Saint James [July 25]

Saint James
[July 25th]

GRANT, O merciful God, that, as thine holy Apostle Saint James, leaving his father and all that he had, without delay was obedient unto the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him; so we, forsaking all worldly and carnal affections, may be evermore ready to follow thy holy commandments; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

James Bar-Zebedee "the Major", brother of John, slain by Herod Agrippa I in about 42 AD [Acts xi.]. This collect recalls Matthew iv. 21-22 when Jesus called James and John from their work as fishermen to leave their ship and their father and follow him

Jeremiah xlv   Psalm 34   Acts xi. 27   &   St. Matthew xx. 20
Homily of John Chrysostom on Gospel Reading [ca. 400AD]

but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister

---

Ninth Sunday after Trinity

Announcements below

The Ninth Sunday after Trinity

GRANT to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source Leonine [440-461] taken in the Gelasian Sacramentary [492-496]. The 1662 Prayer Book revision added "who cannot do anything that is is good". One is reminded of Paul's Epistle to Philemon vs 1:6 "That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." The Collect clearly points to God's grace and the work of the Holy Spirit in aiding us to do good. This theme was made a canon in the ecumenical councils and is part of the Order's vow. Today's Gospel story of the Prodigal Son reminds us of our innate nature and weakness and God's mercy and strength, as does the Epistle, that God will help us in the day of temptation..

1 Corinthians x. 1 & St. Luke xv. 11

Homilies

Announcements for the week beginning 24 July 05

Feasts and Fasts

James, Apostle [July 25th]

Bulletin Insert -- pdf reader updated weekly by Religion.com

BIDDINGS

Please pray for
Centurions in harms way,
Centurions in special training,
Peace in the Mideast

Camillus of Lellus, Soldier, Caregiver, Presbyter 1550-1614

Soldier, Son of an Officer, wounded fighting against the Turks. Later turned from gambling and such to serve Christ as hospital worker, eventually administrator. Founded Congregation of the Servants of the Sick (the Camellians). Here is one site in Thiland where there is a chapter  http://www.ticnet.co.uk/camillus/order.html

 

See More about Camillus here http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintc09.htm

 

And here a history on the order he founded with two other men from a current guild

http://www.cmalansing.org/resources/print/print_david.asp

 

 

The Eighth Sunday after Trinity

Announcements Below

 

O GOD, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth; We humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Historical Note: Source Gelasian [ca 494]. Original Latin: cuius providential in sui despositione non fallitur . This acknowledgement calls to mind Gen 1, where God ordered all things in heaven and earth, and they "were Good". The petition calls to mind the teaching of Jesus concerning the gifts of God being good and never hurtful [Matt 7:9-11]

Zechariah iv 1, Psalm 127, Romans viii. 12   &   St. Matthew vii. 15

Homily of John Chrysostom on Romans Lesson

Announcements for the week beginning 17 July 05

Please hold these and all centurions in your prayers this week. You may like to use this Centurion's Daily Litany

Feasts and Fasts

Camillus of Lellis, Soldier, Religious - July 18th [TRANSFERRED]

Bulletin Insert -- pdf reader updated weekly by Religion.com

BIDDINGS

Please pray for
Centurions in harms way,
Centurions in special training,
Peace in the Mideast

Olive Branch International, Inc Military Outreach

primus pilus to centurions, I

I received a letter in the mail from this organization a few days ago
that discussed its work with psychological officers in Sri Lanka in
February 2005 - The Olive Branch International, Inc. It is a
charitable corporation that is dedicated to "Humanitarian Service to
the International Military Community.

I invite you to look at their website here
http://www.obi-intl.org/index.asp .

For any looking for an opportunity to travel and support an outreach, they are looking for volunteers. Others may wish to support this mission with contributions and all may do so with prayers. View their history page to see some of their many worthy projects over their nine-year history

May God bless them in their charitable work of love

Mark

primus pilus

www.orderofcenturions.org

Christopher and El Cid [transferred]

These two Christian soldiers died on 10 July.

 

Christopher of Antioch  guard for a king, ca 250 Martyred for refusing to submit to idolotry and was martyred under Gaius Messius Quintus Trajanus Decius reign.  Chistopher is a popular religous figure. In the West he is depicted with a child on his shoulders, in the East as a very ugly "dogged faced" soldier.  The link takes you to a fanciful ancient history that seemingly embellished his martyrdom. Some in the West take him to be legendary

 

 

 

El Cid Campeador  "The Lord Champion" Knight, had a very political and combative life. Latter-day critical evaluation by historians has identified him as somewhat of a mercenary (albeit from Moslem historical sources for whatever that is worth). 

 

However, he is recognized in Spain as a Christian hero and savior for Spain from Moslem domination.  Poema de Mio Cid, (Lay of the Cid) is a legendary poem written a century after his death in 1099. It no doubt inspired many a Spanish Christian soldier to virtue and Christian service.  Great epic movie with a cast of thousands and with Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren based on the Poem and Christian legend - one of my very favorites when growing up.

 

Seventh Sunday after Trinity

 Seventh Sunday after Trinity

LORD of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things; Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Historical Note: Source: Collect orginally composed by Bishop Gelasius of Rome (492-496), His version began with, "O Lord of Hosts" [1Sam 1:11]. His "true religion" reminds one of James' epistle and "pure religon KJV [James 1:27]

I have compassion on the multitude

Hosea xiv, Psalm viii, Romans vi. 19   &  St. Mark viii. 1

---

Homily of John Chrysostom Romans 6:19

The Eternal Gifts of Christ the King - Ambrose of Milan, 340-397

New Series � History of Collects and Ancient Homilies

New Series – History of Collects and Ancient Homilies

Beginning this Sunday and for the rest of the year, look for a short history on the weekly Collect and for an ancient homily –  by John Chrysostom where available. Read more below.

One of the chief aims of the Order, as has been stated in our History section since the very beginning, has been to encourage worship as practiced by the Early Christians. Scripture is our first source, and our next is the exposition of Scripture and the traditions as recorded by the early doctors of the Church. In this regard, I encourage all centurions to read this piece by a scholar of early literature and a Christian Knight of the 20th Century Why Read the Classics?;An Introduction by CS Lewis.

One classic source offered Sunday-by Sunday has been the Collect. In the book: The Collects of Thomas Cranmer, by C. Frederick Barbee, and Paul FM Zahl, they write:

One constant that … is still with us .. is the Collect. Imagine being transported in a time machine to fifth-century Rome on a particular Sunday of the church year and knowing enough Latin to recognize with delight and suppose the very same prayer to be found for that day in the Book of Common Prayer!. This is entirely possible, for the vast majority …are in fact pre-Reformation. Most are taken from the Sacramentaries of three famous Bishops of Rome: Leo I (440-461), Gelasius (492-496), and Gregogry the Great (590-604). A Sacramentary was a book that contained the fixed prayers of the Eucharist and the variable Collects of the Day"

The Collect’s name comes from the Latin "collecta", meaning to collect up the prayers of the people. Collects were originally extemporaneous, and still are, or may be, in many places. In the developing Early Church, Collects evolved to the form shown below. As you read through the following component outline of a Collect, compare the component with the corresponding phrase from the Prayer of the Order of Centurions shown in italics.

Address -- almost always addressed to God the Father, sometimes to Christ : Almighty God

Acknowledgement -- what God has done or his character: "our sovereign Lord, who called Cornelius the Centurion to be the first Christian among the Gentiles, who healed the servant at Capernaum in accordance with the Centurion's great faith, and who inspired the Centurion at Calvary to glorify Jesus"

Petition -- the action verbs – what we want God to do : strengthen us in our faith

Aspiration -- that which we wish to be the outcome of our prayer: "that we might follow their example to love, serve, and glorify you as faithful members of the Church Militant,"

Pleading. -- a concluding phrase offered through the Son, often with a describing clause, and stating the Trinity: "through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen"

The Collects are by tradition to be used all the week following unless another is specifically appointed for a special day (e.g., Epiphany, Transfiguration, etc.) They may be said morning, noon, and evening with the Lord’s Prayer. You may wish to make the weekly Collect part of your daily prayers. Copy it down or print it and carry it with you. It is also on the Order’s Chapel site all week in the devotional section..

Mark

Bidding for London

I bid your prayers for London in the aftermath of the terrorist attack there. We have centurions from  Great Britain and at least one residing in London. Pray for their safety, for their neighbors, for peace, and for the response of their leaders.

 

Religion and Virture - the Foundation of Freedom

Centurions,

 

It is not normally my custom to officially share with you quotations from the latter ages, but for this one I am making an exception. It is in my opinion - timeless and universal... it comes from a former President of the United States...  a learned man of ancient history, philosophy, and Scripture. His words ring true to this centurion. 

 

"[R]eligion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government and in all the combinations of human society."

 

John Adams (letter in response to Rush letter above, 8/28 1811)

 

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. [John 8:36]

 

Mark

 

 

US Independence Day Collect & Readings

For our centurions in the US

 ETERNAL God, through whose mighty power our fathers won their liberties of old; Grant, we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Deuteronomy x. 17   &   St. Matthew v. 43 & Homily
http://www.orderofcenturions.org/documents/independence.html 

The Sixth Sunday after Trinity

 

O GOD, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man's understanding; Pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Isaih lvii. 13b, Psalm 16, Romans vi. 3   &   St. Matthew v. 20 & Homily

first be reconciled to thy brother

Saint Peter [29 June]

O ALMIGHTY God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock; Make, we beseech thee, all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Acts xii. 1   &   St. Matthew xvi. 13 & Homily

Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God

   

Onward, Christian Soldiers

I commend the November-December issue of the Mandate.

 

The first article suggests two prayers for those who have troops in combat, and a comparison of the 1928 BCP and the revised "Prayer Book" of 1979. I'll place these prayers on our Order's Prayer page directly.

 

http://www.episcopalian.org/pbs1928/Mandate/Mandate_1-4_NovDec.pdf

 

The second article Onward, Christian Soldiers by the Rev. Dr. Tarsitano, is a good one.  He writes:

 

For orthodox Christians, then, peace is not an achievable

human goal, but a divine gift of grace, to be perfected at the

Second Coming, when all the distractions of sin (and the

human weakness that gives them power over us) will be done

away (cf. Romans 8). Under such a definition, moreover, “an

absence of war” is not necessarily peace at all. A failure by

nations to fight when the weak and the helpless are harmed is actually war against God, who is Justice, Mercy, and Love.

 

and a little later

 

A Christian soldier, then, is a subordinate minister of God,

deriving his authority to make war from the divine

appointment of his superiors. In terms of his derived authority

to act, he is little different from the Christian priest. The

members of the ministerial priesthood receive their authority

to minister to the spiritual needs of God’s people from God the

Father, through Jesus Christ, by the grace of the Holy Ghost,

and at the hands of their superiors in the ministry. The

Christian soldier receives his authority to bear arms in a just

cause from God the Father, through Jesus Christ, by the grace

of the Holy Ghost, and by the appointment of those earthly

governors that God has made his ministers for the restraint

of evil.

 

___________ Aside______________________

 

In visiting a sermon site today I found that Dr. Tarsitano died in January 2005. However, one can still find his sermons through the St. Andrew's Church, Savanah. His sermons match the collects and lessons we use in the Order. We have a link on our site.

http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&groupid=77314&ck=

 

By the way, concerning the Sunday collects, The Right Rev Dr. Anthony Sparrow, writing in 1672, had this to say about most of the collects we use:

for we find by ancient testimony that they were composed or ordered, either by S. Ambrose, Gelasius, or Gregory the Great, those holy Bishops and Fathers of the Church

http://justus.anglican.org/resources/pc/sparrow/rationale/collects.html

(thanks PV)

 

One of our centurions has an excellent resource on the history of the collects which I hope to use in the future for our reflection each Sunday... and as they were intended... throughout the week.

 

The Fifth Sunday after Trinity

 The Fifth Sunday after Trinity

See announcements below

GRANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ecclesiastes ii. 1, Psalm 62, 1 St. Peter iii. 8   &   St. Luke v. 1 & Homily
http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity5.html

Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men
Announcements for the week beginning 26 June 05

Please hold all centurions in your prayers this week. You may like to use this Centurion's Daily Litany

Feasts and Fasts

St. Peter -- June 29th

Nativity of Saint John Baptist [24 June]

ALMIGHTY God, by whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Saviour by preaching repentance; Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Isaiah xl. 1   &   St. Luke i. 57 & Homily

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel;
for he hath visited and redeemed his people

In some traditions the ancient Creed of Anthanasius would have been said at morning prayer this Feast Day http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/anthanasius.html

We in the Red River Cohort meet this Feast day to execute the Articles of Incorporation of Saint John Baptist - Anglican, and to celebrate its dedication. Please pray for this outreach ministry.

Thought: In thinking about John Baptist as a prophetical preacher who exposed the errors of his day, and was anything but politically correct, I share this article with you on what many of us consider one of  the greatest threats to orthodox Christianity since the heretical movements of the early church... and sadly much of it today comes from within the formal structures of the "Western" church and is bred in seminaries. May we have the clarity of vision and courage of John Baptist to spot the viper and call him by his name.

The Spirit of the Age and the Reality of the Risen Christ http://www.desiringgod.org/library/sermons/98/041298.html

A thought:

This struggle against emerging heresies of post-modern thought of Christianity that reveals itself in many ways reminds me of the mural of Christ Militant in our Internet Chapel of the Centurions, standing upon the adder and the lion, representing the Arian heretical movement that the Church fought against - while Christ holds open the Gospel with the passage: "I am the way the truth and the life" Jn 14:6. Is this mural not also applicable to us today as we face arising heresies within the Church? As the author of the article discusses, the first heresy is that of relativism...  sort of "my truth, your truth, a million truths...mentality". Jesus is THE truth, not a truth - he said so - so let us talk about our Lord's truth and endeavor to understand it. Secondly is the teaching that Jesus is just one of many ways to the Father.... again, what did he say, "no man cometh unto the Father except by me " Jn:14:16  - the rest of the verse he holds his hand. Let us work as centurions to follow the image of Christ Militant in the mural, and trample the Lion and Adder under foot (Psalm 91:13) through a ready response to these errors, to help those who are confused and confounded by these heresies. I was reminded again by a dear centurion of one resource that he highly recommends for orthodox thought that crosses denominational lines: First Things. Another I have found helpful is Orthodoxy Today.  Equip yourselves so that you might be as John Baptist, a voice crying in the wilderness, and through the types of activities mentioned in Today's Collect, prepare yourself and fight for Christ and the Church.

Happy Feast Day ! 
Marcus
primus pilus

Centurion at Capernaum 20 June

Today the Order remembers the Centurion at Capernaum.

 

 

O Lord, whose servant the Centurion of Capernaum displayed such faith as your Son had not seen in all Israel; inspire us through your Holy Spirit to such faith; through Christ our Lord, Amen.

 

Here is an interesting study if you haven't seen it already from our History Page links

http://www.thedericksons.com/m01550.htm The Odd Couple, Jesus and the Centurion.

 

Luke 7 1-9

Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

 

Mt 8:10

When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

 

Fourth Sunday after Trinity

 Fourth Sunday after Trinity

Announcements Below

O GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Can the blind lead the blind?

Lamentations iii. 22, Psalm 91, Romans viii. 18   &   St. Luke vi. 36 & Homily
http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity4.html#readings

 

Announcements for the week beginning 19 June 05
Feasts and Fasts
Centurion at Capernaum - June 20th

Bulletin Insert -- pdf reader updated weekly by Religion.com

Boniface, Common Legionary ca 417

Today the Order remembers a common soldier, Boniface. As far as I know, he did nothing remarkable. He was a mere Christian legionary of the Roman Army who apparently struggled with concerns about his service to God and country. We know of him through a letter that has been preserved through the ages that was meant to reassure and encourage him.

 To the Order of Centurions Boniface represents every Christian military person whose name is never remembered, but whose name is written in the Book of Life – one of the least of His.

 In US Army tradition, Boniface is like who we called, “Joe Tentpeg”  In dining-ins we always used to salute and toast Joe Tentpeg, representative of the faceless private soldier who quietly endured hardships and did his duty. We knew that he was the main reason for our being as leaders. Today, likewise, the Order of Centurion recognizes Boniface as a symbol of the millions of unnamed Christian soldiers around the world, throughout the ages, who now serve or have served Christ First, as well as their nation.

 ST. AUGUSTINE TO THE SOLDIER BONIFACE

Do not think that no one can please God who is a soldier in military arms. Holy David was among these, to whom the Lord gave such great witness [cf. 1 Kings 14. 7, where God says David, "followed me with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes"] and many just men of that time among them. Among these was Cornelius [Acts 10] to whom the angel was sent.... Among these were those who came to John for baptism.... Surely he did not forbid them to serve in arms, to whom he ordered to be content with their pay.... . Some therefore fight for you by praying against invisible enemies; you work for them by fighting against visible barbarians.... So think first of this, when you arm yourself for battle, that even your bodily strength is a gift of God.... (c. AD 417 St. Augustine to Boniface, a Soldier Epistle 189, Paragraph 60)
source http://www.catholicmil.org/

Augustine Sermon IX

Ye then who have found a Father in heaven, be loth to cleave to the things of earth. For ye are about to say, "Our Father, which art in heaven." You have begun to belong to a great family. Under this Father the lord and the slave are brethren; under this Father the general and the common soldier are brethren; under this Father the rich man and the poor are brethren. All Christian believers have divers fathers in earth, some noble, some obscure; but they all call upon one Father which is in heaven.

 

 

Third Sunday after Trinity

Third Sunday after Trinity

See announcements below

O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom thou hast given an hearty desire to pray, may, by thy mighty aid, be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jeremiah xxxi. 1, Psalm cxlv , 1 St. Peter v. 5 & St. Luke xv. 1 & Homily

Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

Announcements for the week beginning 12 June 05

Feasts and Fasts

Boniface, Legionary - June 15th

Bulletin Insert -- pdf reader updated weekly by Religion.com

Barnabas - Apostle 11 June

O LORD God Almighty, who didst endue thy holy Apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of the Holy Ghost; Leave us not, we beseech thee, destitute of thy manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use them alway to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Job xxix. 11. &Acts xi. 22   &   St. John xv. 12 & Homily

he was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith

Ferdinand - Prince of Portugal, Knight, Religious, 5 June, 1443 [transferred]

Centurions: I commend this site on the remarkable life of Ferdinand and service to country and God, and his faithfulness to God and his devotion, even unto death, as a prisoner of war: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06039c.htm

 

O God, by whose grace thy servant Ferdinand, enkindled with the
flame of thy love, became a burning and a shining light in thy
Church:  Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit
of love and discipline, and may ever walk before thee as
children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with
thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one
God, now and for ever. Amen

 

 

The Second Sunday after Trinity

The Second Sunday after Trinity

O LORD, who never failest to help and govern those whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love; Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Deuteronomy xx. 1, Psalm 76, 1 St. John iii. 13   &   St. Luke xiv . 16 & Homily

Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

Announcements for the week beginning 5 June 05
NEW- Litany for Centurions

Feasts and Fasts
Ferdinand of Portugal, Knight, Crusader, Prince - June 6th [transferred]
Saint Barnabas the Apostle -- June 11th

Bulletin Insert -- pdf reader updated weekly by Religion.com

BIDDINGS

We bid your prayers for

• Centurions in harms way,
• for the Marine that our preafectus castrorum told us of with the head injugy,
• for those preparing for deployment or special training,
• for Peace in the Mideast

Please notice the link to a new Centurion's Litany that we commend for your use when praying for Centurions by name. The link is right after the name of centurions for this week.

Good Wars by Darrell Cole

"Soldiers who fight for love of God and neighbor" ... "A failure to engage in a just war is a failure of virtue, a failure to act well."

http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0110/articles/cole.html#gotop

The author looks at Aquinas, Calvin, and others in Church history; as well as voices of today who take various stances concerning individuals and nations in wars vis-�-vis Christianity.

I’ve placed a permanent link to this on the Order’s Links page under "Articles"

NEW - Memorial Day Prayer

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, in whose hands are the living and the dead; We give thee thanks for all those thy servants who have laid down their lives in the service of our country. Grant to them thy mercy and the light of thy presence, that the good work which thou hast begun in them may be perfected; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen

 

now linked to our Prayer page and apporopriate for any nationality

http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/memorial_prayer.html

 

 

US Memorial Day

Today, Monday 30 May, is the United States Memorial Day http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html 

3:00 pm is the Moment of Remembrance.

 

"Not only are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions, but there dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the hearts of men."

[Pericles offered this tribute to the fallen heroes of the Peloponnesian War more than 24 centuries ago]

 

May we all join with US centurions in praying for a permanent peace throughout the world, and particularly in the Middle East

 

 �For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.� (Rom. 14:17) 

 

First Sunday after Trinity

First Sunday after Trinity

O GOD, the strength of all those who put their trust in thee; Mercifully accept our prayers; and because, through the weakness of our mortal nature, we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jeremiah xxiii. 23, Psalm 73, 1 St. John iv. 7 & St. Luke xvi. 19 and Homily
http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity1.html#readings

If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

---

Julius, Martyr, Legionary 27 May 302 and companions

Julius'  martyrdom happened on the 27th of May, two days after that of Pasicrates, about the year 302, in the reign of Dioclesian, at Durontoro, on the Danube, in the second Moesia.

 

http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/JULIUS.htm

 

O Almighty God, by whose grace and power thy holy martyr Julius
and his companions triumphed over suffering and were faithful even
unto death:  Grant us, who now remember them with thanksgiving,
to be so faithful in our witness to thee in this world, that we
may receive with them the crown of life; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

New Article - Fear the Lord

I highly commend this article from Dr. Peter Toon of the Prayer Book Society. Our motto in the Order is "Fear God and do what is right", based on a theme that pervades Old and New Testament books.

 

Dr. Toon discusses a recent change in attitude toward reverence for God that he believes has affected the very foundations of orthodox faith.

 

Dumbing Down by the Orthodox! : Where are the God Fearing

 

http://pbs1928.blogspot.com/2005/05/dumbing-down-by-orthodox.html

New Links

New on our Order of Centurion Links page

* Under Commentary:
One of our tribunes h.c. has commended this magazine which is on line with articles back to 92
http://www.firstthings.com/index.html
FIRST THINGS is published by The Institute on Religion and Public Life, an interreligious, nonpartisan research and education institute whose purpose is to advance a religiously informed public philosophy for the ordering of society.

* Under Service:
Labarum Guard (Notional)
http://orderofcenturions.org/labarum_guard/index.html
The Notional Service arm of the Order

* Under Ecclesiastical
Affiliation and Philosophy
http://orderofcenturions.org/affiliation.html
A paper strongly emphasizing our independent nature, the nature of our affiliation with the apostolic church, our orthodox, conservative, and traditional tone, and a philosophy of our activities to ensure the edification of the brothers of the Order while avoiding religious issues that may be contentious.

in hoc signo vinces

Constantine May 22 [trasnferred]

Commemoration of Emperor Constantine 275-337. See a succinct page on his life and contributions to the Church here

 

http://www.junis.ni.ac.yu/engleski/Konstantin.htm

 

Constantine's Army Prayer

We know Thou art God alone;
we recognize in Thee our king.
We call on Thee for aid.
From thee we receive victory,
through thee we are made greater than our enemies.

We recognize thy grace in present blessings
and hope on Thee for the future.
We all beseech Thee, we implore Thee
to preserve our king Constantine
and his pious sons safe and victorious to the end or our days.

http://www.orderofcenturions.org/constantines_prayer.html

Centurio Acacius of Byzantium - Martyr

Click on link for description and beautiful picture of a statue dedicated to Acacius who was martyred in the reign of Diocletian

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainta81.htm

 

Almighty God, who didst give thy servant Centurio Acacius boldness to
confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers 
of this world, and courage to die for this faith:  Grant that we
may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in
us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of the same our Lord
Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Trinity Sunday

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come 
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God * O come, let us adore him

See announcements at bottom
 

Trinity Sunday

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity; We beseech thee that thou wouldest keep us stedfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities, who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.

Numbers xxi. 4., Psalm 29,   Revelation iv. 1   &   St. John iii.  1 & Homily
http://www.orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity.html#readings

as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

US ARMED FORCES DAY

The Order of Centurions salutes its Christian members whose names are enrolled in the Armed Forces of the United States: active duty, reserve components, and retired, both at home and abroad.

 

"On 27 February 1950, President Harry Truman announced by proclamation the observance of Armed Forces Day. This single-day observance would not only replace separate Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps days, it would also reflect the unification of our armed forces under the Department of Defense.

"This Armed Forces Day," declared President Truman, "marks the first combined demonstration by America's defense team of its progress, under the National Security Act, towards the goal of readiness for any eventuality." General Omar Bradley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was more reflective. "Sacrifice, not selfishness," he said, "must be the eternal price of liberty. Vigilance, not appeasement, is the byword of living freedoms." Former Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower noted, "It is fitting and proper that we devote one day each year to paying special tribute to those whose constancy and courage constitute one of the bulwarks guarding the freedom of this nation and the peace of the free world."

Armed Forces Day is thus reserved to honor American Patriots in uniform -- the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines standing in harm's way so that we might live free. This year, AFD is Saturday, 21 May. And on that day, we at The Federalist Patriot, on behalf of the vast majority of our fellow Americans, will proudly and enthusiastically reaffirm our support to the fighting forces of this great nation"  Mark Alexander, 21 May 05

I bid your special prayers today for these servicmen. You may like to use these prayers from our website Soldiers & Airmen http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/army_prayer.html
Sailor & Marines http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/navy_prayer.html

ihsv,

Mark

Pray for Peace in the Middle East

Centurions:

 

As we continue to pray for peace in the Middle East, I share this article on some of Colonel Oliver North's experiences and insights on the War in Iraq and the men and women serving there to bring peace.

 

Winning in Iraq, one step at a time

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/ollienorth/on20050520.shtml

 

Our Marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen rescue wounded comrades; weep openly over loss; pass out candy, teddy bears and soccer balls; and share their food, water, hugs, smiles, and dreams for a better future for all God's children. They are the best ambassadors we have, and they are doing yeoman's work in assuring a brighter future here in this dusty, unforgiving land

 

ihsv,

 

Mark

Whit Embertide Wed, Fri, Sat

 Ember Days
At the Four Seasons

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast committed to the hands of men the ministry of reconciliation; We humbly beseech thee, by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, to put it into the hearts of many to offer themselves for this ministry; that thereby mankind may be drawn to thy blessed kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Isaiah lxi. 1, Acts xiii. 44   &   St. Luke iv. 16 and Homily and Prayers for Clergy and Candidates
http://www.orderofcenturions.org/documents/ember.html

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me

---

The Ember days are four groups of three days, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday set aside for fasting. They occur after the First Sunday in Lent, Pentecost, Holy Cross Day (September 14), and St. Lucy's Day (December 13). that correspond to the natural seasons of the year. The word Ember is English and is realted to the Latin for the four seasons Quatuor Temporum. Autumn brings the September, or Michaelmas, Embertide; winter, the Advent Embertide; Spring, the Lenten Embertide; and in summer, the Whit Embertide (named after Whitsunday, the Feast of Pentecost). The Embertides are periods of prayer and fasting, and having a collect and reading. Zechariah 8:19 called for four fasts a year "fast of the fourth month, and a fast of the fifth, and a fast of the seventh, and a fast of tenth" In the days of Jesus, Jews fasted on Tuesday and Thursday as Friday was the day of preparation for the Sabath. The Early Church changed this custom and fasted Wednesday because it was the day Jesus was betrayed, and Friday because it was the day he was crucified. In the West, Christians added Saturday to the fasting days in the four seasons. In 494, Gelasius I of Rome, set Ember Saturdays for ordinations at the end of the fast (see Acts 13:3)

Tuesday in Whitsun Week

Alleluai! The Spirit of the Lord fills the world *

O come let us adore him. Alleluia!

GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful God, that thy Church, being gathered together in unity by thy Holy Spirit, may manifest thy power among all peoples, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Acts viii. 14., Psalm 148, & St. John x. 1.
I am the door of the sheep

Visit the Order at www.OrderofCenturions.org

Monday in Whitsun Week

Alleluai! The Spirit of the Lord fills the world *
O come let us adore him. Alleluia!

NOTE: If you follow the custom of the ancient Church, Eastertide-Ascensiontide being completed, kneeling is appropriate during the week. Fasting and special devotion is appropriate on Wednesday and Friday weekly, and for this week in Embertide, on Saturday.

Monday in Whitsun Week

Send, we beseech thee, Almighty God, thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, that he may direct and rule us according to thy will, comfort us in all our afflictions, defend us from all error, and lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the same Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.

O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Acts x. 34 & St. John iii. 16 & Homily 
http://www.orderofcenturions.org/documents/whitsun_monday.html#readings

Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

 

Pentecost

Pentecost , commonly called Whitsunday

O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

This Collect is to be said daily throughout Whitsun Week.

We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God




Joel ii. 28, Psalm 68, Acts ii. 1. St. John xiv. 15 & Homily. http://www.orderofcenturions.org/documents/whitsunday.html 

The Chaplains

Blessed Be the Lord ... Who Trains My Arms for Battle" -- Psalm 144:1

 "The safest place for me to be is in the center of God's will, and if that is in the line of fire, that is where I will be." -- Father Tim Vakoc, Army chaplain

Commend this article by Lt. Col (Ret) Oliver North find it here http://www.townhall.com/columnists/ollienorth/on20050326.shtml

I recommend you review some of his previous articles as well. See them listed here http://www.townhall.com/columnists/ollienorth/on20050326.shtml

Colonel North has been long recognized as a Christian Warrior.

 

GERARD of Villamagna 13 May Esquire, Crusader, Hermit

GERARD of Villamagna born 1174 in Tuscany Italy. He died in 1242 and was buried in Villamagna. He served as an esquire to a knight in the crusades in Palestine and there joined the Order of St John of Jerusalem. He was received by Francis in the Order of Penance and became a hermit.

Painting of Gerard http://www.smom-za.org/images/mecatti.jpg

Next to Hugh and Ubaldesca, Gerard is held in the highest esteem by the Order of Malta. See a very complete account of his life at link after the collect.

"O God, who called blessed Gerard, like your own Son, to intense striving in the wilderness, strengthen us by penance and prayer and make us fitter for our Christian duties. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen." 

http://www.smom-za.org/smom/saints/gerard_mecatti.htm

 

Tribune of Jerusalem

Today (12 May 05) in the Chapel of the Centurions (On-line) I went to Sacred Space for the Holy Reading. It was Acts 23:6-11.

I read:
When the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force, and bring him into the barracks.

Strong's Greek lists the word as
cilivarcoß Chiliarchos (khil-ee'-ar-khos); Word Origin: Greek, Noun Masculine, Strong #: 5506
1 a chiliarch, the commander of a thousand soldiers
2 the commander of a Roman cohort (a military tribunal)
3 any military commander

This Tribune moved quickly to stop the violence that might have ended Paul's mission. We are not told that he was a God-fearing man, but he may well have been moved by God to take the action he did. Whether or not that was the case, it is clear that he performed his duties to protect a good man from assault and for that we can salute him and be thankful.

Victor of Milan - Praetorian Guard- Martyr 303

Victor Legionary of the Praetorian Guard. Became a Christian as a young man In about 303, after retirement, he was arrested in the city of Milan under the persecutions of Maximian. He was basted in molten lead, and killed for his faith. see more here http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintv28.htm

http://www.ucc.ie/milmart/Victor.html Ancient text here, fantastic sounding

Cute saint "card" here http://franciscancards.com/java.shtml?pod-5/pod5-8.jav

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who dost enkindle the name of thy love in the hearts of the Saints; Grant to us, thy humble servants, the same faith and power of love; that, as we rejoice in their triumphs, we may profit by their examples; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pachomius, Legionary, Monastic - 346 [9 May]

Pachomius -- Father of monasticism - 292 - 346 Egypt 9 May

 

Drafted, befriended Christians who treated the soldiers well, baptized after discharge. Founded the first order of monks that numbered over 7,000 and lasted for 600 years.

 

Read the entire story here http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=800

 

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast called us to faith in thee, and hast compassed us about with so great a cloud of witnesses; Grant that we, encouraged by the good examples of thy Saints, and especially of thy servant Saint Pachomius, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at length, through thy mercy, we, with them, attain to thine eternal joy; through him who is the author and finisher of our faith, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

 

Ascension Day

 Forty Days after the Resurrection

GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Daniel 7:9, Psalm 96, Acts i.1    St. Luke xxiv. 49.
http://www.orderofcenturions.org/documents/ascension.html

US Day of Prayer - 5 May 05

For US Centurions...

 

Thursday, 5 May, is the United States of America's National Day of Prayer (also Ascension Day... post to follow)

 

First, I invite you to read this excerpt I got from the Federalist from our Commander in Chief:

"Since our Nation's earliest days, prayer has given strength and comfort to Americans of all faiths. Our Founding Fathers relied on their faith to guide them as they built our democracy. Today, we continue to be inspired by God's blessings, mercy, and boundless love. As we observe this National Day of Prayer, we humbly acknowledge our reliance on the Almighty, express our gratitude for His blessings, and seek His guidance in our daily lives. Throughout our history, our Nation has turned to prayer for strength and guidance in times of challenge and uncertainty. ... Across our country, Americans turn daily to God in reverence. We ask Him to care for all those who suffer or feel helpless, knowing that God sees their needs and calls on us to meet them. As our first President wrote in 1790, 'May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths.' As we face the challenges of our times, God's purpose continues to guide us, and we continue to trust in the goodness of His plans." --President George W. Bush

Next, I bid your prayers for America, our President, your Governor and Congressmen, our service members and their leaders, the Church in America, and for peace and prosperity, families, communities, etc.

One might like to use a Litany of Prayers with special intention for America - pausing for the different verses and thinking of those things in your life that you wish to hold up in prayer. See it here http://www.orderofcenturions.org/documents/litany.html

Finally, here is the National Day of Prayer web site: http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/

"God shed His grace on thee."

Just War, As It Was and Is

Centurions

Just War, As It Was and Is

James Turner Johnson is Professor of Religion at Rutgers University

http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0501/articles/johnson.htm

 

A good history, interesting analysis of the current state of the world vis-a-vis traditional ethos of war, and the challenges we face. 

 

Long, well done.  You may also like to browse through the entire First Things Website. There appear to be many articles http://www.firstthings.com/ . The editor is The Reverend Richard John Neuhaus who, before "Crossing the Tiber" was a Missouri Synold Lutheran minister for 30 years. http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0204/articles/neuhaus.html

 

 

 

 

Rogation Sunday Sermon Site

ave centurionus:

 

Today is the first of the Rogation days and Sunday was Rogation Sunday . The collect and readings for the days are here http://www.orderofcenturions.org/documents/rogation.html.

 

I came across and excellent sermon on another forum that I commend to you that explains the name Rogation, as well as the Scriptures appointed for Rogation Sunday. The author is The Rev William Klock of the Reformed Episcopal Church. I hope to add his sermon site to our Lessons and Homilies Page directly so that you will have access to his sermons as they use the same calendar as we have on our page.

 

http://homepage.mac.com/klock/ChristChurch/sermons/050105.htm

 

Mark

 

 

   MARK CARROLL  
TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM
ORDER OF CENTURIONS
"Now when the centurion, and they that were with him,
watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done,
they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God"

The Fifth Sunday after Easter

 O LORD, from whom all good things do come; Grant to us thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that are good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Isaiah i. 10, Psalm 51, St. James i. 22, St. John xvi. 23 and Homily

http://www.orderofcenturions.org/documents/easter5.html 

Be ye doers of the Word

St. Mark 25 April

 Saint Mark the Evangelist
[25 April]

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast instructed thy holy Church with the heavenly doctrine of thy Evangelist Saint Mark; Give us grace that, being not like children carried away with every blast of vain doctrine, we may be established in the truth of thy holy Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ephesians iv. 7. St. John xv. 1 & Homily.
http://www.orderofcenturions.org/documents/st_mark.html

Abide in Me

The Fourth Sunday after Easter

O ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Ezekiel xxxix. 21, Psalm 147, St. James i. 17. St. John xvi. 5.

He will guide you into all truth

Fourth Sunday after Easter Home

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In the Gospel appointed for this fourth Sunday after Easter, Jesus told his disciples that he would go to his Father, but that it was necessary for him to do so in order that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, could come to them. Jesus calls him the Spirit of Truth, and told the disciples that the Spirit would guide them into all truth. This promise is really the foundation for the living Church. God is with us, and our assurance is that he will guide us into all truth.

What a wonderful promise this was. The disciples, feeling sorrow that Jesus was to leave, are told a mystery. God's spirit would dwell with them in the place of Jesus, and would tell them of all the things that Jesus did not have the time to tell them. On the Day of Pentecost God sent his Holy Spirit upon the apostles to be present with them specifically, and upon all members of the new Church. The Spirit taught them many new things and led the Church in its formation and practice.

The Early Church embraced this promise and witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit through gifts, miracles, and signs. They also recognized something else: Sometimes there were disagreements in "truths". Some came with their belief that Jesus was the Son of God and divine, others that he was just a regular man. Some discerned a Triune nature of God. Some that Jesus, the Spirit, and the Father were co-equal and of the same substance. Some believed that they had freedom to live in any way they chose, regardless of what the old law had said. With so many claiming that they had a new revelation that was a "truth" inspired by the Holy Spirit, the church fathers sought ways to discern the truth.

One of the early movements of the Holy Spirit was to open the Church to Gentiles. We know of this truth being revealed to Peter when he was given a vision and went to Cornelius the Centurion, and then reported this truth to his brothers in a Church council [Acts 10 & 11]. Later Paul was moved to rebuke those Christians who taught that Gentiles must undergo circumcision and other rituals of the Jews. He brought this matter to a Church council who discerned by discussions amongst themselves what the Spirit had revealed. Later in the First Ecumenical Council the Church addressed the nature of Jesus, and denied the teachings of a large group of Christians who taught that Jesus had been created by the Father. Their discernment of the truth led to the Nicene Creed that most Christians affirm.

Today the Church is divided. The last truly ecumenical council was in the Eighth Century. Since then the Church has had many different elements claiming they were led by the Spirit in a different way. It is difficult for me to imagine there are many truths, but we continue in this pattern. It is often difficult to know who is right. We know that some changes are not addressed by Scripture and represent one way of many of worshipping or organizing. However, other innovations are contradictory to both Scripture and tradition - and are rejected out-of-hand by most Christians. The words of our collect seem so appropriate to these movements for today: among the many diverse and manifold changes of the world, may our hearts be fixed on our Lord. May we look to the example of those of Berea, who searched the Scripture diligently to see if those things taught by were to be found. Let us also consider the Wisdom of tradition, the Holy Spirit working in the Church, as we consider truth and error. Even though the Church is divided, may the many different factions of the Church Militant stand together in strength against innovations that threatened our core beliefs, and may God lead us as Christian brothers in all truth.

The Reverend Mark Carroll 2005

George, Centurion , Martyr - April 23rd

A big day for England and Anglicans was always St. George Day

 

Cry God for Harry, England and Saint George!
William Shakespeare (Henry V)

There is, in fact, every reason to believe that George was a genuine martyr who suffered at Lydda before the time of Constantine. Indeed, certain accounts record his death to be in the year 307. It is written that George was an officer in the Roman army who, after giving his goods to the poor at the outbreak of persecution, confessing his Christian faith and refusing to sacrifice to the gods, suffered "terrible tortures" which lasted for seven years and was eventually beheaded. St George Day Site http://www.stgeorgesdayevents.org.uk/st_george.shtml

 

George, Centurion - April 23rd http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06453a.htm

Prayer for Benedict XVI

centurions,

 

The Cardinals have elected Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI. The Pope, who is the Bishop of Rome [ http://www.vatican.va/ ], was recognized as the first among equals in the ecumenical councils. He will lead the largest component of the Church Militant. I bid your prayer for him. You might like to use this ancient form from The Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus of Rome ca 215 AD http://www.bombaxo.com/hippolytus.html which was said by the senior bishop at the consecration of a new bishop.

 

FOR Benedict XVI

 

God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Father of mercies and God of all consolation,
you who live in the highest, but regard the lowest
you who know all things before they are,
you who gave the rules of the Church through the word of your grace,
who predestined from the beginning the race of the righteous through Abraham,
who instituted princes and priests,
and did not leave your sanctuary without a minister;
who from the beginning of the world has been pleased
to be glorified by those whom you have chosen,
pour out upon him the power which is from you, the princely Spirit,
which you gave to your beloved Son Jesus Christ,
which he gave to your holy apostles,
who founded the Church in every place as your sanctuary,
for the glory and endless praise of your name.
Grant, Father who knows the heart,
to your servant whom you chose for the episcopate [as See of Rome],

that he will feed your holy flock,
that he will wear your high priesthood without reproach,
serving night and day, incessantly making your face favorable,
and offering the gifts of your holy church;
in the spirit of high priesthood having the power to forgive sins according to your command;
to assign lots according to your command;
to loose any bond according to the authority which you gave to the apostles;
to please you in mildness and a pure heart, offering to you a sweet scent,
through your son Jesus Christ,
through whom to you be glory, power, and honor,
Father and Son,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the Holy Church,
now and throughout the ages of the ages.
Amen.

The Third Sunday after Easter - Pope John Paul ii vis-a-vis the ECUSA

The Third Sunday after Easter

ALMIGHTY God, who showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's Religion, that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

1 Samuel ii. 1b, Psalm 113, 1 St. Peter ii. 11. St. John xvi. 16.

the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed
[1 Sam ii]

Easter Three Home

Pope John II was buried this week, and there was an outpouring across the world of praise and admiration for the leadership he had provided to the Roman Catholic Church and his example in the Christian world. Four-million people gathered in Rome at John Paul's funeral. John Paul II's reign as head of the Roman Church will be remembered in history as remarkable. Why was this? Each will remember him for different things; for me it was because he was strong in the faith and did not let pressures of a humanistic and secular world-vision rule his words and actions. He looked to God, the Scriptures, and tradition for his guidance and through love conveyed the ancient truths to his generation in a way that helped to strengthen the entire Church Militant and free millions of Europeans from the tyranny of atheistic Communist rule. The world weighed his actions by God's word, and found him to be a faithful servant of his Master and true minister to his flock. The words of the prophet Samuel from our Old Testament reading echo in our ears this day, the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed

Ironically, this week in the Anglican Communion we see quite a different picture, but one that is based on the same principle of weighing actions against the Word of the Lord. This week the Episcopal Church of the USA (ECUSA) withdrew its representatives from the Anglican Consultative Council at the request of the primates of the Anglican Communion. Why? It was because the ECUSA had consecrated a practicing homosexual to the episcopacy, and had authorized serivces of the blessing of same-sex unions. The primates found that these actions not only were contrary to the clear word of Scripture, they violated a specific pronouncement of the primates meeting at Lambeth in 1998 that homosexual lifestyles were incompatible with Scripture. As late as 2002, the Presiding Bishop of the ECUSA had assured his fellow primates that the ECUSA would respect this strongly-held precept of the Communion. The actions of the ECUSA broke trust in the Communion. The primates, perhaps considering the words of Samuel, weighed the actions of the ECUSA against the Word of the Lord and found it to be wanting. So much so that many refused to take communion with the Presiding Bishop of the ECUSA when the primates met in Ireland in February 2004. They have in effect excommunicated those Anglicans who were involved in these innovations. The primates further asked that bishops, who participated in or voted for the consecration, relieve themselves from Anglican Communion meetings. Finally, they asked the ECUSA to place a moratorium on same-sex blessings and consecrations of homosexual bishops, withdraw its voting members from the Anglican Consultative Council, and to present before that council a Scriptural justification for their actions. These are not mere requests; failure by the ECUSA to respond positively could result in a formal expulsion from the Anglican Communion.

These seemingly disparate events this week are linked at the deepest level by the simple but profound precept of orthodox Christianity -- the relevancy, truth, and authority of Scripture. The world weighed John Paul's leadership and actions and found a man who endeavored to live the Gospel and measured his own leadership against the Word of God and traditions of the Church. The world assessed the ECUSA and found it had violated trust among the brethren and ignored the Word of the Lord.

The words of today's collect are as appropriate for our times as they were when recorded in the Prayer Book in the 16th century. A fellow centurion this week reminded me that we have a duty to do; we should pray that God show those who are in error the light of his truth, with the intent that they may return to righteousness. May he help us, and all Christians, to avoid those things that are contrary to the profession of our common faith; and finally, may we follow the leading of his Holy Spirit and Word in all such things as are agreeable to Christianity. It is my hope that centurions will pray this collect throughout the week, being mindful of recent events and our need for God's Grace Amen

The Reverend Mark Carroll 2005

Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart

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