Alleluia This is the day that the Lord hath made * Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Alleluia

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

The Fifth Sunday after Easter
Rogation Sunday

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 5th 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.

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BULLETIN

calendar

Rogaton Days

Ascension Day

Philip and James, Apostles

commentary

The collect of Gelasius reminds one that good thoughts precede good actions [Jas 1:15ff]. A corollary is that evil thoughts precede evil actions. Man is beset with temptations. Even our Lord was tempted. It is when one begins to dwell on those evils that he falls into sin. Conversely, the Practice of the Presence of God and study and contemplation of his holy word shields us from temptations, leads us to the good gifts from above, and guides us toward the enactment of the same.

Augustine's homily on Psalm CXLVI complements today's collect as he beings with this:

Behold the Psalm soundeth; it is the voice of some one (and that some one are ye, if ye will), of some one encouraging his soul to praise God, and saying to himself, "Praise the Lord, O my soul" (ver. 1). For sometimes in the tribulations and temptations of this present life, whether we will or no, our soul is troubled; of which troubling he speaketh in another Psalm. But to remove this troubling, he suggesteth joy; not as yet in reality, but in hope; and saith to it when troubled and anxious, sad and sorrowing, "Hope in God, for I will yet confess to Him.".

Great advice from the good Doctor. When you are temptated, or encounter tribulations, turn your thoughts toward Heaven and "Canta et ambula" (sing and soldier on/carry on). Praise the Lord, O my soul!

I commend the entire homily of Augustine as he develops this theme in his examination of Psalm CXLVI.

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Order of Centurions