husband, soon after their marriage, founded this great Abbey, using the whole of her dowry for the purpose. It was the first convent for women in that region, and had a school for girls, and other institutions connected with it. Afterwards they founded houses of Augustinian Canons, of Franciscan and Dominican friars, of Cistercian monks, and of other religoius ; for they were anxious to propagate the true religion, and to give to their subjects the blessings of a wider Christian culture. After the birth of their seventh child, Henry and Hedwig took a vow of perpetual continence, in token whereof Henry never afterwards shaved, and so came to be known as Henry the Hairy. And Hedwig clothed herself in a plain, grey garb, and spent most of her time in long retreats at the Abbey of Trebnitz. But when Henry was wounded in a battle, she hastened to his side, and nursed him to health ; and when later he was taken prisoner by the Duke Conrad, she secured his release and arranged marriages between two of her granchildren and the sons of Conrad, whereby the war came to an end. The death of her husband soon followed, and then the deathh of all her children except Gertrude ; but Hedwig his her grief and sought comfort in God, that she might comfort her children's families. She was known not only for munificent charity to the poor, but also for her loving and intimate care of them. Once she spent ten weeks, patiently teaching a stupid peasant woman the Lord's Prayer. She shought out the most menial tasks and did them with royal courtesy. In October of 1243, she was taken ill, and died famous for good works. In 1267 she was canonized, and is venerated as the Patroness of Silesia.

THE COLLECT FOR ST. HEDWIG

O God, who didst teach thy blessed Saint Hedwig, forsaking the pomps and vanities of this life, to follow thee steadfastly in the lowly bearing of thy Cross : mercifully grant that, by her merits and example, we may learn to trample under foot the contemptible pleasures of this world, and cleaving steadfastly to thy Cross to overcome all things that are contrary to our salvation. Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

5 October 08

THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

5 OCTOBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalms 11, 12; Malachi 2:14-end; St. Matthew 19:3-9a, 13-15

Holy Eucharist: Ephesians 5:15-21; St. Matthew 22:1-14

Evening Prayer: Psalm 145; Jeremiah 31:31-37; St. John 13:31-35

REFLECTION

The theme for this Sunday is cheerful obedience and service to God. The Epistle today exhorts us to spiritual joyfulness: “be filled with the Spirit...singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” This Christian joy is one of the great sources of spiritual strength and progress. The Christian life is not one of downcast eyes but of cheerfulness. The connection between this Epistle and the Collect is clear, the petition of the Collect echoing the teachings of the Epistle. We pray to be kept from all hurtful things which hinder us from cheerful service and, as the Epistle warns, from the carelessness, laziness and self-indulgence with which we are all so often tempted. The Collect concludes that, thus guarded and guided, we may cheerfully accomplish the things which God would have us do, in the joyful spirit described in the Epistle.
The Collect also takes its meaning from the Gospel reading which is the parable of the Marriage Feast of the King’s Son. This parable sets forth the privileges to which we are invited, and the danger of being too much absorbed in the cares and anxieties of the world. The invited guests refused the invitation and went their separate ways. We thus pray in the Collect that we will not be like the guests in the parable who refused to accept the invitation, but that we will accept the invitation of Jesus Christ to come to him and receive his salvation: “that we, being ready in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things that thou wouldest have done.”
The second part of the Gospel reading, in which the man “not having a wedding-garment” is thrown out of the feast, teaches that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Each time we come to Holy Communion we are taught by our Prayer Book that we must prepare ourselves to come to the Communion with our hearts clothed with holiness, love and spiritual joyfulness: “...so that ye may come holy and clean to such a heavenly Feast in the marriage-garment required by God in holy Scripture, and be received as worthy partakers of that holy Table” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 90). God invites us to his holy Table to receive the Body and Blood of his Son so that “our sinful bodies may be made clean by his Body and our souls washed through his most precious Blood.” We dare not refuse that invitation, but let us come with cheerful and loving hearts. Many are invited to the feast. May today’s Collect be our fervent prayer, that we may be “ready both in body and soul” to serve him and “cheerfully accomplish those things that wouldest have done.”

***COMMON PRAYER: A Commentary on the Prayer Book Lectionary Volume 5: Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity to Twenty Sixth Sunday after Trinity St. Peter Publications Inc. Charlottetown, PEI, Canada Reprinted with permission of the publisher.***

THE COLLECT FOR THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

O almighty and most merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all th ings that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully ccomplish those things which thou commandest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Placidus and his companions, Martyrs (6th century)

Placid (6th century), Benedictine monk. As a young boy he was entrusted to Benedict at Subiaco to be educated and to become a monk. He once fell into the lake there and was rescued by Maurus, according to Gregory's Dialogues. A forgery of Peter the Deacon of Monte Cassino made him a martyr in Sicily with thirty companions, who in fact suffered before he was born—they were alleged to have been killed at Messina by Saracen pirates from Spain at a time long before the Moors had even reached Spain. However, this fantasy was ‘confirmed’ by the discovery of a deed of gift, purporting to be from Tertullus (Placid's father) to St. Benedict, giving him lands in Sicily; in 1588 relics were found at Messina which were believed to be those of the martyred Placid and companions. This led to the feast of Placid on 5 October being celebrated very widely and in particular by Benedictine monasteries, who regarded him as the patron of novices and customarily assigned this day to them as that on which they performed the liturgical functions usually reserved to the professed. In 1915, however, the Benedictine liturgical commission proposed to suppress this feast and to celebrate the boy Placid with Maurus. This, however, was refused until the next revision which took place about forty years later when the combined feast of Maurus and Placid was authorized for 5 October. Among the medieval calendars that of Abingdon kept Placid as ‘abbot and martyr’.

***from http://www.answers.com/topic/saint-placidus***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. PLACIDUS AND HIS COMPANIONS

O God, who vouchsafest unto us to keep the heavenly birthday of blessed Placidus and his companions, thy holy Martyrs : grant, we beseech thee ; that we may rejoice in the perpetual felicity of their fellowship in heaven. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

4 October 08

SATURDAY AFTER TRINITY 19

4 OCTOBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 120, 122, 123; II Kings 2:1-15; I Timothy 3:1-13

Evening Prayer: Psalm Psalm 144; Job 42:1-9; St. Matthew 19:1-15

REFLECTON

In today's reading from the Gospel, found in Evening Prayer, we have Jesus teaching us about what He expects from marriage, as well as his love and respect for the little children. Today, as young people potentially prepare for marriage, there is a miserable failure to truly consider the importance of faithfulness, selflessness, and committment to the other. Even for Christians today, the majority of marriages end in divorce. We as Christians do not even take seriously what our Lord has to say about marriage, and how seriously our Lord Jesus considers the bond of marriage between husband and wife. We need to, again, read the Scriptures and apply the teachings of the Lord to our everyday lives without sugar coating or glossing over those parts we do not necessarily like. Our lives with truly be transfigured!

Again, this week, we hear of our Lord's love and concern for littlel children. During this time wherein we are daily praying Evening Prayer, how important it is we take the example of our Lord in His love and concern for little children. May we treat all our children, both those born and unborn, with the same love our Lord shows.

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee; Mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Francis of Assisi, Confessor (1181-1226)

Francis was born in 1182, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. His early years were frivolous, but an experience of sickness and another of military service were instrumental in leading him to reflect on the purpose of life. One day, in the church of San Damiano, he seemed to hear Christ saying to him, "Francis, repair my falling house." He took the words literally, and sold a bale of silk from his father's warehouse to pay for repairs to the church of San Damiano. His father was outraged, and there was a public confrontation at which his father disinherited and disowned him, and he in turn renounced his father's wealth--one account says that he not only handed his father his purse, but also took off his expensive clothes, laid them at his father's feet, and walked away naked. He declared himself "wedded to Lady Poverty", renounced all material possessions, and devoted himself to serving the poor. In his day the most dreaded of all diseases was something known as leprosy. (It is probably not the same as either the modern or the Biblical disease of that name.) Lepers were kept at a distance and regarded with fear and disgust. Francis cared for them, fed them, bathed their sores, and kissed them. Since he could not pay for repairs to the Church of San Damiano, he undertook to repair it by his own labors. He moved in with the priest, and begged stones lying useless in fields, shaping them for use in repairing the church. He got his meals, not by asking for money so that he might live at the expense of others, but by scrounging crusts and discarded vegetable from trash-bins, and by working as a day laborer, insisting on being paid in bread, milk, eggs, or vegetables rather than in money. Soon a few companions joined him. Dante in his Paradiso has Aquinas say of him:

Let me tell you of a youth whose aristocratic father disowned him because of his love for a beautiful lady. She had been married before, to Christ, and was so faithful a spouse to Him that, while Mary only stood at the foot of the Cross, she leaped up to be with Him on the Cross. These two of whom I speak are Francis and the Lady Poverty. As they walked along together, the sight of their mutual love drew men's hearts after them. Bernard saw them and ran after them, kicking off his shoes to run faster to so great a peace. Giles and Sylvester saw them, kicked off their shoes and ran to join them....

After three years, in 1210, the Pope authorized the forming of the Order of Friars Minor, commonly called the Franciscans. ("Friar" means "brother," as in "fraternity", and "minor" means "lesser" or "younger." I take the meaning to be that a Franciscan, meeting another Christian, is to think, "I am your brother in Christ, and your younger brother at that, bound to defer to you and to give you precedence over myself."

Francis and his companions took literally the words of Christ when he sent his disciples out to preach (Matthew 10:7-10):

Preach as you go, saying, "The kingdom of Heaven is at hand." ... You have received the Gospel without payment, give it to others as freely. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, no spare garment, nor sandals, nor staff.

They would have no money, and no property, individually or collectively. Their task was to preach, "using words if necessary," but declaring by word and action the love of God in Christ. Francis was partial to a touch of the dramatic (see his parting from his father, for example), and it was probably he who set up the first Christmas manger scene, to bring home the Good News of God made man for our salvation, home to men's hearts and imaginations as well as to their intellects.

In 1219, Francis went to the Holy Land to preach to the moslems. He was given a pass through the enemy lines, and spoke to the Sultan, Melek-al-Kamil. Francis proclaimed the Gospel to the Sultan, who replied that he had his own beliefs, and that moslems were as firmly convinced of the truth of Islam as Francis was of the truth of Christianity. Francis proposed that a fire be built, and that he and a moslem volunteer would walk side by side into the fire to show whose faith was stronger. The Sultan said he was not sure that a moslem volunteer could be found. Francis then offered to walk into the fire alone. The Sultan who was deeply impressed but remained unconverted. Francis proposed an armistice between the two warring sides, and drew up terms for one; the Sultan agreed, but, to Francis's deep disappointment, the Christian leaders would not. Francis returned to Italy, but a permanent result was that the Franciscans were given custody of the Christian shrines then in moslem hands.

Back in Italy and neighboring countries, the Order was suffering from its own success. Then, as now, many persons were deeply attracted by Francis and his air of joy, abandonment, and freedom. What is overlooked is that these were made possible only by his willingness to accept total poverty, not picturesque poverty but real dirt, rags, cold, and hunger, and lepers with real pus oozing from their sores and a real danger of infection. Many idealistic young men were joining the Order in a burst of enthusiasm and then finding themselves not so sure that such extremes of poverty were really necessary. When there were only a few friars, they were all known to Francis personally, and the force of his personality kept the original ideals of the Order alive in them. Now that the Order was larger, this was no longer enough. In 1220 Francis resigned as minister-general of the Order, and in 1221 he agreed to a new and modified rule, which he did not approve, but could not resist. He died on 4 October 1226. The Franciscan split into the Conventual Franciscans, who held a limited amount of property in common, and the Spiritual Franciscans, who disavowed all property. They taught that Christ and the twelve apostles had held no property, singly or jointly. This view offended those who held property, and was declared to be heretical (proof text, John 18:10; Jesus said to Peter, "Put up thy sword...."). In 1318, several Spiritual Franciscans were burned at the stake in Marseilles.

A story is told of the days when the friars first began to have permanent houses. A beggar came by when Brother Juniper was at the gate and asked for a little money. Brother Juniper said, "There is no money in the house. But wait a minute. Last week someone gave us an altar cloth with little silver bells attached. We don't need those. I will cut them off for you. They will be as good as money." And he did. When the sacristan learned what had happened, he complained to the prior, who said, "We are fortunate that he did not give away the cloth itself. But send him to me, and I will scold him." Brother Juniper came, and the prior scolded him until he was hoarse. Brother Juniper noticed that the prior was hoarse, and went to the kitchen and cooked him some mint sauce. He brought it to the prior, who had gone to bed. He said, "Father Prior, get up and eat this mint sauce. It will be good for your throat." The prior said, "I don't want any mint sauce. Go away and let me sleep." Brother Juniper said, "It's good sauce, and will be good for your throat." The prior said, "Go away, I don't want it." Brother Juniper said, "Well, if you won't eat it, how about holding the candle while I eat it?" This was too much for the prior. He got up and they both ate.

From the first known letter from Francis to all Christians:

"O how happy and blessed are those who love the Lord and do as the Lord himself said in the gospel: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and your whole soul, and your neighbor as yourself. Thereofore, let us love God and adore him with pure heart and mind. This is his particular desire when he says: True worshipers adore the Father in spirit and truth. For all who adore him must do so in the spirit of truth. Let us also direct to him our praises and prayers, saying: "Our Father, who are in heaven," since we must always pray and never grow slack.

Furthermore, let us produce worthy fruits of penance. Let us also love our neightbors as ourselves. Let us have charity and humility. Let us give alms because these cleanse our souls from the stains of sin. Men lose all the material things they leave behind in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these they will recieve from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve. We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh. Rather we must be sinple, humble and pure. We should never desire to be over others. Instead, we ought to be servants who are submissive toe very human being for God's sake. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on all who live in this way and persevere in it to the end. He will permanently dwell in them. They will be the Father's children who do his work. They are the spouses, brothers and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Many readers are enthusiastic about Saint Francis of Assisi, a biography of Francis by G.K.Chesterton. A reader of these essays has also recommended Saint Francis of Assisi, a Biography by Omer Englebert.

***from www.missionstclare.com/english/people/oct4.html***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

O God, who by the merits of blessed Francis dost increase thy Church with a new offspring : grant, we beseech thee ; that after his pattern we may learn to despise all things earthly, and ever to rejoice in the partking of thy heavenly bounty. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

28 September 08

THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

28 SEPTEMBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 72; Job 24:1-17; Titus 2

Holy Eucharist: Ephesians 4:17-32; St. Matthew 9:1-8

Evening Prayer: Psalm 80; Jeremiah 5:7-19; 2 Corinthians 13

REFLECTION

As bees[1] will never settle down in an unclean vessel,--and this is the reason why those who are skilled in these matters sprinkle the spot with perfumes, and scented ointments, and sweet odors; and the wicker baskets also, in which they will have to settle as soon as they come out of the hives they sprinkle with fragrant wines, and all other sweets, that there may be no noisome smell to annoy them, and drive them away again,--so in truth is it also with the Holy Spirit. Our soul is a sort of vessel or basket, capable of receiving the swarms of spiritual gifts; but if there shall be within it gall, and "bitterness, and wrath," the swarms will fly away. Hence this blessed and wise husbandman well and thoroughly cleanses our vessels, withholding neither knife nor any other instrument of iron, and invites us to this spiritual swarm; and as he gathers it, he cleanses us with prayers, and labors, and all the rest. Mark then how he cleanses out our heart. He has banished lying, he has banished anger. Now, again, he is pointing out how that evil may be yet more entirely eradicated; if we be not, saith he, "bitter" in spirit. For it is as is wont to happen with our bile, if there chance to be but little of it, there will be but little disturbance if the receptacle should burst: but if ever the strength and acridness of this quality becomes excessive, the vessel which before held it, containing it no longer, is as if it were eaten through by a scorching fire, and it is no longer able to hold it and contain it within its appointed bounds, but, rent asunder by its intense sharpness, it lets it escape and injure the whole body. And it is like some very fierce and frightful wild beast, that has been brought into a city; as long as it is confined in the cages made for it, however it may rage, however it may roar, it will be unable to do harm to any one; but if it is overcome by rage, and breaks through the intervening bars, and is able to leap out, it fills the city with all sorts of confusion and disturbance, and puts everybody to flight. Such indeed is the nature also of bile. As long as it is kept within its proper limits, it will do us no great mischief; but as soon as ever the membrane that incloses it bursts, and there is nothing to hinder its being at once dispersed over the whole system, then, I say, at that moment, though it be so very trifling in quantity,[1] yet by reason of the inordinate strength of its quality it taints all the other elements of our nature with its own peculiar virulence. For finding the blood, for instance, near to it, alike in place and in quality, and rendering the heat which is in that blood more acrid, and everything else in fact which is near it; passing from its just temperature it overflows its bounds, turns all into gall, and therewith at once attacks likewise the other parts of the body; and thus infusing into all its own poisonous quality, it renders the man speechless, and causes him to expire, expelling life. Now, why have I stated all these things with such minuteness? It is in order that, understanding from this bitterness which is of the body the intolerable evil of that bitterness which is of the soul, and how entirely it destroys first of all the very soul that engenders it, making everything bitter, we may escape experience of it. For as the one inflames the whole constitution, so does the other the thoughts, and carries away its captive to the abyss of hell. In order then that by carefully examining these matters we may escape this evil, and bridle the monster, or rather utterly root it out, let us hearken to what Paul saith, "Let all bitterness be" (not destroyed, but) "put away" from you. For what need have I of trouble to restrain it, what necessity is there to keep watch on a monster, when it is in my power to expel him from my soul, to remove him and drive him out, as it were, into banishment? Let us hearken then to Paul when he saith, "Let all bitterness be put away from you." But, ah, the perversity that possesses us! Though we ought to do everything to effect this, yet are there some so truly senseless as to congratulate themselves upon this evil, and to pride themselves upon it, and to glory in it, and who are envied by others. "Such a one," say they, "is a bitter man, he is a scorpion, a serpent, a viper." They look upon him as one to be feared. But wherefore, good man, dost thou fear the bitter person? "I fear," you say, "lest he injure me, lest he destroy me; I am not proof against his malice, I am afraid lest he should take me who am a simple man, and unable to foresee any of his schemes, and throw me into his snares, and entangle us in the toils which he has set to deceive us." Now I cannot but smile. And why forsooth? Because these are the arguments of children, who fear things which are not to be feared. Surely there is nothing we ought so to despise, nothing we ought so to laugh to scorn, as a bitter and malicious man. For there is nothing so powerless[2] as bitterness. It makes men fools and senseless.

***from Homily XV in Vol. VIII from St. John Chrysostom on the Epistles***

THE COLLECT FOR THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee; Mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY


St. Wenceslas, Prince and Martyr (907-935)

Duke of Bohemia (now, approximately, the Czech Republic) he was born in 902 and succeeded to the title at the age of 20. A devout Christian, he worked in harmony with the Church to bring religious and educational benefit to his people. He sought contacts with Christians elsewhere, including the neighbouring German Empire, whose political claims he was prepared to recognise. This brought him the hostility of a number of leading non-Christians in his own land, who gathered round Wenceslas’ own brother, Boleslav. Some henchmen carried out the murder of Wenceslas in 929 as he attended Mass, in a scene reminiscent of the death of St. Thomas Becket. In a fit of remorse, Boleslav tried to make amends by having his brother’s remains transferred to a fine tomb in the Prague church of St. Vitus, where they became a centre of pilgrimage. He was being honoured as a saint from at least 985 and shortly afterwards his head appeared on the country’s currency. The famous Christmas carol dates only from the 19th. century and tells of an event not known in Wenceslas’ biography. It is presumably a pious fiction, written to encourage Christian charity.

***from www.hullp.demon.co.uk/SacredHeart/saint/st_wenceslas_vaclav.htm***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. WENCESLAS

O God, who through the victory of martyrdom didst exalt thy blessed Saint Wenceslas from his earthly principality to the glory of thy heavenly kingdom : we pray thee, at his intercession, to defend us against all adversities ; and to suffer us to rejoice in his eternal fellowship. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

14 September 08

THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

FEAST OF THE HOLY CROSS

14 SEPTEMBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 25; Jeremiah 13:15-21; Mark 10:35-45

Holy Eucharist: Ephesians 4:1-6; Luke 14:1-11

Evening Prayer: Psalm 36:5 & 130; Malachi 2:1-10; Luke 13:10-17

REFLECTION

Today we are taught about “humility” and “grace”, and their relation to each other. The readings for Trinity XI also treated the subject of humility, but there we were shown examples of humility toward God in the character of St. Paul and in the prayer of the publican. Today we learn the harder lesson of humility in our dealings with men.

The Epistle tells us that we are to walk in a way worthy of our vocation, with all lowliness, meekness, long-suffering and forbearing one another in love. Lowly in himself, the Christian will be meek towards others, careful of offending them. We will be patient, forbearing and forgiving when someone sins against us. Pride, harshness and the bearing of a grudge have no place in the Christian’s character. Today’s Gospel continues the theme of humility, concluding: “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
The Collect begs God’s grace to prevent us (that is, “go before” us), and follow us. Recalling the use of the word “grace” in II Corinthians 8. 9, shows us how grace is related to the humility described in the Epistle and Gospel: “ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor.” In other words, you know how great a favour and kindness he did us, in humbling himself to become mar and to suffer the death of the cross. As St. Paul says in Philippians 2. 5, 8: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who...being found in fashion as a man...humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

If we are to follow the example of our Blessed Lord and humble ourselves before others and do “good works” with all lowliness and meekness, we need the grace of God to work within us. Thus, on a Sunday when our Eucharistic readings emphasize humility and good works, we pray in the Collect for the grace of God to surround us.

We need God’s grace to go before us to prompt us with right desires, to give us opportunity to do good for others, and to guide us that we may be able to complete what we begin. We need God’s grace ever behind us to urge us on that we may not fall, to support us when we fail, to guard us from unseen enemies, and to bless our works with good results.

***From COMMON PRAYER: A Commentary on the Prayer Book Lectionary Volume 5: Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity to Twenty Sixth Sunday after Trinity St. Peter Publications Inc. Charlottetown, PEI, Canada***

COLLECT FOR THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Lord, we pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

***None for today***

13 September 08

I thought that I would post a few pictures I have taken with my cell phone over the past week.

Above is a pic of the waves along a beach on Okaloosa Island (Fort Walton Beach). (9 Sep 08)

Above, another view of the same beach from high up on the beach. (9 Sep 08)

Above in a view of the Fort Walton Beach Pier. Notice the first out band of Hurricane Ivan beginning to show in the pic. (9 Sep 08)

Above is a much better pic of the first outer band of Hurricane Ike. We had a blustery downpour for about an hour.

Your truly. Yeah...those are my neon white chicken legs!

Storm surge from Hurricane Ike flooding into a park in downtown Fort Walton Beach. (11 Sep 08)

Anoter view of the storm surge from Hurricane Ike. (11 Sep 08)

A pic taken today of the still angry seas, high waves, and continued storm surge. (13 Sep 08)

11 September 08

THURSDAY AFTER TRINITY XVI

11 SEPTEMBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 126, 128; I Kings 8:54-63; I Thessalonians 4:1-12

Evening Prayer: Psalm 121, 122, 138; Job 1:1-12; Matthew 10:32-11:1

REFLECTION

In today's reading from the Gospel, found in Evening Prayer, we find some very strong admonishments from our Lord.

- We are to confess Jesus
- We are not to love family more than Jesus
- We are to take up our cross and follow Jesus
- We are to lose our life for the sake of Jesus
- We are to receive Jesus, thereby receiving the Father too

Heavy stuff, folks. You see...it's all about Jesus! Everytime we look at an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Our Lord, she is always pointing the way toward Jesus. In fact, in everything she does, she points toward Our Lord. It should be the same with us. All that we are and do should be all about Jesus.

On another note, I wanted to point out that this Sunday is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In today's Gospel we hear Jesus say, "...he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." All of us have a cross of some sort to bear. None of us escape that reatlity. May we ask God for strength and courage to pick up our cross daily so that we might follow Our Lord wherever He may call us to go.

Be blessed in Christ!

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

O Lord, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

31 AUGUST 08

THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

31 AUGUST 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 49; Ecclesiasticus 5:1-10; Luke 12:13-21

Holy Eucharist: Galatians 6:11-end; St. Matthew 6:24-end

Evening Prayer: Psalm 26, 128; Ecclesiasticus 5:8-end; I Timothy 6:1-10

REFLECTION

In only five of the Collects for the Sundays of the Christian year is the Church specifically mentioned, and it is always as “thy Church”. The Church is not ours, but his. The Church is founded upon his authority and made holy by his Spirit. In faith, the Church of God looks to its Head, Jesus Christ, and trusts that his promise will be kept, “Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28. 20).

The “perpetual mercy” of God is required for the keeping of his Church because perpetual danger threatens it. In the Service of Holy Communion, the priest bids us pray “for the whole state of Christ’s Church militant here on earth”—”militant” because his Church is engaged in a perpetual warfare with the devil and his angels, and the wicked men who work his will until Jesus Christ shall appear in glory at the end of time. The mercy which alone can protect the Church is the mercy of the Cross which is unceasingly shown in accepting Christ’s propitiation (sacrifice) for our sins. In the words of the Epistle, the Church must bear in its body “the marks of the Lord Jesus”. The Church can never be made strong and holy by its sheer numbers, its political influence, or its wealth. Rather, the Church is strong and faithful only when its priests and laity alike are able to say with St. Paul in today’s Epistle: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” The crucified Christ is the Head of his Church. The central act of worship of his Church is the Holy Communion by which we “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes again” (I Cor. 11. 26).

In the Collect, we acknowledge that without God’s grace we cannot stand, and we ask that he will keep us from all things hurtful and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation. Today’s Gospel teaches us that we are entirely dependent upon the grace of God. We need grace to protect us from harm, and grace to lead us to all that is good. Trusting in God and him alone, we seek first the Kingdom of God and are assured that we will receive his manifold and abundant blessings and comfort.

Our Christian service must be one of love, purity and singleness of heart. May we resolve to seek first the kingdom of heaven in our lives, glorifying in the Cross of Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto us, and we unto the world.

***from COMMON PRAYER: A Commentary on the Prayer Book Lectionary, Volume 5: Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity to Twenty Sixth Sunday after Trinity (p. 42-43)
St. Peter Publications Inc. Charlottetown, PEI, Canada***

THE COLLECT FOR THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Keep, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy; and, because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; througth Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Aidan, Bishop and Confessor (d. 651)

The Gospel first came to the northern English in 627, When King Edwin of Northumbria was converted by a mission from Canterbury led by Bishop Paulinus, who established his see at York. Edwin's death in battle in 632 was followed by a severe pagan reaction. A year later, Edwin's exiled nephew Oswald gained the kingdom, and proceeded at once to restore the Christian mission.

During his exile, Oswald had lived at Columba's monastery of Iona, where he had been converted and baptized. Hence he sent to Iona, rather than to Canterbury, for missionaries. The first monk to preach was a man named Corman, who had no success, and returned to Iona to complain that the Northumbrians were a savage and unteachable race. A young monk named Aidan responded, "Perhaps you were too harsh with them, and they might have responded better to a gentler approach." At this, Aidan found himself appointed to lead a second expedition to Northumbria. He centered his work, not at York, but in imitation of his home monastery, on Lindisfarne, an island off the northeast coast of England, now often called Holy Isle.

With his fellow monks and the English youths whom he trained, Aidan restored Christianity in Northumbria, King Oswald often serving as his interpreter, and extended the mission through the midlands as far south as London.

Aidan died at the royal town of Bamboroug (Bamburgh), 31 August, 651. The historian Bede said of him: "He neither sought nor loved anything of this world, but delighted in distributing immediately to the poor whatever was given him by kings or rich men of the world. He traversed both town and country on foot, never on horseback, unless compelled by some urgent necessity. Wherever on his way he saw any, either rich or poor, he invited them, if pagans, to embrace the mystery of the faith; or if they were believers, he sought to strengthen them in their faith and stir them up by words and actions to alms and good works."

***from www.missionstclare.com***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. AIDAN

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God : that the devout observance of this festival of blessed Aidan, thy Confessor and Bishop, may be profitable unto us for our advancement in all godliness, and for the attainment of everlasting salvation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

29 AUGUST 08

THE FEAST OF THE BEHEADING OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

THE FRIDAY AFTER TRINITY XIV

29 AUGUST 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 69:1-22, 30-37; II Samuel 19:1-10; II Corinthians 8:16-end

Holy Eucharist: Jeremiah 1:17-end; St. Mark 6:17-29

Evening Prayer: Psalm 51; Ecclesiasticus 31:12-18, 25-32:2; St. Matthew 6:1-18

REFLECTION

The Evangelists Matthew (Matthew 14:1-12) and Mark (Mark 6:14-29) provide accounts about the death of John the Baptist.

Following the Baptism of the Lord, John the Baptist was locked up in prison by Herod Antipas, holding one-fourth the rule of the Holy Land as governor of Galilee. John the Baptist openly denounced Herod for having left his lawful wife -- the daughter of the Arabian king Aretas -- and then instead co-habiting with Herodias -- the wife of his brother Philip (Luke 3:19-20).

On his birthday, Herod made a feast for dignitaries, the elders and a thousand chief citizens. The daughter of Herod, Salome, danced before the guests and charmed Herod. In gratitude to the girl he swore to give her anything, whatsoever she would ask, anything up to half his kingdom. Salome--on the advice of her mother Herodias--asked, that she be given at once the head of John the Baptist on a plate. Herod became apprehensive, for he feared the wrath of God for the murder of a prophet, whom earlier he had heeded. He feared also the people, who loved John the Baptist. But because of the guests and his careless oath, he gave the order for the execution.
Salome took the plate with the head of Saint John and gave it to her mother. Herodias buried his head in a unclean place. But, by tradition, Joanna, wife of Herod's steward Chuza, took the head and buried it in an earthen vessel on the Mount of Olives, where Herod was possessor of a parcel of land. The body of John the Baptist was taken that night by his disciples and buried at Sebasteia (now, Sivas).

The traditional also states that the judgement of God came upon Herod, Herodias, and Salome. Salome, crossing the River Sikoris in winter, fell through the ice. The Arab king Aretas in revenge for the disrespect shown his daughter made war against Herod. For this defeat, the Roman emperor Caius Caligua (37-41) exiled Herod with Herodias first to Gaul, and then to Spain.

***from missionstclare.com***

THE COLLECT FOR THE FEAST OF THE BEHEADING OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

We pray thee, O Lord, that this solemn festival of John Baptist thy blessed Forerunner and Martyr : may effectually bestow upon us thy succour, to the attainment of everlasting salvation. Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

THE COLLECT FOR THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Sabina, Martyr (d. 125)

St. Sabina, a noble pagan woman, wife of Senator Valentinus, became a convert to Christianity through her maid servant, Seraphina.After having had the body of Seraphina placed in the family tomb, she was accused of being a Christian by the Prefect Elpidius. She was beheaded because she publicly embraced the new religion, corageously professing her faith in Christ. Sabina underwent martyrdom on 29 August in the year 125 A.D. during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. Her relics, along with Sts. Seraphina, Alexander, Evenzius and Theodolus, are venerated under the High Altar in the roman Basilica that bears her name, Santa Sabina Martire.

THE COLLECT FOR ST. SABINA, MARTYR

O God, who among the manifold works of thine almighty power hast bestowed even upon the weakness of women strength to win the victory of martyrdom : grant, we beseech thee ; that we, who on this day recall the heavenly birth of Saint Sabina thy Martyr, may so follow in her footsteps, that we may likewise attain unto thee. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

26 AUGUST 08

TUESDAY AFTER TRINITY XIV

26 AUGUST 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 40:1-16; II Samuel 17:15-23; II Corinthians 6:11-7:1

Evening Prayer: Psalm 36:5-end & 47; Ecclesiasticus 20:9-20; St. Matthew 5:17-26

REFLECTION

Today's reading from the Gospel, found in Evening Prayer, continues with the Sermon on the Mount. The focus of today's section of the Sermon on the Mount has to do with reconciliation. We are told not to kill; that to be angry with a brother without a cause is to bring judgement upon yourself. Further, we are told that we are to be reconciled before we come before the altar to bring our gift of sacrifice and praise. Indeed, peace is the end result of this reconciation. Yesterday, we heard Jesus tell us "Blessed are the Peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."

So, what about us? Are we striving to always be reconciled to our brothers and sisters, whoever they may be? Indeed, such reconciliation goes beyond the bounds of the nuclear family, our parish family, or our friends. We are admonished to love our neighbour as ourselves. If that is the case, we should then seek reconciliation with our neighbour and seek their best benefit. By seeking such reconciliation we will enjoy the benefit of peace.

Dear friends, these principles are like ripples in water. They go out in concentric circles to places we cannot imagine. The carrying out of the Lords principles will have an impact on not only ourselves, but on many other people around us. We may not see the effects for they may be small and interior effects. Yet, we should not doubt the grace of God to work His miracle of reconciliation and peace in the culture around us...to the point of going to places we could never imagine. May God grant you His courage and strength to live the reconciled life of His peaceable kingdom!

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAY FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

CHRISTIANS ATTACKED THROUGHOUT ORISSA STATE, NORTH INDIA

Following the murder of a Hindu leader, Swami Lakshmanananda, there are reports of widespread attacks on Christians in Orissa State, North India. The Evangelical Fellowship of India reports:

1) NUN BURNT ALIVE: A nun was burnt to death on 25th, Monday, after an orphanage was torched in at Phutpali in Bargarh district in Orissa during a bandh called by Hindu nationalist parties.Twenty children, who were at the orphanage, managed to escape but a priest suffered serious burn injuries in the attack.

2) RASANANDA PRADHAN TORCHED ALIVE: Another person, Rasananda Pradhan, was burnt to death when his house was set ablaze at Rupa village in Kandhamal district.

3) INFLAMMATORY SPEECHES TARGET CHRISTIANS: During the bandh inflammatory speeches spreading hatred against the Christian workers and the community were given by the VHP leaders. To gain the mass support,the activists have also carried the body of Swamiji throughout the town.

4) CHURCHES BURNT ALL ACROSS ORISSA STATE: Churches were attacked in Khurda, Bargarh, Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Koraput, Boudh, Mayurbhanj, Jagatsinghpur and Kandhamal districts as also in the state capital, police sources said, adding 40 houses were set ablaze in Phulbani town.

5) BUSES AND VEHICLES TORCHED: Mr. Mishra Digal was beaten up, while the motorcycles of Mr. R. K. Digal and Jitendra were burnt. Several buses at Gee Udaigiri in Baliguda were burnt.

6) PULBANI CHURCH RANSACKED: The Church at Phulbani,and several other churches at Phiringia were attacked and ransacked. Pastor D. Tatson’s house was vandalized and his property burnt.

7) KAKRIGUMA CHURCHES VANDALISED: Churches in Kakriguma have been targeted by the mob that reportedly damaged the Assembly Of God Church and the Philadelphia Church.

8) WORLD VISION STAFF FLED FOR SAFETY: World Vision India office ransacked and the Staff has also fled to jungle for protection.

9) CHRISTIANS TAKE SHELTER IN FOREST FOR PROTECTION: A police camp at Barakhama was also attacked by the Hindu fundamentalists. With several houses being burnt down and people being made homeless, many Christians,particularly from Nua Sahi, Munda Sahi and Suna Tonga have fled into forests for their lives.

10) NUN RAPED: A young Catholic Nun of the Cuttack Bhubaneswar diocese working Jan Vikas Kendra, the Social Service Centre at Nuagaon in Kandhamal was reportedly gang raped on 24th August 2008 by groups of Hindutva extremists before the building itself was destroyed.

11) SENIOR PRIEST AND NUN INJURED: Fr Thomas, director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Kanjimendi, less than a kilometer away from the Social Service Centre, and another Nun were injured when the centre was attacked. They were taken to the police station in a disheveled state as the armed mob bayed for their blood. The Pastoral centre was then set afire.

12) BALLIGUDA CHURCH BUILDINGS DESTROYED AGAIN: On 24th August 2008 evening lynch mobs at the block headquarters of Balliguda, in the very heart of Kandhamal district, which had seen much violence between 24th and 26th December 2007, attacked and destroyed a Presbytery, convent and hostel damaging the properties.

13) CHRISTIAN BOYS HEADS TONSURED: The mobs in Balliguda caught hold of two boys of the Catholic hostel and tonsured their heads.

14) PHULBANI CHURCH DAMAGED: On 25th august 2008 morning followers of the late Lakshmanananda Saraswati damaged the Catholic Church in Phulbani, the district headquarter town.

15) MOTHER TERESA BROTHERS ASHRAM ATTACKED: Mobs attacked the Mother Teresa Brothers’ residence and hospital in Srasanada, destroyed once before and rebuilt two months ago, and beat up the patients.

16) BHUBANESWAR BISHOP’S HOUSE ATTACKED: On the morning of 25th August 2008, violent mobs made several attempts to enter the compounds of Catholic Church and Archbishop’s house in the heart of the Capital of the State of Orissa. They could not enter because of the police presence. They threw stones at the guesthouse of Archbishop’s House, damaging windows.

17) DUBURI PARISH: Another group of fundamentalists entered presbytery in Duburi parish, managed by the SVDs and destroyed and damaged property. Two priests of the parish are missing.

18) Mr. Jamaj Pariccha, Director of Gramya Pragati, is attacked and his property damaged, vehicle looted and burnt.

19) A Baptist Church in Akamra Jila in Bhubaneswar is also damaged.

20) Christian institutions like St. Arnold’s School (Kalinga Bihar) and NISWASS report some damage.

21) BOUDH DISTRICT [Adjoining Kandhamal]: Fundamentalists enter the Catholic parish church and destroy property. People are fleeing to safer places. But nothing seems safe.

22) MUNIGUDA: Muniguda Catholic Fathers and Nuns’ residence have been damaged.

23) SAMBALPUR: HM Sister’s residence (Ainthapalli) has suffered damage.

24) PADANPUR: One priest is attacked and admitted to a hospital. Hostel boys and the in charge have moved away from the place.

25) MADHUPUR: Madhupur Catholic Church currently under attack.

26) SMALL CHURCHES: Attempted violence on small churches in various districts, including Padampur, Sambalpur near GM College, Talsera, Dangsoroda, Narayanipatara, Muniguda, Tummiibandh, Tangrapada, Phulbani, Balliguda, Kalingia, Chakapad, Srasanranda.

27) VILLAGE CHRISTIAN HOUSES ATTACKED: Houses attacked on forest hamlets of Balliguda, Kanjamandi Nuaguam (K.Nuaguam), Tiangia (G.Udayagiri), Padangiri, Tikabali.

28) KALAHANDI DISTRICT: Houses burnt even though the district is more than 300 kilometers from the place where Swami Lakshmanananda was killed.

29) PASTORS’ HOUSE BURNT: Pastor Sikandar Singh of the Pentecostal Mission beaten up and his house burnt in Bhawanipatna.

30) KHARIHAR: 3 Christian shops were looted and burnt. Pastor Alok Das and Pastor I M Senapati beaten up.

31) AAMPANI: Pastor David Diamond Pahar, Pastor Pravin Ship, Pastor Pradhan and Pastor Barik beaten up and chased away with their families.

32) NAKTIKANI: Mob surrounds village to attack Christians.
The government has sent forces, it is reported. A delegation of Christian leaders under the leadership of Archbishop Vincent Concessao, the President of National United Christian Forum of CBCI, NCCI and EFI, met the Home Minister Shri Shiv Raj Patil and submitted a memorandum. The Home Minister assured the delegation all necessary steps have been taken to maintain peace and harmony and protect the innocent. He also expressed his helplessness by stating that police protection cannot be given in all villages.

EFI request prayers at this time so that peace and harmony may prevail.

[This list is compiled with assistance from Archbishop's House, Bhubaneswar, John Dayal, Light Foundation and EFI News reporters and other sources]

Rev. Dr. Richard Howell, General Secretary, Evangelical Fellowship of India, New Delhi, India

SAINT OF THE DAY

None for today