In 1775 on this day the Continental Congress authorized chaplains in the Army. General Washington desired one chaplain for each regiment. During our Revolution they carried muskets and fought at the side of those for whom they ministered.
Mobilis
2012/07/29
Eighth Sunday after Trinity MMXII
Grant to us Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do anything that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through...
Latin:
Largire nobis, Domine, quaesumus, spiritum cogitandi, quae bona sunt, promtius et agendi: ut qui sine te esse non possumus, secundum, te vivere valeamus, per.
Gelasian Sacramentally
Introit: We have thought of thy loving kindness
Ps: great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
Epistle: Romans 8:12-17. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh...
Gradual: Be thou my strong rock
Gospel: Matthew 7:15-23. Beware of false profits.
Our Lord taught that even secret thoughts transgress Gods law and cited hate and lust as two examples. His disciples in another place cried "who the can be saved" and he said, " with men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible"
We ask in this prayer for Gods spirit to be given to govern our thought and actions that those things that we think and do may please him.
Augustine captures this thought with this, "Give, O Lord, what thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt". Indeed, it may be that this ancient prayer was related very closely with the theology revealed by the good doctor.
An homily
Finis
(Portions were paraphrased and passages cited from The Collect of the Day, by Paul Zeller Strodach, 1939, The United Lutheran Press, Philadelphia) http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/t/r/strodach_pz.htm
The Ancient Collect: Its history and form
Eighth Sunday after Trinity MMXII
Grant to us Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do anything that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through...
--
Released by Primus Pilus
Legio Christi-Ecclesia Militans
"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]
* ORDO CENTURIONUM * IN HOC SIGNO VINCES * TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM
Latin:
Largire nobis, Domine, quaesumus, spiritum cogitandi, quae bona sunt, promtius et agendi: ut qui sine te esse non possumus, secundum, te vivere valeamus, per.
Gelasian Sacramentally
Introit: We have thought of thy loving kindness
Ps: great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
Epistle: Romans 8:12-17. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh...
Gradual: Be thou my strong rock
Gospel: Matthew 7:15-23. Beware of false profits.
Our Lord taught that even secret thoughts transgress Gods law and cited hate and lust as two examples. His disciples in another place cried "who the can be saved" and he said, " with men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible"
We ask in this prayer for Gods spirit to be govern our thought and actions that those things that we think and do may please him.
Augustine captures this thought with this, "Give, O Lord, what thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt". Indeed, it may be that this ancient prayer was related very closely with the theology revealed by the good doctor.
An homily
Finis
(Portions may have been paraphrased and passages cited from The Collect of the Day, by Paul Zeller Strodach, 1939, The United Lutheran Press, Philadelphia) http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/t/r/strodach_pz.htm
The Ancient Collect: Its history and form
Released by Primus Pilus
Legio Christi-Ecclesia Militans
"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]
* ORDO CENTURIONUM * IN HOC SIGNO VINCES * TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM
2012/07/28
Eighth Sunday after Trinity MMXII
Grant to us Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do anything that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through...
Mobilis
Latin:
Largire nobis, Domine, quaesumus, spiritum cogitandi, quae bona sunt, promtius et agendi: ut qui sine te esse non possumus, secundum, te vivere valeamus, per.
Gelasian Sacramentally
Introit: We have thought of thy loving kindness
Ps: great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
Epistle: Romans 8:12-17. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh...
Gradual: Be thou my strong rock
Gospel: Matthew 7:15-23. Beware of false profits.
Our Lord taught that even secret thoughts transgress Gods law and cited hate and lust as two examples. His disciples in another place cried "who the can be saved" and he said, " with men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible"
We ask in this prayer for Gods spirit to be govern our thought and actions that those things that we think and do may please him.
Augustine captures this thought with this, "Give, O Lord, what thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt". Indeed, it may be that this ancient prayer was related very closely with the theology revealed by the good doctor.
An homily
Finis
(Portions were paraphrased and passages cited from The Collect of the Day, by Paul Zeller Strodach, 1939, The United Lutheran Press, Philadelphia) http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/t/r/strodach_pz.htm
The Ancient Collect: Its history and form
Eighth Sunday after Trinity MMXII
Grant to us Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do anything that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through...
Latin:
Largire nobis, Domine, quaesumus, spiritum cogitandi, quae bona sunt, promtius et agendi: ut qui sine te esse non possumus, secundum, te vivere valeamus, per.
Gelasian Sacramentally
Introit: We have thought of thy loving kindness
Ps: great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
Epistle: Romans 8:12-17. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh...
Gradual: Be thou my strong rock
Gospel: Matthew 7:15-23. Beware of false profits.
Our Lord taught that even secret thoughts transgress Gods law and cited hate and lust as two examples. His disciples in another place cried "who the can be saved" and he said, " with men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible"
We ask in this prayer for Gods spirit to be govern our thought and actions that those things that we think and do may please him.
Augustine captures this thought with this, "Give, O Lord, what thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt". Indeed, it may be that this ancient prayer was related very closely with the theology revealed by the good doctor.
An homily
Finis
(Portions were paraphrased and passages cited from The Collect of the Day, by Paul Zeller Strodach, 1939, The United Lutheran Press, Philadelphia) http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/t/r/strodach_pz.htm
The Ancient Collect: Its history and form
2012/07/20
Seventh Sunday after Trinity MMXII
O God, whose never-failing Providence ordereth all things in heaven and earth: we humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which be profitable for us; through...
Latin:
Deus, cujus providentia in sui disositione non fallitur: te suplices exoramus ut noxia cuncta submoveas; et omnia nobis profutura concedas, per
Gelasian Sacramentary
Introit: O clap your hands all you people
Ps: He shall subdue the people under us
Epistle: Romans 6:19-23 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh...
Gradual: Come, ye children, harken after me ...
Gospel: Mark 8:1-9 In those days the multitude being very great.
The above translation is from the Lutheran Service Book and eloquently conveys the meaning of the original Latin without innovation.
-- O God, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things in heaven and earth:
"Deus, cujus providentia in sui disositione non fallitur"
Our salutation is simply to God, and the attribute is that he is the master of destiny. He fails not. There is a trend in popular Christianity today that fails to salute a sovereign and almighty God, and chooses rather a God who is not too involved with day to day events and is rather standoffish. Like a great clock-master who had set his timepiece in motion and simply observes events emerge. This was the God of diests of the 18th century like Mr. Jefferson. They conceived of the Almighty rightly enough as the Creator (as the Declaration of Independence affirms strongly). It ended there however, and they believed we folk are left to random chance and the works of man for our destiny. Miraculous intervention was seen as superstition, as well as any guiding Providence that ruled day to day events.
Some years later we in America came into a great conflict and the men of that age differed greatly in their conception of God's Providence in the course of human events. One may see this in the statements of Lincoln, Davis, Jackson, Lee and others of good and sound mind.
Lincoln was born into a HardShell Baptist family (Old Regular -- Calvinist like my ancestors) in the wilds of Kentucky. He rejected his roots in his youth, but there was that seed planted of "Providence" which would revisit him. On the occasion of his young son's untimely death during the war, the minster's eulogy had a profound affect on Linclon and turned him. He requested and received a copy of the sermon, and this quotation, "What we need in the hour of trial, and what we should seek by earnest prayer, is confidence in Him who sees the end from the beginning and doeth all things well" It was the hour of trial for the Union and for Lincoln personally at that moment with loss after loss at the hands of Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia.
In September of 1862 was a dark period for the President, and he sought an answer. He wrote,
"The will of God prevails. In great contests, each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be wrong. God cannot be for and against the same thing at the same time. ... I am almost ready to say this is probably true -- that God wills this contest, and wills that it shall not end yet -- By his mere quiet power, on the minds of the now contestants, He could have either saved or destroyed the Union without a human contest -- Yet the contest began -- And having begun He could give the final victory to either side any day -- Yet the contest proceeds."
[Meditation on the Divine Will]
God is indeed in Command. He indeed sees what we cannot fathom. He moves events and guides with his hand those great and small things for his own divine purposes.
Next we come to the petitions:
-- we humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things,
'te suplices exoramus ut noxia cuncta submoveas"
Our petition follows: the most common of man I suspect: a prayer for relief from adversity and calamity. They say there are no atheist in foxholes. When danger is near man naturally turns to God and begs his protection and relief. We ask that he put far from us those things that we think will harm us, and grant us peace.
-- and to give us those things which be profitable for us;
"et omnia nobis profutura concedas, "
We then ask that God would grant to us all things that are good for us. Now, in a war good men on both sides ask God to do both of these things: to protect them from the things that would hurt them, and to grant them the victory... success in things that are profitable for their cause. Lincoln considered these petitions too, and came again to the conclusion that God is Sovereign and acts according to his design. He wrote
Neither party expected for the war, the magnitude, or the duration which it has already attained. ... Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. ... The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes.
What then shall we think? Will God answer our prayer or those of our adversary who also prays with faith for the opposite thing? We may turn again to our presidents of faith and hear a good response. Lincoln was asked if he did not think that God was on the side of right (meaning the Union). He replied,
I am not worried about that, for we know that the Lord is always on the side of right. My concern is that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side.
Years later another president of faith, Ronald Reagan, said,
America was founded by people who believed that God was their rock of safety. I recognize we must be cautious in claiming that God is on our side, but I think it's all right to keep asking if we're on His side."
One of my favorite scriptures of Christ Militant echos this thought:
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come
[Joshua 5:13ff]
What then shall we think? Let us with all confidence in Providence remember the words of Isaiah quoted by Paul,
"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
An homily of Chrysostom on the Epistle
Finis
(Portions were paraphrased and passages cited from The Collect of the Day, by Paul Zeller Strodach, 1939, The United Lutheran Press, Philadelphia) http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/t/r/strodach_pz.htm
The Ancient Collect: Its history and form
--
Released by Primus Pilus
Legio Christi-Ecclesia Militans
"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]
* ORDO CENTURIONUM * IN HOC SIGNO VINCES * TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM
2012/07/13
Sixth Sunday after Trinity MMXII
O God of hosts, of whom is everything that is best; implant in our hearts love of thy name; and, that thou mayest give us an increase of religion, nourish in us those things that are good and guard with zealous vigilance what thou hast nourished; through ...
Latin:
Dues virtutum cujus est totum, quod est optimum; insere pectoribus nostris amorem tui nominis; et praesta ut et nobis religionis augmentum, quae sunt bona nutrias; ac vigilantia studium, quaesumus, nutrits custodais, per.
Gelasian Sacramentally
Introit: The Lord is the strength of his people
Ps: Unto thee will I cry
Epistle: Romans 3: 6-11. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ...
Gradual: Return, O Lord how long...
Gospel: Matthew 5: 20-26. For I say unto you, except your righteousness shall exceed ...
The above translation is a literal one offered by Strodach. Cranmer first translated this collect into Latin as follows:
Lord of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things: graft in our hearts the love of thy name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same; through...
The collect begins with its salutation ton--God supreme and Sovereign whose attribute is the whole of all goodness.
The petition follows that God would implant into out heats the love of his name. It is not by our free will that we come to adore God but rather by his good work within us. We remember when Jesus asked his disciples who men said he was, and that Peter said the Son of God. Jesus credited the Father for revealing that good knowledge to Peter.
Cranmer referred to the passage from James to express the excellent nature of God's good and perfect gifts to us
The collect continues to enumerate those good things with the desire for the grafting of (true) religion. There is a religion that is not true, and which is intolerable. For instance, this past week the bishop and some deputies of South Carolina walked out of the TEC synod for that cause. Kendall Harmon said "This General Convention action is unbiblical, unChristian, unAnglican and unseemly."
The collect continues the petition to request that God nourish us in the good. In the prayer that our Lord gave us we likewise say, "give us this day our daily bread." Jesus gives us his very Body and Blood through the sacrament and his word to nourish us in goodness. We seek his continued succor day by day.
Finally the last portion of the petition is also the result--that we might be sustained in goodness through God's vigilant protection.
An homily
Finis
(Portions were paraphrased and passages cited from The Collect of the Day, by Paul Zeller Strodach, 1939, The United Lutheran Press, Philadelphia) http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/t/r/strodach_pz.htm
The Ancient Collect: Its history and form
--
2012/07/07
Fifth Sunday after Trinity MMXII
Latin:
Deus, qui diligentibus te bona invisibilia praeparasti; infunde cordibus nostris tui amoris affectum ut te in omnibus et super omnia diligentes, promissiones tuas, quae omni desiderium superant, comsequamur, per.
Gelasian Sacramentally
Introit: Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice
Ps: The Lord is my light and my salvation
Epistle: 1 Peter 3: 8-15. Finally, be ye all of one mind.
Gradual: Behold, O God, our shield
Gospel: Luke 5: 1-11 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear...
"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Cor 2:9)"
I suspect that the author of this collect had this verse from 1st Corinthians in mind. Since the foundations of the universe God has prepared a place in his mansion for his elect. We can imagine but cannot know the extent of these good and perfect gifts to come. They exceed all of our desires. There may be some who are so fortunate to taste his promises in their experiences in worship, but it is only a foretaste, for they pass our understanding.
The scripture and the collect make this reward conditional. God does not dispense these gift upon all mankind as he does rain and food. These promises are reserved for his elect--them that love him. We know from scripture too that our love is in response to his. He loved us first. If it were not by his grace to fill us, we could never come to be able to "sanctify the Lord God in our hearts" as Peter expressed it in the appointed epistle.
What is an acceptable way toward this great love above all things? We know from our Lord's lips that to Love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength is the greatest commandment. We may look to Peter again in the gospel account for an acceptable means to this end: "he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man". Those who never come to this place shall never know the Lord as their Master, and shall never sanctify God in their heart. God loves a humble and contrite heart and this is the sacrifice he most appreciates (Ps 51:17)
Those who persist in sin, celebrate and take pride in sin, just as Paul described in Romans I:18 ff , do not know God, are none of his, and shall never see and taste how good the LORD is (Ps 34). They are blind, deaf, and far-gone doing evil and have their pleasure in those evil things.
This"love of God above all things" will grow through God's grace when we turn to Jesus, recognize him as Lord, and humble ourselves at the seat of mercy. For those he has called his own, he will fill them more and more with his love and truth to bring them into his everlasting kingdom and rest.
Finis
An homily
Finis
(Portions were paraphrased and passages cited from The Collect of the Day, by Paul Zeller Strodach, 1939, The United Lutheran Press, Philadelphia) http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/t/r/strodach_pz.htm
The Ancient Collect: Its history and form
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