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
--
2012/06/29
The Fourth Sunday after Trinity MMXII
Latin:
Da nobis, Domine Deus noster, ut et mundi cursus pacifice nobis tuo ordine dirigatur, et ecclesia tua tranquilla devotione laetetur, per
Leonine Sacramentally
Introit: the Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear
Ps: Though an host should encamp against me
Epistle: Roman 8:18-23 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Gradual: Forgive our sins O Lord
Gospel: Luke 6:36-42. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father in heaven also is merciful.
This short collect is one of the oldest in the collection we shall review (Leo's of 440-461) and it may well predate the Leonine collection of prayers.
Secular history teaches us of the invasion of the Vandals and Huns at this time. Leo, in defense of Rome, rode out to parle with Attila the Hun and his entreaty saved the city from rout-- likely through the intercession of the Holy Spirit and the fear of God's wrath.
http://www.laughtergenealogy.com/bin/histprof/misc/italy.htmlOur collect begins with the petition that God would so order the course (events) of the world in peace. This petition is likely one of the most voiced of any we have yet encountered. Millions of people in the 20th century went to their rest for years praying for world peace. First it was the Great War to end all wars. Then only 20 years later the beginning of World War II under the Evil Axis leaders. Next the long Cold War with its hot spots. Wars of genocides dotted the globe.
Next is the result of that petition. We affirm that when we have peace in our time, the church may then with joy focus its devotions more fully and perfectly on the worship of and devotion to God in tranqility.
I am reminded of evening prayer in the Anglican tradition. In the American 1928 service in the sufferages the minister says "give peace in our time O Lord" and the people reply "for is thou only Lord that makest us dwell in peace". In the English version the folk answer, "Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.". The latter response more closely aligns with what the people of Leo's day held to be the case -- that God had given to Attila the image of Peter, through the suggestion of Leo, wielding the sword of defense. God had swayed the King of the Huns by the hand of his militant saint -- whose hand was stayed again for a time to come.
We also pray that God would likewise dispatch those pagans who have declared an un-holy war against his Church in this present age, and grant us peace.
Semper Militans et Vigilans
Finis
An homily of Abrose that touches on the epistle and today's collect
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
--
2012/06/23
Third Sunday after Trinity MMXII
O GOD, the protector of all who trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong and nothing is holy; multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler, we may so pass through good things temporal, so as to lose not the eternal. Through our Lord.
( note this collect form is used in the 4th Sunday in the 1928 BCP but on the 3rd in the Lutheran book )
Latin:
Protector in te sperantium Deus, sine quo nihil est validum, nihil sanctum, multiplica super nos misericordiam tuam, ut te rectare, te duce sic transeamus per bona temporalia, ut non amittamua aeterna, per Dnm.
Gelasian Sacramentary
Introit: Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me
Ps: Unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul
Epistle: 1 Peter 5:6-11. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God.
Gradual: Cast thy burden upon the Lord
Gospel: Luke 15:1-10. Then drew near to him all the publicans and sinners
This collect contains yet another small confession of a different aspect of God's glorious attributes this Sunday. The first Sunday it was his strength given to us. Last Sunday his steering of his people. This Sunday we confess him as our protector and the very source of our holiness.
In acknowledging these attributes, we ask more and more of his mercy and grace in our lives. As we sojourn in this wilderness seeking our real home we humbly beg his constant leadership so as to help us navigate through all the good material things, so that we may gain the eternal good of everlasting felicity in his kingdom
"Pass through" is how this prayer presents this petition. There are so many who do not make it. They find the good material things in this life and build their faith and hope around them to the loss of their soul. David in the psalms warned against the folly of princes who put their trust in temporal wealth and strength -- and the wisdom of the humble who, on the other hand, fully acknowledged and relied on God.
Our success is dependent on our vision and focus. CS Lewis put it this way, "Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither."
There are good things God has made for all men. Some are fortunate to enjoy an abundance of the good he has placed here, but when those things displace God, then men become shallow, perverted, hypocritical, and blind to the love of God for the love of the created. Material worship is a most deceptive form of idolatry; man cannot serve God and manna.
Finis
An homily of Abrose that touches on the epistle and today's collect
http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity3_10.htmlFinis
(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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2012/06/15
Second Sunday after Trinity MMXII
Lord, make us to have concurrently a perpetual fear and love of thy holy name; for thou never leavest destitute of thy pilotage those whom thou dost discipline in the steadfastness of thy love. Through...
Latin:
Sancti nominis tu, Domine, timorem pariter et amorem fac nos habere perpetuum: quia nunquam tua gubernatione destituis, quos in soliditate tuae dilectionis instituis, PerGalatian Sacrementary as given by Muratori (590)
Mobilis
Introit: The Lord was my stay, he brought me forth also into large place
Ps: I will love the O Lord, my strength
Epistle: 1 John 3:13-18 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate ye
Gradual: In my distress, I cried unto the Lord and he heard me
Gospel: Luke 14:16-24 The he said unto him, A certain man made a great supper..
God is my Pilot, my Helmsman
In the original translation of the book of common prayer of 1549 Cranmer used the term "to bring up" for discipline, and the phrases were rearranged somewhat and sense changed somewhat. The English added more items to the prayer in 1661.
The Latin begins with the petition "Make us", and then the attribute recognizes the fact that God does indeed "bring up" or instruct those whom he loves to fear and love his holy name. There is never a time when he will not be faithful to his elect. His protection is his oath.
Note that 'pilot or pilotage" is the sense of the translation. It is not to "help" as later translations added, but rather to steer (direct) as a helmsman does a ship, or a pilot his glider. The ship is not allowed to drift aimlessly here and there, nor the glider to follow the wind, but rather there is a determined will to pilot each to its destination in the midst of these currents.
One may look at this in terms of what we call Providence or Destiny. Often in answer to prayer or need known to God, he will have us and others to come into situations and interact with people and events that are of his specific choosing for our discipline and welfare.
We may find this expressed concisely in scripture in, "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose" [Romans 8:28].
Meanwhile, we grow year by year in love and fear of our Lord as he brings us up as does a loving mother her children. I would think most readers who know the Lord may look back on their experience and clearly see a time when their respect and love of God was not what it is today and recognize and hope it will be even more tomorrow. There was a sense of this continual growth and love of God in the lyrics of "Day by Day" in the musical Godspell and taken from the prayer of Richard, Bishop of Chichester from the 13th Century.
Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits Thou hast given me, for all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me. O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly and follow thee more nearly, day by day.
An homily of Augustine on the epistle
Finis
Portions paraphrased from The Collects of the Day by Edward Goulburn
The Ancient Collect: Its history and form
--
2012/06/08
First Sunday after Trinity MMXII
O God, the strength of those who trust in thee, mercifully hear our prayers; grant us the assistance of thy grace, that in the execution of thy commands, and the action of the will, we may please thee, through...
Latin:
Deus, in te sperantium fortitudo, adesto propitius invocationibus nostris; praesta auxilium gratiae tuae: ut in exequendis mandatis tuis et voluntate tibi et actione placeamus, per.
Gelasian Sacramentally
Introit: I Lord I have trusted in thy mercy...
Ps: How long wilt thou forget me...
Epistle: 1 John 4:16-21 God is love...
Gradual: I said, Lord be merciful unto me...
Gospel: Like 16:19-31 There was a certain rich man...
We are entering the long season of Trinity in which we will remain until the First Sunday in Advent and we will have completed the church year and this series of collect studies. Not all churches mark the season based on Trinity, and indeed the ancient church did not as we learned last week. For some this is known as the Second Sunday after Pentecost.
Our ancient collect begins,
One may be reminded of David in the psalms who often praises the strength of God. For instance
"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." (Ps 18:2)
As we progress through these ancient prayers we see how the early church ministers incorporated scripture into the prayers
next the petition
First, in mercy, deign to hear our prayers. Those who approach prayer with a hauty attitude are likened to the Pharisee who in the Temple criticized the miserable sinner. His prayer was perverted and rejected. One of the first lessons the Holy Spirit conveys to the elect is, I believe, humility before God. Humbleness in prayer is a sure sign. Those who believe they have no need to beg God's mercy are none of his. We may remember Mary's song "For he hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble and meek." Let us not forget the fate of Dives (rich-man) in the Gospel parable.
"grant us the assistance of thy grace, that in the execution of thy commands, and the action of the will, we may please thee, through..."
I read of one denomination recently whose committee published a new statement of what they believed. In it they rejected the doctrine that the sin of Adam affects us and our ability to obey all that God has ordered. This denomination claims to be Bible-based, but what saith Scripture?
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5)
The little prayer has it right. It is by God's grace and gift that we may even begin to desire freedom from the bondage of the will to sin and the desires of this world, and it is through his strength working in us that this desire leads to effectual obedience.
Laus Deo Semper
An homily of Chrysostom on the third part of the epistle and God's amazing grace in that he loved us first and thereby gave to us the desire to love him.
http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity1_08.htmlFinis
(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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2012/06/02
Trinity Sunday MMXII
Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto thy servants, in the confession of a true Faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the might of majesty to adore the Unity; we beseech thee that we may be defended by the constancy of that same Faith from all adversaries. Through...
Latin:
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui dedisti famulis tuis in confessione verae Fidei, aeternae Trinitatis gloriam agnoscere, et in potentia maiestatis adorate Unitatem; quaesumus, et ejusdem Fidei firmitate ab omnibus muniamur adversi per.
Gregorian Sacramentary
Introit: Blessed be the Holy Trinity and the undivided Unity
Ps: O Lord, our Lord: how excellent is thy name.
Epistle: Roman 11: 33-36. O the depth of riches...
Gradual: Blessed art thou O Lord who beholdest the deep
Gospel: John 3: 1-15. There was a man of the Pharisees...
This day marks the Feast of the Holy Trinity. There is a defining mark of catholicism in the worship of the Trinity in Unity. Its location on our calendar is significant as it directly follows the most important events that we celebrate: Resurrection, Ascension, and Whitsun-day
It differs from the historical events on the calendar as it is in recognition of a universal doctrine.
Thomas Becket was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury on this Sunday, and his first official act was to set it aside for a new festival of the Holy Trinity. This feast was not accepted into the western church fully until 1332. This day was, and is in fact, the Octave of Pentecost. Originally it had propers related to Pentecost. The Gospel we have set before us today is a vestige of the Pentecost Octave.
There was a Trinity type of office used on Sundays in the early church to counter the Arian controversy with canticles, responses, a preface, and hymns. One Trinity hymn which continues this day as a creed is the Quicunque vult from the 5th century (likely by Hilary)
Now on to the collect:
"Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto thy servants in the confession of a true Faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the might of majesty to adore the Unity; "
The "true faith" is that which we have confessed from the earliest days of the Church and which is in scripture, the baptismal covenant, and the creeds.
" we beseech thee that we may be defended by the constancy of that same Faith from all adversaries. "
Next follows the petition--we ask that by constant fidelity to the true Faith confessed above, that we may be defended from all adversity
The Gospel bears witness to Trinity in the words of the Lord to Nicodemus. It is only through the Holy Spirit that a man may be regenerated and reconciled to the Father through the Son. Our Lord said, "We speak that which we know": is not that collective "We" indeed the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?
http://god.com/books/god1/sect12.phpAn homily of Hilary on the Trinity
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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2012/05/28
Whit Monday MMXII
O God, who didst give thy Holy Spirit to thine Apostles: grant unto thy people the performance of their petitions, so that on us to whom thou hast given faith, thou mayest also bestow peace; through our Lord in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, God.
Latin:
Deus, qui apostolis tuis Sanctum dedisti Spiritum: concede plebi tuae petitionis effectum; ut quibus dedisti fidem, largiaris et pacem. Per Dominum...in unitate eiusdem Spiritus Sancti, Deus
Gelasian Sacramentally
Introit: The Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: Halleluah.
Ps: Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered ...
Epistle: Acts 10: 42-48. And he commanded us to preach unto the people.
Gradual: Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created ...
Gospel: John 3: 16-21. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son
Feria secunda - A second holy day of rest. The weekdays in an octave following a high holy feast like Pentecost were and are known by the Latin "Feriae" this observation was for the Octave that is the week following or eight-day celebration. Whit Monday is a remnant of that practice -- although in many traditions the octave are still kept with the collect appointed for the feast.
The collect recalls the wonderful work in bestowing the Holy Ghost at Pentecost and so closely ties this collect to the feast. It goes on to ask God to work out their petitions. From yesterday's collect we have a request that we may have a right judgement in all things and the comfort of the Holy Ghost always.
"So that on us to whom thou hast given faith, thou mayest also bestow peace "
Today we ask for Peace. Note too that another attribute is asserted. It is the sovereign God who gives his elect faith and not the man who generates faith within himself. In the homily I suggested for yesterday, Augustine gives a good treatment to this catholic doctrine (see also Romans 12:3). Yet the man ought to pray to God always for a strengthening of his faith and must step out in faith in response to God's call.
Today's epistle is a favorite of centurions as it recalls Peter's visit to Cornelius and God's gift of the Holy Ghost on that day. The gospel reminds us of the reason: God's great love to reconcile his elect to himself through his Son -- and none other.
"through our Lord in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, God."
Today's Latin shows a full Trinitarian closing The tranlation here is literal. This was so no doubt to emphasize the importance and witness of God acting in unity in this great Pentecost event. In the Suday coming we specifically recognize the Trinity.
An homily of Chrysostom on the gospel
http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/whitsun_monday.html#homilyFinis
(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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Memorial Day Collect
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.
2012/05/25
Whitsunday MMXII
O God, who on this day didst instruct the hearts of thy faithful by the light of thy Holy Spirit: grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise, and to rejoice in his comfort always, through the Lord
Latin:
Deus, qui hodierna die corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti: da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere, et de eius semper consolatione gaudere, per Dominum.
Gelasian Sacramentary
Introit: The Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: Halleluah.
Ps: Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered ...
Epistle: Acts 2: 1-13. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come...
Gradual: Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created ...
Gospel: John 14: 23-31. ... if a man love me he will keep my words
The day is called Whitsun-day in the English and is also known as Pentecost from Greek for the 50 days after the Passover when the Jews celebrated. In our Lord's day there was a remembrance of the gift of the Ten Commandments, which came traditionally 50 days after the first Passover in Egypt. Notice how this collect reflects the Gospel. A few verses before the place where ours begins, Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter"
I am always amazed by those who claim "Love trumps Truth" as to say that his commandments mean little; we are only to "love" and that is the essence of Jesus. They say that those who do not keep his words are to be fully included because "all we need is love". No! The beginning of love is a fear of the Lord and the desire to keep his words -- the Commandments and the Summary of the Law. So it is always appropriate that we too recount those Commandments - his word - on this special day. The proof of our love for him is in our heart's true desire and our will to keep his word, and to recognize our sin when we fall short. That is certainly the instruction of the Holy Ghost throughout scripture and the very words of our Savior. I have no doubt that those 3,000 who received his gift that day were instructed in Truth , not perversion, and fortified to live by this teaching, and not to indulge in sin. This innovation of the post-modern church is a heresy and is the broad way that leads to Perdition
This prayer recounts one special day- Pentecost In the first English translation this "day" was dropped and "time" substituted. The Holy Ghost came to teach. To teach means to discipline. Those who are God's elect are the recipients of both his instruction and his discipline. There cannot be one without the other. The Holy Ghost brings the Light of God as he abides with God's folk. He is the spark of the new creation-the Light to a dark world, the fire that battles against the evil one.
Now we ask in our day that the Father send to us that same Spirit that we also may be wise in the way of Salvation. Note the word "true" modifies wise. There is a wisdom of this wold that leads to eternal death and one of God's true Wisdom that leads to eternal life. Grant this petition to the end that we may rejoice always in the gift of God in the presence of his Comforter -- being always sure of his promise for his elect--eternal felicity in his presence.
An homily of Augustine on John
http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/whitsunday_07.htmlFinis
(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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