Sunday next before Advent

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

The Sunday next before Advent

STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jeremiah xxiii. 5   Psalm 146, 147 | 148,149,150 &  St. John vi. 1

Homily

 

Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

 

BULLETIN

quotation

 

Turning from you, I dared to seek something that seemed to me to be more intellectual than faith, more certain than hope, and sweeter than love. Who is more foolish than me... [attributed to Augustine]

 

 

calendar

 

Mercurius of Caesarea in Cappadocia - November 25th

Andrew the Apostle -- November 30th

 

commentary

 

On the appointed psalm, homily at the link

 

But they who say, None save God sanctifieth, nor is any man good save by the gift of God; they bless in the name of the Lord, not in their own name: because they are the friends of the bridegroom, they refuse to be adulterers of the bride.

 

I am reminded of  the of the exchange of the peace in the Eucharist where the traditional salutation is not what one would find at a football game or cocktail party, but rather a blessing in the form of a greeting between churchmen such as " The Peace of the Lord be with you",  or  "God's Peace", or " Shalom", and a sign of God's Peace such as the kiss or an embrace. The same was true in ancient Israel; compare Ruth ii. 4&5 where Boaz greets his workers with a blessing in the LORD's name, and his workers respond with, "The Lord bless you."

 

--
"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" [St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans 14:19]

IN HOC SIGNO VINCES - TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM
www.OrderofCenturions.org

What was the Council of Nicaea all about?

Centurions,
I've just added YouTube posting capability to the Order's Forum. We begin with a lesson on the Council of Nicea I to begin.
msc

The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity

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

 

The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity
Augustine on Psalm 129

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.

Source: Sacramentary of Bishop Leo of Rome [461] and of Gregory. Traditionally said the Sunday week before the penitential season of Advent, It begs God for absolution. Today's Gospel echos this theme as the woman was released from her bands of infirmity through faith [Barbee and Zahl]

Malachi iii. 13, Psalm 129, 130, 131 | 144, 145, Colossians i. 3   &  St. Matthew ix. 18
Homilies

Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole

 

See the lessons, hymns, more prayers, and homily at these links

 

BULLETIN

 

 

quotation

 

Indeed for us murder is forbidden once and for all, so it is not permitted even to destroy what is conceived in the womb. To prohibit the birth of a child is only a faster way to murder; it makes little difference whether one destroys a life already born or prevents it from coming to birth. It is a human being, who is to be a human being, for the whole fruit is already present in the seed.

[Tertullian Apologeticum ch. 9, 8, translated by Glover and www.Tertullian.org]

 

 

calendar

Edmund, King and Martyr November 20th

C.S. Lewis, Lieutenant (GB), Apologist - November 22nd

 

Thanksgiving Day
US and Territories

news

A centurion sent me a file on the Government of Rome , although I cannot place his name or locate his email now, we thank him for this contribution. I've posted the survey prepared by a university professor to the Order's site for limited individual use and have linked it to "Articles" on our links page. Very interesting.

 

commentary

 

Psalm 129 is addressed this day by Augustine in the homily selected for this day. I was lifted up in reading his exegesis and exhortations. Sometimes the bottom line is the best, and so I considered this one.

 

But they who say, None save God sanctifieth, nor is any man good save by the gift of God; they bless in the name of the Lord, not in their own name: because they are the friends of the bridegroom, they refuse to be adulterers of the bride.

 

I am reminded of one of the customs that I learned through my Church, which has come down from the time before Augustine, and that is the exchange of the peace in the Eucharist where the proper salutation is not what one would find at a football game or cocktail party, but rather a blessing in the form of a salutation between churchmen such as " The Peace of the Lord be with you",  or  "God's Peace", or " Shalom", and a sign of God's Peace such as the kiss of peace. C ompare Ruth ii. 4&5 where Boaz greets his workers with a blessing in the LORD's name, and his workers respond with, "The Lord bless you."

 

 

bidding

 

For our centurions in harms way: for Mike, Bryon, Lehman, Doug, Christopher, George, ( and others in your heart)…..

 

Salve

msc

--
"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" [St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans 14:19]

IN HOC SIGNO VINCES - TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM
www.OrderofCenturions.org

--
"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" [St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans 14:19]

IN HOC SIGNO VINCES - TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM
www.OrderofCenturions.org

Veterans & Remembrance Sunday

 

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

Veterans & Remembrance Day Sunday

 

O God, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all godliness; Be ready, we beseech thee, to hear the devout prayers of thy Church; and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

  

O 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

  

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.

 

 

How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

At Matins: Psalm CXLIV & 2Sam i. 19 ;
The Litany;
At the Eucharist: Ecclus. xliv. 1., Psalm XCI, and John xv. 12
BULLETIN

 

 

quotation

 

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation"

[General George Washington]

 

 

Calendar

Martin of Tours - November 11th

Mennas, Legionary & Martyr November 11th

Remembrance-Veterans Day - and Lt. Col John McCrae - November 11th

 

commentary

 

We break from our study Psalms for this special Sunday to ponder the Gospel account of Luke, where Jesus said, " Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends " Augustine considers this scripture from the point of view of the martyr's who had fallen for the sake of Christ and his Church Militant. Only some 80 years or so before Christians were yet being thrown to the lions for holding to the faith, when a simple sacrifice to Caesar and turning in their friends to the pagans would have gained their freedom. We note that in his homily he speaks of the tradition of praying for saints that had fallen asleep – as does the third collect presented this day, Grant to them thy mercy and the light of thy presence, that the good work which thou hast begun in them may be perfected… In the coming days let us keep in mind our veterans whose very service calls for them to  be ready to lay down their lives for their fellow citizens freedoms and in support of their sovereign nations.

 

bidding

 

I invite you personally to pause for a moment this day, and to remember your ancestors and others close to you who have served faithfully under arms for us. Speak their names, and they shall not be forgotten. Pray for the safe return for those who serve in harms way this day.  

Salve

msc

The Twenty Second Sunday after Trinity

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

The Twenty Second Sunday after Trinity   

Augustine on Psalm 123

LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in good works, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Sacramentary of Bishop Gregory of Rome [604 AD] The Latin used the word familia, which points to the traditional Roman family that was the basic and most important element of society. It included all in the household, inlcuding slaves, and was headed by the pater familias who was responsible for the welfare of all. This concept of the household is the basis of the Gospel story today. As the Chruch is the bride of Christ, the son of God, we are of his family, and he is that Father of the family

Numbers xx. 14, Psalm: 123, 124, 125, 136, 138;   Philippians i. 3   &  St. Matthew xviii. 21
Homily of Augustine

shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant

---

 

 

BULLETIN

 

 

quotation

 

Ask gladly and heed humbly the sayings of saints, and do not disdain the parables of the ancient fathers, for they were not spoken without great cause

[Thomas á Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, ch. v]

 

Calendar

Joannicus, Legionary, Religious Member, November 4th

Julius - Centurion of the Augustan Cohort - November 8th

news

 

Next week Remembrance-Veterans Day falls on Sunday. We encourage the churches in countries where these days are remembered to include prayers, hymns, psalms, Scripture, and an homily that honors our fallen dead. I hope to send forth a suggested program directly. I have received a letter from Robert of New Jersey concerning veterans in his family, including the Great War, parts of which I hope to share with you next week.

 

commentary

 

If you have never read the historical and geographical analysis of the story in Acts of Centurion Julius, who delivered Paul to Rome, I highly recommend it at the link above. He was not a Christian that we know of, but was certainly Paul's protector according to God's will.

 

Thomas a Kempis is quoted above this week with advice that we take very seriously in the Order of Centurions. I highly commend the Imitation of Christ for your reading list. Other than the Bible, it is probably the most widely read religious book in the world -- "humility and peace"

 

Augustine continues with the theme of ascent in his examination of Psalm 123. I chuckled when I came to this line which our Navy and Marine folk should appreciate: And if thou gavest him a vessel to pilot, he would be shipwrecked with it: yet he wishes to deprive God of the government of this world, and himself to hold the helm of Creation… This is characteristic of Augustine who gave all the glory to God. Can you think of any examples in our day of those who have pretended to take the "helm of Creation" from the hand of  Almighty God? See it all at the link above. 

 

Here is a short piece from Edward Pusey, Church of England (ca 1854) concerning the work of Augustine of Hippo on the psalms, which is our focus for the next three years or so:

 

  His mystical and allegorical interpretation, in spite of occasional

   mistakes, which belong rather to the translation than to himself, will

   be found in general of great value. It is to a considerable extent

   systematic, and the same interpretation of the same symbols is repeated

   throughout the work, and is indeed often common to him with other

   Fathers. The "feet" taken for the affections, "clouds" for the

   Apostles, and many other instances, are of very frequent occurrence.

   And it is evident that a few such general interpretations must be a

   great help to those who wish to make an allegorical use of those

   portions of Holy Scripture which are adapted for it. Nor are they

   adhered to with such strictness as to deprive the reader of the benefit

   of other explanations, where it appears that some other metaphor or

   allegory was intended. Both St. Augustin and St. Gregory acknowledge,

   and at times impress on their readers, that metaphorical language is

   used in Holy Scripture with various meanings under the same symbol…

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

msc

--
"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" [St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans 14:19]

IN HOC SIGNO VINCES - TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM
www.OrderofCenturions.org