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2012/05/28

Whit Monday MMXII


 O God, who didst give thy Holy Spirit to thine Apostles: grant unto thy people the performance of their petitions, so that on us to whom thou hast given faith, thou mayest also bestow peace; through our Lord in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, God. 

Latin:
Deus, qui apostolis tuis Sanctum dedisti Spiritum: concede plebi tuae petitionis effectum; ut quibus dedisti fidem, largiaris et pacem.  Per Dominum...in unitate eiusdem Spiritus Sancti, Deus
Gelasian Sacramentally 

Introit: The Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: Halleluah.
Ps: Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered ... 
Epistle: Acts 10: 42-48.  And he commanded us to preach unto the people. 
Gradual: Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created ...
Gospel:  John 3: 16-21. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son


 Feria secunda - A second holy day of rest. The weekdays in an octave following a high holy feast like Pentecost were and are known by the Latin "Feriae"  this observation was for the Octave that is the week following or eight-day celebration. Whit Monday is a remnant of that practice  -- although in many traditions the octave are still kept with the collect appointed for the feast. 

"O God, who didst give thy Holy Spirit to thine Apostles: grant unto thy people the performance of their petitions, "

The collect recalls the wonderful work in bestowing the Holy Ghost at Pentecost and so closely ties this collect to the feast. It goes on to ask God to work out their petitions.  From yesterday's collect we have a request that we may have a right judgement in all things and the comfort of the Holy Ghost always. 

"So that on us to whom thou hast given faith, thou mayest also bestow peace "

Today we ask for Peace.   Note too that  another attribute is asserted. It is the sovereign God who gives his elect faith and not the man who generates faith within himself.  In the homily I suggested for yesterday, Augustine gives a good treatment to this catholic doctrine (see also Romans 12:3). Yet the man ought to pray to God always for a strengthening of his faith and must step out in faith in response to God's call. 

Today's epistle is a favorite of centurions as it recalls Peter's visit to Cornelius and God's gift of the Holy Ghost on that day. The gospel reminds us of the reason: God's great love to reconcile his elect to himself through his Son -- and none other. 

"through our Lord in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, God."

Today's Latin shows a full Trinitarian closing  The tranlation here is literal.  This was so no doubt to emphasize the importance and witness of God acting in unity in this great Pentecost event. In the Suday coming we specifically recognize the Trinity.


Finis

(Portions were paraphrased and passages cited from The Collect of the Day, by Paul Zeller Strodach, 1939, The United Lutheran Press, Philadelphia)  http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/t/r/strodach_pz.htm
 
The Ancient Collect: Its history and form
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