CENTURIONS FORUM: 12/01/2007

2007/12/29

The First Sunday after Christmas

Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

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

The First Sunday after Christmas
Homily of St. Augustine on Psalm II

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Galatians iv. 1, Psalm II, VIII | LXXXIX & St. Matthew i. 18

Homily

Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife:
for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost

BULLETIN

membership

quotation

In conformity with these landmarks in the human and Christian vision of marriage, we must once again declare that the direct interruption of the generative process already begun, and, above all, directly willed and procured abortion, even if for therapeutic reasons, are to be absolutely excluded as licit means of regulating birth.

[Paul VI, Bishop of Rome, written 40 years ago]

calendar

The Circumcision of our Lord JESUS CHRIST - January 1st

Sacramentum of the Order - January 3rd

Theagenes, Legionary of Parium - January 3rd

Gordias, Centurion, Martyr, -- 3 Jan [307-324]

Commentary

This week marks the beginning of the New Year with the Feast of the Circumcision. Last week I baptized an infant and reminded the witnesses of the Circumcision on the 8^th day following birth, which marked Jesus as a member of the Assembly of Israel and a rightful beneficiary of the Covenant that God made with Abraham. No less are the children of faithful members of Christ's Church rightful inheritors of the Covenant of Grace. Our membership is not by virtue of any innovative "covenant" that a church has invented for candidates in these latter days, but by and through confession of the faith once delivered to the saints and the promise of Jesus.

Augustine's homily this week is on Psalm 2. In previous weeks, we have seen how he examines the psalms from a post-Resurrection perspective, reading Christ into passages. Psalm Two virtually cries out for this approach as it ends:

"Kiss the Son… Blessed are all they that put their trust in him."

I thought that the following paragraph in his homily was especially significant to the Order, as it touches on our motto, and somewhat of how "fear" is understood by so many misinformed folk today.

9. "Serve the Lord with fear;" lest what is said, "Ye kings and judges of the earth," turn into pride: "And rejoice with trembling" (ver. 11). Very excellently is "rejoice" added, lest "serve the Lord with fear" should seem to tend to misery. But again, lest this same rejoicing should run on to unrestrained inconsiderateness, there is added "with trembling," that it might avail for a warning, and for the careful guarding of holiness. It can also be taken thus, "And now ye kings understand;" that is, And now that I am set as King, be ye not sad, kings of the earth, as if your excellency were taken from you, but rather "understand and be instructed." For it is expedient for you, that ye should be under Him, by whom understanding and instruction are given you. And this is expedient for you, that ye lord it not with rashness, but that ye "serve the Lord" of all "with fear," and "rejoice" in bliss most sure and most pure, with all caution and carefulness, lest ye fall therefrom into pride.

 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Α ☧ Ω
Order of Centurions

2007/12/27

Fwd: Centurio Epistula A Christmas Story from an old Veteran/POW

Centurions:

I like to feature latter-day centurions. It meets our dedication statement that has been on the front page since the inception of the Order

Dedicated to Cornelius of Caesarea, the Centurion of Capernaum, the Centurion at Calvary and the host of Christian soldiers in the Church Expectant and Church Militant

Here is a Christmas story that I'd never seen before. The author who lived it sends Christmas and seasonal greetings along with his story.

In reading this, I was reminded of a similar story from the early church....

Quo Vadis— "When Vinitius first met Ligia, she drew something on the sand—and ran away. A fish!"

My Christmas Story

As a POW, my captors would tie my arms behind my back and then loop the rope around my neck and ankles so that my head was pulled down between my knees. I was often left like that throughout the night.

One night a guard came into my cell. He put his finger to his lips signaling for me to be quiet, and then loosened my ropes to relieve my pain. The next morning, when his shift ended, the guard returned and retightened the ropes, never saying a word to me.

A month or so later, on Christmas Day, I was standing in the dirt courtyard when I saw that same guard approach me. He walked up and stood silently next to me, not looking or smiling at me.

After a few moments had passed, he rather nonchalantly used his sandaled foot to draw a cross in the dirt. We stood wordlessly looking at the cross, remembering the true light of Christmas, even in the darkness of a Vietnamese prison camp. After a minute or two, he rubbed it out and walked away.

That guard was my Good Samaritan. I will never forget that man and I will never forget that moment. And I will never forget that, no matter where you are, no matter how difficult the circumstances, there will always be someone who will pick you up and carry you.

May you and your family have a blessed Christmas and Happy Holidays,

John McCain

ihsv

.. The centurion, and they that were with him... feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.... Mt 27:54
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2007/12/25

The Nativity of our Lord

Alleluia. Unto us a child is born, * O come, let us adore him. Alleluia

Commentary appears after the Proper Collect, Epistle and Gospel

The Nativity of our Lord
or the Birthday of Christ, commonly called Christmas Day
[December 25]
Augustine on John i. and Psalm CXXI

Source: Archbishop Cranmer [1549AD]. Cranmer highlights the gracious gift by the Father of Jesus to the world and our baptism and adoption that brings the comfort of the Holy Ghost.

Hebrews i. 1, Psalm CXXI, & St. John i. 1
Homily of Augustine on John i. 1ff, and Psalm CXXI

Jesus is the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world

Commentary

The True Light

Greetings All, and Merry Christmas from Legio Christi.

On Christmas we remember the birth of our Savior. We adore our Lord Jesus, God incarnate, who brought the True Light into the world.

The homily for this day is from Augustine and appears on the Order's site for the first time. It is on John i. 1ff, and Psalm CXXI which was sung on the day that Augustine preached the homily. Augustine exalts the True Light, and exhorts his listeners to beware of the heretics of his day. He writes What then, brethren? why have I said these things? Shut the ears of your hearts against the wiles of the enemy.

Good advice which I commend to you this day. I have recently read comments, some from amongst members of this Order, concerning those who pretend to have some "light" to enlighten men that is different, or more, than what God has given to us plainly the canonical Scripture. The claim to special or hidden knowledge is the heresy of Gnosticism and is ancient from Greek culture. It was refuted in the 2nd and 3rd Century, but emerges in every age, and even amongst some who have associated with the Order, I fear. The very Gospel which we read today, of John i, was used to justify the early Gnostic claims of those who claimed to be Christian, so that they could transcend evil of this world through the acquisition of some esoteric spiritual knowledge - heresy!

Of late, others have claimed that different paths, different religions, are valid unto Salvation, including leaders of some major dominations in my country. Peter, full of the Holy Ghost, refuted this heresy saying, " Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

All things necessary for Salvation are given to us in the Scripture* Saving knowledge and belief is perhaps best summarized in John iii. 16: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." There is no other born of woman who merits our worship or to whom we should come in adoration. There is no other doctrine, than that which is plainly given to us in the Scriptures, which will save us. There is but one way to the Father, and that is through the Son. O come, let us adore him.

Salve.

Alleluia. Unto us a child is born, * O come, let us adore him. Alleluia
--
* Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation:

Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation, Article VI, Article of Faith, Church of England

"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

2007/12/22

Fourth Sunday in Advent

Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

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

The Fourth Sunday in Advent
Augustine on Psalm XCVIII

O LORD, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

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

Source: Bishop Gelasius of Rome Sacramentary [464 AD]. The 1662 edition added the "running the race that is before us" "Succor" is to run to help, while "sore let" is to thwart, hinder

Philippians iv. 4, Psalms 98, 99 | 101, 103 & St. John i. 19.

Homily of Augustine on Psalm XCVIII

I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord,

BULLETIN

quotation

…by that advent of the Saviour which He accomplished in His state of humiliation, when He assumed the form of a servant, that more celebrated and renowned second advent in the glory of His Father may not be pointed out … when in the kingdom of heaven all the saints shall live according to the laws of the everlasting Gospel; and as in His coming now He fulfilled that law which has a shadow of good things to come, so also by that (future) glorious advent will be fulfilled and brought to perfection the shadows of the present advent. For thus spake the prophet regarding it: "The breath of our countenance, Christ the Lord, to whom we said, that under Thy shadow we shall live among the nations; " at the time, viz., when He will more worthily transfer all the saints from a temporal to an everlasting Gospel, according to the designation, employed by John in the Apocalypse, of "an everlasting Gospel."

[Origen Adamantinus -- Origen de Principiis, Book IV, 25]

calendar

Eve of the Nativity - December 24th

Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ - December 25th

Stephen, Deacon and Martyr -- December 26th

John, Apostle and Evangelist -- December 27th

The Holy Innocents -- December 28th
see note on prayer vigil for this day

commentary

Augustine comments on Psalm 98 in the homily for this Sunday. He speaks of gift of healing to those in Christ, and that it first occurs in the inward man, and then in outward conduct.

For many are healed for themselves, not for Him. Behold how many long for that bodily health, and receive it from Him: they are healed by Him, but not for Him. How are they healed by Him, and not for Him? When they have received health, they become wanton: they who when sick were chaste, when cured become adulterers: they who when in illness injured no man, on the recovery of their strength attack and crush the innocent: they are healed, but not unto Him. Who is he who is healed unto Him? He who is healed inwardly. Who is he that is healed inwardly? He who trusteth in Him, that when he shall have been healed inwardly, reformed into a new man, afterwards this mortal flesh too, which doth languish for a time, may in the end itself even recover its most perfect health. Let us therefore be healed for Him. But that we may be healed for Him, let us believe in His right hand [i.e., JESUS, the right hand of God].

Augustine continues by speaking of the discipline of the Lord, like a hammer, and exhorting his listeners to reform themselves before the Second Coming.

We hope to publish homilies collects and lessons for the Eve of the Nativity, the Nativity and Holy Days next week.

Α ☧ Ω

ihsv

--
"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

2007/12/15

The Third Sunday in Advent, MMVII

Grace unto you, and Peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

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

The Third Sunday in Advent
Augustine on Psalm LII

LORD, we beseech thee, give ear to our prayers, and by thy gracious visitation lighten the darkness of our heart, by our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

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

Source: 1549 Prayer Book. This collect is from the Middle Ages.

Isaiah 35, Psalms 52, 53 | 93, 94 , 1 Corinthians iv. 1 & St. Matthew xi. 2

Homily of Augustine on Psalm LII

Andrea del Sarto, 'John the Baptist', c. 1528

Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee

BULLETIN

Quotation

"I'm afraid I hate the weeks just before Christmas, and so much of the (very commericalised and vulgarized) fuss has nothing to do with the Nativity at all. I wish we didn't live in a world where buying and selling things (especially selling) seems to have become almost more important than either producing or using them."

[Letters to an American Lady, December 19, 1955]

calendar

60 Martyrs of Gaza - December 17th

Thomas the Apostle -- December 21st

news

I came across this book recently: Augustine of Hippo, Sermons to the People Advent Christmas, New Year, Epiphany . At the link you'll see the modern tone of the translation, and quite an entertaining Sermon extract on Advent. Those ministers who have had members of their congregation fall asleep, or absent themselves on a Sunday to watch a football game, will appreciate the beginning of this lesson.

commentary

I thought the quotation from C.S. Lewis above was timely. Let us keep the traditional meaning of Advent and Christmas in our minds and hearts. We can best do that in this season of Advent through daily devotional readings, prayer, and contemplation on the gravity of the significance of God's Advent in the world, incarnate in his Son Jesus of Nazareth; and of his promised Second Coming.

The Psalm appointed for this week's lesson is 52. It is David's song against Doeg, the Edomite. I suggest a preparatory reading of 1 Sam 22, with special attention to verses 9 &17-18. Augustine writes of verse 7:

"And the just shall see, and shall fear; and over him they shall laugh" (ver. 7). Shall fear when? Shall laugh when? Let us therefore understand, and make a distinction between those two times of fearing and laughing, which have their several uses. For so long as we are in this world, not yet must we laugh, lest hereafter we mourn. We have read what is reserved at the end for this Doeg, we have read and because we understand and believe, we see but fear. This, therefore, hath been said, "The just shall see, and shall fear." So long as we see what will result at the end to evil men, wherefore do we fear? Because the Apostle hath said, "In fear and trembling work out your own salvation:" because it hath been said in a Psalm, "Serve the Lord in fear, and exult unto Him with trembling." Wherefore "with fear"? "Wherefore let him that thinketh himself to stand, see that he fall not." Wherefore "with trembling"? Because he saith in another place: "Brethren, if a man shall have been overtaken in any delinquency, ye that are spiritual instruct such sort in the spirit of gentleness; heeding thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Therefore, the just that are now, that live of faith, so see this Doeg, what to him is to result, that nevertheless they fear also for themselves: for what they are to-day, they know; what to-morrow they are to be, they know not

Finis

salvere iubeo

Α ☧Ω

ihsv

2007/12/08

Second Sunday after Advent

The Second Sunday in Advent
Augustin on Psalm LXXX
Advent Two Home

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

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

Source (1st Collect): Archbishop Thomas Cranmer [1549 AD]. The emphasis on Scripture is enunciated here. To understand Cranmer and his desire to encourage Bible reading, read the Preface to the Cranmer Bible and the Preface to the 1549 Prayer Book. [Barbee and Zahl] Cranmer proposed continuous reading of the Scriptures - "lectio continua". Archbishop John Chrysostom, among other early doctors, was an advocate and practicioner of lectio continua.

Isaiah 55, Psalms 80, 82 | 25, 26 Romans xv. 4 St. Luke xxi. 25

Homily

then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory

BULLETIN

quotation

All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to "unveil" the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.

[ RC Catechism 3 2116]

Compare Isaiah 47:13-14, Deuteronomy 4:19, Daniel 2:27-28

Earlier this week I was referred to an article in the Living Church. It told of a parish in Seattle that is conducting an Advent program on the benefits of Astrology. The organizer said, "Just as the Magi followed a star to find Jesus, we can look to the stars for help in discerning 'Spirit's' plan for us." The question in my mind is, "what spirit"? "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches"

calendar

George S. Patton, III - December 9th

news

A centurion recently alerted the Order to this 60 Minutes coverage of the plight of Christians in Iraq. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/29/60minutes/main3553612.shtml

A centurion commneded this site on the Golden Compass. to be smart, sane, sober, & sound (& not panicky). http://www.crosswalk.com/pastors/11561090/

commentary

This week Augustine preaches on Psalm 81. Verse 4 says, "O Lord God of virtues, how long wilt Thou be angry with the prayer of Thy servant?" and Augustine explains, " Thou hast converted us, we know Thee, and wilt Thou still be angry with the prayer of Thy servant? Thou wilt evidently be angry, in fact, as a father correcting, not as a judge condemning. In such manner evidently Thou wilt be angry, because it hath been written, "My son, drawing near unto the service of God, stand thou in righteousness and in fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation." Think not that now the wrath of God hath passed away, because thou hast been converted. The wrath of God hath passed away from thee, but only so that it condemn not for everlasting. But He scourgeth, He spareth not: because He scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If thou refusest to be scourged, why dost thou desire to be received? He scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. He who did not spare even His only Son, scourgeth every one.

True words indeed, for as Christians we grow under the discipline of Christ and his Church. The man who pretends to be without sin knows not his Father in heaven or the Father's only Son as Master. In this season of Advent, let us seek to hear more clearly our Father's will for us and to grow in Christ as is stated in our Advent collect: that we cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light.

biddings

For two new births to families associated with the Order

Grant, we beseech thee, O heavenly Father, that Clare Elizabeth and Timothy Andrew may daily increase in wisdom and stature, and grow in thy love and service, until they come to thy eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

[adapted from the BCP service for the Thanksgiving after Child-birth- Churching of Women ]

Salve

msc

2007/12/01

The First Sunday in Advent

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

The First Sunday in Advent

Augustine on Psalm VIII
First Advent home

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

This Collect is to be repeated every day, after the other Collects in Advent, until Christmas Day.

Isaiah xxviii. 14, Romans xiii. 8 & St. Matthew xxi. 1
Psalms viii, l | xcvi, xcvii

Homily

ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her

BULLETIN

quotation

All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others - even if this were for the sake of restoring their health - are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity

[RC Catechism 3 2117]

The quotation above from the current Roman Catechism accurately reflects the position of the Church throughout the ages. Compare Leviticus 19:31, 20:6, and Deuteronomy 18:9-13. I hope to continue to quote ecclesiastical statements which reflect the catholic and orthodox faith supported by Scripture. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches

calendar

Anthemius, Chaplain to the Crusades & Bishop - December 3rd

commentary

We are entering the season of Advent. Appointed scriptures focus on the prophesied First Coming and the promised Second Coming as we look toward the Feast of the Nativity - one of the three most important annual feasts of the Church. This marks the beginning of the major division in the liturgical year. Peter Toon wrote , "From Advent to Trinity Sunday there is a great emphasis on Dominical Holydays, and thus of the manifestation of the Lord Jesus in space and time, who he is and what he is, which are the foundation of Faith. After Trinity Sunday we enter the non-festal part of the Christian year where the emphasis is on what Jesus and his apostles teach us about the Christian life."

Augustine preaches on Psalm VIII today. I thought of this psalm not long ago when a friend sent me an enhanced photograph from the Hubble Satellite. One picture was aptly called the "Eye of God"

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

Salve

msc

CENTURIONS FORUM

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2007/12/29

The First Sunday after Christmas

2007/12/27

Fwd: Centurio Epistula A Christmas Story from an old Veteran/POW

2007/12/25

The Nativity of our Lord

2007/12/22

Fourth Sunday in Advent

2007/12/15

The Third Sunday in Advent, MMVII

2007/12/08

Second Sunday after Advent

2007/12/01

The First Sunday in Advent

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