Second Sunday after Trinity

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 Second Sunday after Trinity

LORD, make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy name: for thou never failest to help and govern them whom thou doest bring up in thy stedfast love. Grant this, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Collect source: Sacrementary of Gelasius, Bishop of Rome [ca 494AD]. 1549 BCP version. An differnt arrangement appeared in the 1662 BCP

Genesis vi.5, Psalms12, 13 | 10, 11 ; 1 St. John iii. 13   &   St. Luke xiv. 16

Homiy of Augustine on Psalm XII

The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth....But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

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 BULLETIN

 

calendar

 

Ferdinand of Portugal, Knight, Crusader, Prince - June 5th

 

 

quotation

 

unity in essentials, diversity in non-essentials, and in all things charity

 

 [RUPERTUS MELDENIUS]

 

commentary

 

Augustine examines Psalm XII in today's homily at the link above. The psalm is introduced with a reference to the eighth day, which was taken by the early fathers to be the Day of the LORD, a day of judgment for evil, and resurrection for those in Christ.

 

Augustine writes:

 

 "the eighth" may be taken as the day of judgment. "For the eighth" may also be taken "for the eternal age;" for that after the time present, which is a cycle of seven days, it shall be given to the Saints.  "Save me, O Lord, for the holy hath failed;" that is, is not found: as we speak when we say, Corn fails, or, Money fails. "For the truths have been minished from among the sons of men" (ver. 1

 

The OT lesson of the story of Noah and the Flood speak of a time when God destroyed all evil in the Earth. In his covenant with Noah, he swore never to again destroy the earth by flood. However, the scriptures continue to point to the coming of a great and terrible Day of the Lord. That is on the Order's vision page from Revelation—the Apocalypse.  Noah's Ark has been a symbol of the church since early days. The word "Nave" for where the people gather is a naval term for the interior of a ship. It signifies safety for the "called-out" and a haven from the chaos of the deep. Those who are in Christ are in his "nave" and are sealed until the Last Great Day. [Eph 4:30]. As God promised Noah whom he chose out of mankind, so he promises his elect life everlasting: But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

 

Ponder too the wisdom of Augustine's comment, there may be said to be many truths: as in mirrors there are seen many reflections from one face.  Augustine is often cited for the quotation,

 

unity in essentials, diversity in non-essentials, and in all things charity

 

 although he is not its author, his assertion in this homily would seem to support the premise. One must evaluate whether some of the new "reflections" one sees coming forth and claimed to be a "new working' of the Holy Ghost these days are of God

 

 finis

First Sunday after Trinity

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

 

First Sunday after Trinity

O GOD, the strength of all those who put their hope 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.

Source: Gregory's Sacramentum.. Carnmer translated it as put their "trust" in thee in the first Prayer Book

 

Jeremiah xxiii. 23, Psalms 1, 5 | 2, 3, 4 , 1 St. John iv. 7   &   St. Luke xvi. 19

Homily

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in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.

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 BULLETIN

 

 

calendar

 

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

Julius, Soldier, Martyr - May 27th

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

Joan of Arc, Martyr - May 30th

 

quotation

 

 If anyone asserts that Adam's sin affected him alone and not his descendants also, or at least if he declares that it is only the death of the body which is the punishment for sin, and not also that sin, which is the death of the soul, passed through one man to the whole human race, he does injustice to God and contradicts the Apostle, who says, "Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned" (Rom. 5:12).

 

 

[Council of Orange]

 

news

As we look at the idea of Original Sin in the OT lesson and the Psalm, one may find this paper: Augustine & the Pelagian Controversy by BB Warfield to be enlightening.

 

Monday is memorial day in the USA, and the Order pauses also to remember faithful fallen veterans from every nation with a collect and readings. Here is a short US Army history on the beginnings of this day

 

entary

 

Augustine examines Psalm I in today's homily, and writes:

 

"Blessed is the man that hath not gone away in the counsel of the ungodly". This is to be understood of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord Man.  "Blessed is the man that hath not gone away in the counsel of the ungodly," as "the man of earth did,"  who consented to his wife deceived by the serpent, to the transgressing the commandment of God.

 

Augustine surely preached the doctrine of Original Sin against the heresy of Pelagius. The canons of the Councils of Orange, which codified Augustine's doctrine, is worth revisiting from time to time to remind one of this doctrine. The collect from Gregory's sacramentum above carries the same theme as he prayed,

 

…because, through the weakness of our mortal nature, we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace…

 

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Order of Centurions

 

 

Trinity Sunday

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

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

 

Trinity Sunday
Augustine on Psalm XXIX

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.

Genesis XVIII., Psalms 29, 33 | 93, 97, 150 ,   Revelation iv. 1   &   St. John iii. 1

Homily of Augustine on Psalm XXIX

Angels at Mamre (Holy Trinity) Rublev

 

BULLETIN

 

 

calendar

 

Acacius - May 20th

Constantine, Emperor - May 22nd

 

quotation

 

He who goes about to speak of the mystery of the Trinity, and does it by words, and names of man's invention, talking of essence and existence hypostases and personalities, priority in co-equality, and unity in pluralities, may amuse himself and build a tabernacle in his head, and talk something--he knows not what; but the renewed man, that feels the power of the Father, to whom the Son is become wisdom, sanctification, and redemption, in whose heart the love of the Spirit of God is shed abroad--this man, tho he understand nothing of what is unintelligible, yet he alone truly understands the Christian doctrine of the Trinity.

 

 

[Jeremy Taylor]

 

news

Here is a book concerning the restoration and meaning behind the beautiful Icon above: The Rublev Trinity. I invite you to contemplate the image, postures, setting, etc. I encourage all to read the review at the link above, and here also is an excellent short paper on the icon.

 

 

commentary

 

We enter the long season of Trinity which will last until Advent. It is a time of hearing the many lessons of the Gospel- the teachings of Christ. It is a day when we recognize the orthodox-catholic dogma of the Trinity.

 

The psalm of praise,(29) that  Augustine examines in the homily is very appropriate for this Holy Day.  He picks up the theme of the Church Militant in his exegesis.

 

He writes:

 

A Psalm of the Mediator Himself, strong of hand, of the perfection of the Church in this world, where she wars in time against the devil….The Lord will give strength to His people" . For the Lord will give strength to His people fighting against the storms and whirlwinds of this world, for peace in this world He hath not promised them.  "The Lord will bless His people in peace." And the same Lord will bless His people, affording them peace in Himself; for, saith He, "My peace I give unto you, My peace I leave with you."

 

May God's Strength and Peace be with each faithful centurion this day;  in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen

 

Semper Vigilante – Semper Militant – Semper Fidelis

 

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Order of Centurions

 

 --
"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

Whitsun Tuesday

Tuesday in Whitsun Week

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.
Homilies

I am the door of the sheep

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Acts viii. 14.

WHEN the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Psalm 148

St. John x. 1.

VERILY, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

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Other Homilies  

Whitsun Monday

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

Homilies

For God sent not His Son to condemn the world, but to save the world.

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Jeremiah xxxi. 31

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Acts x. 34

THEN Peter opened his mouth, and said, 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. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) that word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Psalm 139

St. 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

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"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

Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,

and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

.

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

Pentecost
commonly called Whitsunday
Homily of Augustin on Psalm CXIV
Whitsun Home

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, Acts ii. 1. St. John xiv. 15.
Psalms 48, 68 104, 145
Homily of Augustine on Psalm CIV



Bless the Lord.. who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire

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BULLETIN

calendar

Monday in Whitsun Week

Tuesday in Whitsun Week

Ember Days Four Seasons
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday

Gerald of Villamagna, Crusader, Hermit - May 13th

quotation

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
that I always may be holy.

[Augustine]

bidding prayer

This week we observe the Ember Days. I bid your prayers that God would call out from our midst men who would commit to the ordained ministry, for all centurions who are studying in the seminaries and colleges for service to the Kingdom of God, and for all those in the Order, lay and ordained, who serve the Church in teaching, writing, preaching, praying, and living out the life of a Christian soldier.

ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, grant, we beseech thee, that by the indwelling of thy Holy Spirit, we may be enlightened and strengthened for thy service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

commentary

We enter the short season of Pentecost by the traditional calendar. One week only, followed by Trinity Sunday. There are two holy days following the Feast of Pentecost, and then the Ember Days and concluding on the Eve of Trinity. Pentecost is also called Whitsunday (White Sunday for baptismal gowns); this was a day, along with Easter when many were baptized and other may have worn their baptismal gowns. We remember from acts that the Church baptized over 3,000 in Jerusalem 10 days after the Ascension of our Lord.

Augustine preaches at our link on Psalm CIV. He writes of the first verses

"Bless the Lord, O my soul." Let the soul of us all, made one in Christ, say this. "O Lord my God, Thou art magnified exceedingly!" (ver. 1). Where art Thou magnified? "Confession and beauty Thou hast put on." Confess ye, that ye may be beautified, that He may put you on. "Clothed with light as a garment" (ver. 2). Clothed with His Church, because she is made "light" in Him, who before was darkness in herself, as the apostle saith: "Ye were sometime darkness, but now light in the Lord." "Stretching out the heaven like a skin:" either as easily as thou dost a skin, if it be "as easily," so that thou mayest take it after the letter; or let us understand the authority of the Scriptures, spread out over the whole world, under the name of a skin; because mortality is signified in a skin, but all the authority of the Divine Scriptures was dispensed unto us through mortal men, whose fame is still spreading abroad now they are dead.

Augustine's remark at the end of this paragraph, and the prophetic verse cited under the artwork from verse four of this psalm, remind us of the flames of fire that lighted upon the Apostles in the Upper Room. That flame represented the coming of the Spirit of God, the Comforter, who emboldened them to carry the Gospel into all the World, as their Lord commanded them. So now, we who carry the Gospel with us day by day in acts of charity with our neighbors and in our testimony, follow in the footsteps of the Apostles and Fathers of the Church to spread that sacred flame abroad.

Α☧Ω
Order of Centurions

Stonewall Jackson
Soldier of Prayer
10 May 1863


National Cathedral
Photo by Mark Carroll c. 2007
See all four frames of the window

Thomas J. Jackson was a Christian General of the first order. He is broadly acknowledged to be the finest light-infantry officer of his era. He was perhaps the most aggressive battle commander of the War Between the States, and his campaign in the Valley was miraculous. His infantry moved as if they were cavalry, for which they earned the name, Jackson's "Foot Cavalry."

Jackson distinguished himself in the Mexican American War as an Artillery Officer. He entered as a brevet 2nd Lieutenant having graduated from West Point, and earned two promotions (matched only by R. E. Lee). During the American War Between the States, Jackson was a much-admired officer who drove his men to their limit, and would not tolerate cowardly behavior nor desertion. Jackson was a bit eccentric. He was known by his cadets before the war, and his soldiers during the war, as "Old Tom Fool". Like the servant in Isaiah, his appearance was unimpressive and he was humble. He treated all honorable men, regardless of race or occupation, with respect. One could observe him on the streets of Lexington, Virginia, where he taught at the Virginia Military Institute, to salute the black citizens in passing with a tip of the hat. He had his gentle side as well, and it was to be observed in his relationship with his wife, and others, especially little six-year-old Janie Corbin.

Jackson was a devout Christian. He came to Lexington as an Episcopalian, but joined the Presbyterian Church in 1851. He was a respected churchman and was elected a deacon. Jackson held strong beliefs about predestination and evangelism. In his evangelical works, he started a Sabbath School for slaves and freedmen, and defied the law by teaching them to read. The school continued after Jackson had left for the war and from it came three black congregations.

His strong beliefs in God's providence emboldened him on the battlefield; he was an intrepid officer. He once said, "My religious belief teaches me that I am as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time of my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to always be ready, no matter when it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave."

He gave all the credit of his victories to God, and asked for the prayers of his friends and family to strengthen the army and his corps. He accepted his defeats and setbacks as the will of God. To his wife he wrote, "Our Lord has again thrown His shield over me." He acknowledged his debt to Almighty God, and asked his entire command to give "thanks to the Most High for the victories with which He has crowned our arms." His Chief of Staff, the Reverend Robert Dabney wrote, "Never has it been my happiness to know one of greater purity of life, or more regular and devout habits of prayer. As ever in his great Taskmaster's eye, he seemed to devote every hour to the sentiment of duty, and only to live to fulfill his charge as a servant of God. Of this be assured, that all his eminence and success as a great and brave soldier, were based on his eminence and sanctity as a Christian." Jackson's advice on living as a Christian is very similar to the motto of the Order of Centurions, (Fear God and do what is right), for he said,

"The most important thing in the world is to know the will of God, and then to do it!"

He expressed his philosophy for the Christian soldier in these words, "The Christian must carry his religion into everything. ..makes a man a better commander … teaches him punctuality, fidelity…In the commander of an army, it calms his perplexities at a critical hour." Jackson cited Joshua for the way a commander should write his battle reports saying," Look at Joshua… brevity, fairness, modesty, and he traces the victory to its proper source – the blessing of God."

Jackson was a soldier of prayer. He would often times withdraw from his staff to find a deserted place where he might commune with his Lord. The Reverend James Graham said of him, '"In the whole course of his prayer he did not forget for one moment that he was one of a company of sinners deserving nothing of God, yet pleading with Him, for Christ's sake, to be merciful to us and to bless us." That habit of prayer included Evening and Morning prayer services that he personally led in his tent at headquarters, and Sabbath sermons by a "Preacher of the Gospel" whenever the situation would permit.

Jackson was wounded in the aftermath of his magnificent envelopment at Chancellorsville. General Lee wrote to him and commended him for his victory, but Jackson said, "General Lee is very kind. But he should give the praise to God." He contracted pneumonia and died some weeks later. His last words, in a state of semi-conscientiousness were, "Let us cross over the river, and rest in the shade of the trees." General Lee published General Order 61 in which he said, "The daring, skill, and energy of this great and good soldier, by a decree of all-wise Providence, are now lost to us. But while we mourn his death, we feel that his spirit lives, and will inspire the whole army with his indomitable courage and unshaken confidence in God as our hope and strength." AMEN

See the TJ Jackson VMI site here

"We have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God"

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

Sunday After Ascension Day
Augustine on Psalm CVIII
Ascension Home

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 orpahns..." 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; Psalms 108, 110 46, 47 , & St. John xv. 26

Homiliy of Augustine on Psalm CVIII


Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth;

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BULLETIN

commentary

Ascensiontide began Thursday, and runs for 10 days until Pentecost. The theological clause of Cranmer's collect for this Sunday affirms God's work in taking his Son up into heaven, and petitions for the promised coming of the Holy Ghost, which we will celebrate next week.

Augustine looks at Psalm CVIII today. I thought the verse below our painting today was prophetic of Christ's Ascension.

Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth

Augustine writes, "the Epistle to the Hebrews saith, "God spoke in former times to the fathers through the Prophets;" yet He spoke of Him whom He sent afterwards, that the words of the Prophets might be fulfilled: for "all the promises of God in Him are yea."

Α☧Ω
Order of Centurions

Saint Phillip and Saint James - Apostles
[May 1]

O ALMIGHTY God, whom truly to know is everlasting life; Grant us perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life; that, following the steps of thy holy Apostles, Saint Philip and Saint James, we may steadfastly walk in the way that leadeth to eternal life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The origins of the feast of these Apostles goes back to Rome, where an ancient inscription of the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles says it was at one time dedicated to Philip and James. By tradition Philip's relics were there

St. James i. 1 & St. John xiv. 1
Homilies

Apostles Phillip and James the Less

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.

Homilies


Ye shall receive power