Pentecost Sunday

Pentecost
commonly called Whitsunday
Homily of Augustin on the Gospel

News of the Order and commentary appear after the Proper Collect, Epistle and Gospel

 

 

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.

Joel ii. 28, Psalm 68, Acts ii. 1. St. John xiv. 15.
Homily of Augustin on John

 

calendar

 

Julius, Soldier, Martyr - May 27th

Memorial for Fallen Veterans
Last Monday in May or other day according to local custom

Major Audie Murphy - Christian Hero of WWII 1971 [May 28]

Whitsun Ember Days
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday

Joan of Arc, Martyr - May 30th

 

 

Monday marks Memorial Day in the US. There is a link above with scriptures and the poem of a centurion , Lt. Col. John McCrae of Canada, who wrote before he fell, "In Flander Fields the poppies blow..." This Whitsun Eve as I write these words I wear a poppy, a gift today from a member of a local Veterans of Foreign Wars post. I bid your prayers for the families of those we have lost fallen warriors in these latter days, and offer thanksgiving for the service of our fallen brethren. I encourage you to support local Memorial Day events in your community - as a sign and service.

 

A fellow centurion alerted me to a special site that reports on websites allowed to be shown on computers behind the "Great Firewall of China." It would appear that the Order's site did not pass through the firewall from my test this week; however, it was in China that another brother found the Order and joined us over two years ago. http://www.greatfirewallofchina.org/

 

 

commentary

 

This Sunday is the Day of Pentecost. It is one of the traditional Jewish feasts that has been carried over into the Church of Christ with a new and added meaning. Known as the festival of weeks (seven weeks), it was one of the three great feasts of the Jewish Church, coming at about the time of the first wheat harvest, upon which all males in Israel were to present themselves at the Temple with an offering. It likewise is one of the three major feasts of the Christian Church when all Christians were and in some churches, are, to present themselves at Church to receive Holy Communion. In England, and now in countries colonized by England, it is known by the name of Whitsunday. Those who had been baptized on the Vigil of Easter, 50 days before, would wear their white tunics to this Feast, as would others in remembrance of their baptism.  It is yet a good day for us to remember to wear white!

 

The Homily for this Sunday is from Augustin of Hippo. He preaches on the Day of Pentecost, and emphasizes that it was only by the action of the Holy Spirit leading and touching the hearts of men that they could call on Jesus as Lord, only by the power of the Holy Ghost that they could begin to obey the commandments, and only by the Holy Ghost leading them, that they might receive him fuller according to the measure of faith they had received from the One Spirit. This is the catholic faith. At the time that Augustine was writing this homily, he was fighting also against the heresy of the monk Pelagius, who argued that there was no original sin, and that all men were fully capable of their own works to earn their salvation, to follow perfectly the commandments. This catholic faith was codified in the  Canons of the Council of Orange in the sixth century. 

 

In today's homily Augustine wrote, "We are therefore to understand that he who loves has already the Holy Spirit, and by what he has becomes worthy of a fuller possession, that by having the more he may love the more."

 

May God pour his Spirit more and more upon the brothers of the Order, and may they more and more follow our Commander through obedience to his commandments in spirit and in truth.

 

pax Christi,

 

msc

Sunday after Ascension

Alleluia, Christ the Lord ascendeth into heaven - O come, let us adore him, Alleluia

 

Jesus is risen from the dead. Alleluia.

Jesus is exalted to the Father's right hand. Alleluia.

Jesus has transformed and remade heaven. Alleluia.
The Father sends the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, in Jesus' Name. Alleluia.

Jesus will come to judge the living and the dead at the end of the age. Alleluia 

 

Sunday After Ascension Day

News of the Order and commentary appear after the Proper Collect, Epistle and Gospel

O GOD, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven; We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless; but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Source: Archbishop Cranmer [1549 AD]. The collect is based on the anthem that was sung on Ascension Day at Vespers "O King of Glory, Lord of Hosts, who today didst ascend in triumph far above all heavens, who did not leave us orphans..." and John xiv "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you " [Barbee and Zahl]

Isaiah lxv. 17, 1 St. Peter iv. 7  St. John xv. 26

Second Sermon of Leo on the Ascension

Sermon LXXIV.

 

BULLETIN

 

calendar  

Constantine, Emperor - May 22nd

Today marks Armed Forces Day in the United States. We salute those members of the Order who are on the rolls of their nation's military, Active, Reserve, and Retired and those who serve our Military Forces in civilian roles, and especially those deployed in harms way.

 

 

commentary

 

This Sunday we are in the midst of a church season of only 10 days: Ascensiontide. I recommend this article from Dr. Peter Toon on this traditional season that has been forgotten by most of the church since the 60s and 70s. http://pbs1928.blogspot.com/2007/05/ascensiontide-precious-season-of-10.html

 

The Homily for this Sunday is from Leo the Great, his second on the Ascension featured for the first time on the Order's site. One will not find a more orthodox sermon: an extract: read it all at the link above:

 

In order, therefore, dearly-beloved, that we may be capable of this blessedness, when all things were fulfilled which concerned the Gospel preaching and the mysteries of the New Testament, our Lord Jesus Christ, on the fortieth day after the Resurrection in the presence of the disciples, was raised into heaven, and terminated His presence with us in the body, to abide on the Father's right hand until the times Divinely fore-ordained for multiplying the sons of the Church are accomplished, and He comes to judge the living and the dead in the same flesh in which He ascended. And so that which till then was visible of our Redeemer was changed into a sacramental presence , and that faith might be more excellent and stronger, sight gave way to doctrine, the authority of which was to be accepted by believing hearts enlightened with rays from above.

 

Canticle of the Three Children

 

       BLESSED art thou, O Lord God of our fathers; * praised and exalted above all for ever.
    Blessed art thou for the Name of thy Majesty; * praised and exalted above all for ever.
    Blessed art thou in the temple of thy holiness; * Praised and exalted above all for ever.
    Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, and dwellest between the Cherubim: * praised and exalted above all for ever.
    Blessed art thou on the glorious throne of thy Kingdom: * praised and exalted above all for ever.
    Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: * praised and exalted above all for ever.

 

 

Ascension Day

 

Ascension Day
Forty Days after the Resurrection
First Homily of Leo
Ascension Home

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.

Homily of Leo on the Ascension

Rogation Days

 

The Rogation Days
Being the Three Days before Ascension Day

ALMIGHTY God, Lord of heaven and earth; We beseech thee to pour forth thy blessing upon this land, and to give us a fruitful season; that we, constantly receiving thy bounty, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Table of Lessons for Morning and Evening Prayer Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
At Holy Commuion
Ezekiel xxxiv. 25   &   St. Luke xi. 5
Homilies

and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD,

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"Rogation" comes from the Latin rogare, "to ask" (petition earnestly). Rogation Sunday has for the Gospel the verse: "Ask and ye shall receive". Ancient Rogation days are observed on the three days before Ascension Day. The Rogation days began in 470 under Bishop Mamertus of Vienne in response to a series of natural calamities. Later the prayers were for bountiful crops and the good work of farmers. On these days the priest might bless crops. Nowadays prayers may be for other occupations with a recommitment to their labors Rogation days may be used anytime where there is a specific need for earnest prayer -- as that was its original use in 470. A modern custom has been to focus prayers and actions toward charity to help feed poor folk.

Rogation Sunday

The Fifth Sunday after Easter
Rogation Sunday Home

Calendar and commentary appear after the Proper Collect, Epistle and Gospel

 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.

Source: Sacramentary of Gelasius [ca 464 AD]. The collect refers to James 1:17 which is appointed for the 4th Sunday after Easter. Known as Rogation Sunday for the Latin "Rogare" means to ask, (earnestly petition), and the Gospel says, "ask, and ye shall receive." The three days following this Sunday are Rogation Days with prayer and fasting good crops and industry. This Sunday in latter times was also when folk in England would go out in procession around the parish boundaries and pray for protection.

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

Homily of Chrysostom on the Gospel

Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask My Father in My Name."

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BULLETIN

calendar

 

Gerald of Villamagna, Crusader, Hermit - May 13th

 

Rogaton Days

Acacius - May 20th

 

commentary

 

This Sunday I've added an extract of an homily of Chrysostom to our site on the appointed Gospel (John xvi. 23ff). His exhortation for action will warm the heart of any Christian warrior today as in did in 400AD. He writes:

 

But it is permitted to us also to conquer, looking to the Author of our faith, and walking on that road which He cut for us. So neither shall death get the mastery of us. "What then, shall we not die?" saith some one. Why, from this very thing it is clear that he shall not gain the mastery over us. The champion truly will then be glorious, not when he hath not closed with his opponent, but when having closed he is not holden by him. We therefore are not mortal, because of our struggle with death, but immortal, because of our victory; then should we have been mortal, had we remained with him always. As then I should not call the longest-lived animals immortal, although they long remain free from death, so neither him who shall rise after death mortal, because he is dissolved by death. For, tell me, if a man blush a little, should we say that he was continually ruddy? Not so, for the action is not a habit. If one become pale, should we call him jaundiced? No, for the affection is but temporary. And so you would not call him mortal, who hath been for but a short time in the hands of death. Since in this way we may speak of those who sleep, for they are dead, so to say, and without action. But doth death corrupt our bodies? What of that? It is not that they may remain in corruption, but that they be made better. Let us then conquer the world, let us run to immortality, let us follow our King, let us too set up a trophy, let us despise the world's pleasures. We need no toil to do so; let us transfer our souls to heaven, and all the world is conquered. If thou desirest it not, it is conquered; if thou deride it, it is worsted

 

I commend the entire homily extract  here Homily of Chrysostom on the Gospel

 

Fourth Sunday after Easter

The Fourth Sunday after Easter

News of the Order and commentary appear after the Proper Collect, Epistle and Gospel

 

ALMIGHTY God, which dost make the minds of all faithful men to be of one will; 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.

Source of Collect: Sacramentary of Gelasius [ca 494 AD].

Ezekiel xxxix. 21, Psalm 147, St. James i. 17. St. John xvi. 5.
Homilies

Fix your heart on Jesus

 

WEEKLY BULLETIN

 

calendar

 

Angelia Maria Tam - May 6th

Victor of Milan - May 8th

Pachomius, Monk - May 9th [346]

Ischios, Magistrus, Martyr -- May 10th [286-305]

 

news

 

Tony of Nigeria sent greetings and photos of the work with orphans under the cohort  ST ANTHONY OF PUDUA Cohort of Nigeria and Tanzania Province

 

 

commentary

 

This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday after Easter. Our collect is ancient, and it puts us in mind that the Early Church recognized and affirmed God's mighty hand in ruling his church, his elect, and guiding them toward the great truths. It reminds me of another prayer that says, "O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed…" God is with his elect and his voice speaks to us. As the collect and our Gospel says, may we fix our hearts on his will.

 

The Homily for this Sunday is from Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church. It is newly published on our site. We are reminded that it is through the Holy Spirit, residing in the elect, that God makes his will know to the sheep of his flock. The Spirit opens the Gospel to our hearts and guides us day-by-day in its application. Augustine makes a strong catholic defense of the Trinity, so that none of his flock misunderstood Jesus' words.