Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity MMXII

Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through...

Latin:

 Omnipoteus sempiterne Deus, da nobis Fidie, Spei, et Caritatis augmentum; et ut  mereamur assequi, quod promitis, fac nos amare, quod praecipis,   per

[Leonine Sacramentary]

Introit: Have respect, O Lord, unto thy covenant...

Ps:  O God, why hast thou cast us off forever...

Epistle: Galatians 3:15-22  Brethren, I speak after the manner of men...

Gradual: Have respect, O Lord, unto thy covenant

Gospel: Luke 10:23-37  And he turned him unto his disciples...

http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n107/mode/2up

The translation is from the English Book of Common Prayer.  This early collect has a brief address to God who is both Almighty and Everlasting, and then the prayer turns to a most important petition based on Paul's first letter to the Corinthians on Love (chapter 13).  We ask that God would give to us an increase of faith, hope and charity.  These are the three Spiritual or Christian virtues. They form the second part of the seven cardinal virtues that the Church has long recognized. Here they are from the Book of Wisdom and Paul's epistle:

"If a man loves righteousness, her labours are virtues; for she teacheth temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude, which are such things as man can have nothing more profitable in their life." (Wisdom of Solomon 8:7) "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity" (1 Corenthians 13:13) 

 In the Gospel today, Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan.  We find that of the priest, Levite, and Samaritan, only the Samaritan showed that most important virtue of Charity (Love).  He not only felt compassion, but took direct action to love his neighbor who was gravely injured.   He had hope and faith that God would work through him and the innkeeper to restore his "neighbor" to good health.

Now, notice the collect asks for an increase in these virtures.  God gives to those he calls a modicum of faith to confess the Lord Jesus Christ, and without that God-given faith no man may truly do so. Likewise he gives virtues of hope and charity. There is always the call to grow more and more into the likeness of Christ. We seek increase in the manifestation of those virtures which characterize the true Christian: Faith, Hope, and Charity.

This first petition is followed by yet another: that God would make (cause) us to love that which he commands.  Make (fac) is the operative term here. We cannot by nature love God's law. The ancient Israelite proved that time and again. It was Jeremiah who prophesied of a new covenant, wherein the Sovereign God would actually write true law in the hearts of his chosen, those whom he would make his people.   I think that was exactly what Jesus was teaching with the Samaritan.  Here was a man completely outside of the religious working of Israel, and yet he, and not the Levite (priestly tribe of Levi), nor the priest, lived out the ultimate law of God - Charity - Love of one's neighbor. It is they who have been so blessed with God's mercy and good gifts that will love and live by this law, and who will finally realize his promises.

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

http://orderofcenturions.org/collect-form.html

-- 

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

The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity MMXII

ALMIGHTY and merciful God, of whose gift it cometh that thou art served worthily and laudably by thy faithful ones; Grant, that we may run after thy promises without stumbling; through ... 

Latin:

Omnipotens et misericors Deus, de cuus muere venit, ut tibi a fidelibus tuis digne et laudabiliter serviatur, tribue, ut ad promissiones tuas sine offensione curramus, per

[Leonine Sacramentary]

Introit: Make haste, O God, to deliver me

Ps:  Let them be turned backward and put to confusion

Epistle: 2 Cor 3:4-11  And such trust as we have through Christ to God-ward:

Gradual: I will bless the lord at all times:

Gospel: Mark 7:31-37  And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon...

http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n107/mode/2up

In the first English translation, Thomas Cranmer changed the collect to read as shown here: 

ALMIGHTY and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service; Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faithfully serve thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises; through ...

This original prayer gives credit to the correct source. True and laudable service is not something we have a right to boast in, but rather to be thankful for in that God has so called us and inspired us to serve and worship him, and has given to us gifts for service.  If it were not for his will in our lives, there would be no laudable service.  

The problem I have with Cramner's version is that it makes God's grace seem conditional. That was not the prayer of the early church, but was certainly the understanding of the medieval church--which was heavily works-oriented with a belief that one had to earn one's way into heaven through works.

In the early Church the collect called the folk to run to his promises. We find those promises enshrined in such verses as John 3:16, "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." and, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." 

But what of Christian service?  It is a fruit of this communion the elect have with the Holy Ghost. God gives each of his own a role and and a way according to the measure of faith he has granted, and gifts he has bestowed.  

This truth is expounded by Paul in today's epistle. He wrote, "Such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; and again by the Prophet Zechariah, the LORD spoke saying, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit." 

Our primary service then is one faith, and a concomitant service of following Christ and imitating his goodness in our daily lives through love of our neighbor as he calls and enables us so to do. Some are called to a special ministry as Paul explained saying, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers"  But to all his he gave the gift of faith and the power to believe. That is a common work for all who have been called.

An homily of Chrysostom on today's epistle

http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity12.html

ps. one may note that the collects in the BCP are off  by one since Trinity 3 from those in the Lutheran Service Book. 

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

http://orderofcenturions.org/collect-form.html

-- 

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

Eleventh Sunday after Trinity MMXII

Almighty and everlasting God,

who art always more ready to hear than we to pray,

and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve,

pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy,

forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,

and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask.

through ... 

 

Latin:

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui abundantia pietatis tuae et merita supplicum excedis et vota; effunde super nos misericordiam tuam ut dimittas quae conscientia metuit, et adjicias quod oratio non praesumit; per

[Leonine& Galatian Sacramentaries]

Introit: God is in his holy habitation

Ps:  Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered...

Epistle: 1 Cor 15:1-10  Moreover, brethern, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you...

Gradual: My heart trusteth in God...

Gospel: Lke 18:9-14  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves ...

http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n103/mode/2up

You may have noted there is a citation with two sacramentaries below the collect.  The first original of this prayer appeared in the Leonine Sacramentary, and then later the author of the Gelasian Sacramentary did some editing to word-dress it.  This then is the Latin "second original."  The English translation is a good example of poetic license. Thomas Cranmer expanded on the thoughts a bit in the first English translation for of 1549.   Then in the BCP revision of 1662, John Cosin made some additional changes mainly in the smoothing of the termination. 

 (by the way, we approach the 350th anniversary of the 1662 BCP on St Bartholomew's Day, 24 August 2012. The 1662 is a book still in daily use around the world, as well as those BCPs based directly on it like the 1928 American version and perhaps some others like our Lutheran Service Book under study this year.  I am sure that several of our brethren use the 1662 daily.)

In the Gospel, our Lord teaches the parable of the Pharisee and the publican praying in the Temple. He taught that the publican went down justified, while the Pharisee did not!  Why? Because of the Sin of Pride.  The Pharisee never indicated that his conscience was afraid for anything. He could not have prayed "Thou art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve." He felt he deserved it all. He self-justified his salvation on his perceived merits. He was blind to his faults, and his chief fault was pride of heart.  Conversely, the publican confessed his faults with a true, contrite, and penitent heart; and Jesus said that God heard him and justified him.  

God is ready to receive our humble prayers, and more ready than we to give them. There are many in the modern church who have discarded the idea of sin and fallen man. There is no confession-no remorse-only self justification and Pride of Life.  A fellow Centurion lamented to me this past Sunday that he had left a certain church when they put down the Bible and began teaching from a book entitled "I'm OK, You're OK" in adult Sunday School.  We agreed that it is a false Gospel. (The true Gospel is more like "I'm not OK and neither are you, but that is OK if you are Christ's own". HT to brother David)

On Friday of this week in Evening Prayer (1928 BCP) this message of the waywardness of man was loud and clear,

Micah in chapter 7 wrote,  "The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men", 

and Paul in Romans 7 wrote, "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I"

Paul concluded this passage with the solution: O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

An homily of Gregory on "How the humble and the haughty are to be admonished"

http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity11_07.html

"I' not OK, neither are you" thoughts from the secular press and mental health profession

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life/im-not-okay-neither-are-you-20111013-1llyu.html

ps. one may note that the collects in the BCP are off  by one since Trinity 3 from those in the Lutheran Service Book. 

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

http://orderofcenturions.org/collect-form.html

--
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

Tenth Sunday after Trinity MMXII

O God, who manifests thy almighty power most chiefly in sparing and mercy: multiply upon us thy grace, that we running to thy promises, may come to partake of thy heavenly treasures. Through...

 

Latin:

Deus, qui omnipotentiam tuam parcendo maxime it miserando manifestas; multiplica super nos gratiam tuam: ut ad tua promissa currentes, coelestium bonorum facias esse consortes. per .

Leonine Sacramentary 

Introit:  As for me I will call upon the Lord

Ps:  Give ear to my prayer, O God

Epistle: 1 Cor 12:1-11 Now concerning spiritual gifts.. .

Gradual:   Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of the eye... 

Gospel: Luke 19:41-48. And when he was come near, he beheld the city...

http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n105/mode/2up

I have reworked this prayer from the BCP version  to a more literal version so that we may appreciate the collect of the early church.

O God, who manifests thy almighty power most chiefly in sparing and mercy

Deus, qui omnipotentiam tuam parcendo maxime it miserando manifestas;

We begin with a wonderful attribute of God. What greater gift has God given, and what mightier act of his almighty power, than to spare us miserable sinners?  God accomplished this through the ultimate act of sacrificing his Son, our Lord, whose death on the cross is the propitiation for this sins of the whole world. Those who have offended God through their sin are spared through his love.  Through this act and offering given once and for always he has blessed all those he has called and to whom he has given his holy Spirit. They alone are able to proclaim his name in faith, and in no wise may ever blaspheme the Spirit.  Paul teaches this truth in the epistle as he speaks to the work of the Spirit in the elect.

Then follows the petition:

 multiply upon us thy grace, that we running to thy promises, 

multiplica super nos gratiam tuam:ut ad tua promiissa currentes, coelestium bonorum facias esse consortes.

We who have been blessed with God's presence in our lives pray diligently that he would work in us greater blessing and grace; leading us and teaching us to follow after his promises

Finally, the result:

may come to partake of thy heavenly treasures.

coelestium bonorum facias esse consortes

What more may we hope for in this life but to fulfill his will for us and to come into his joy in the fullness of time.  The reward of all those who are called and persevere shall be the good things of Paradise.

An homily of Chrysostom on the Epistle

http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity10.html

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

http://orderofcenturions.org/collect-form.html

--
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

Ninth Sunday after Trinity MMXII

Let thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of thy humble servants; and, that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please thee; through ... 

 

Latin:

Ad autes misericordiae tuae, Domine, supplicum vota perveniant; et ut possimus impetrare, quae poscimus, fac, nos semper tibi placita postulare, per .

Leonine Sacramentary 

Introit:   Behold, God is mine helper

Ps:  Save me, O God, by thy name

Epistle: 1 Cor 10:6-13. Now these thing were our examples ...

Gradual:   O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name. 

Gospel: Luke 16:1-9. And he said unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man...

http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n103/mode/2up

The collect this day begins with the attribute of the the Lord's mercy (misericordiae tuae, Domine).  Next comes our petition, that God would hear the prayers of his supplicants that come before him (supplicum vota perveniant;).  Following this is the expected result -- in order that we might receive that which we beg, that he would grant that we always ask what is acceptable to him (quae poscimus, fac, nos semper tibi placita postulare).  Finally the prayer concludes though our Lord Jesus Christ.

David sang,

LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. 

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. [Ps 141:1-3]

The appointed epistle has a very specific application and compliments today's collect.  Paul gives stern warning about conduct -- and by way of inference -- the murmurings of our hearts: Lust not after that which is evil (see how Paul defines that evil).   "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed, lest he fall" [1 Cor 10:12]  

Ensure that your prayers are in accord with his Word, and seek his aid in prayer.  "He that turneth away from his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination" [Proverbs 28:9]

An homily 

http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity9.html

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

http://orderofcenturions.org/collect-form.html

-- 

Army Chaplains

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

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.

http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n101/mode/2up

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

http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity8.html

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

http://orderofcenturions.org/collect-form.html

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. 

http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n101/mode/2up

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 

http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity8.html

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

http://orderofcenturions.org/collect-form.html

--
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

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. 

http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n101/mode/2up

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 

http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity8.html

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

http://orderofcenturions.org/collect-form.html

Mobilis

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. 

http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n101/mode/2up

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 

http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity8.html

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

http://orderofcenturions.org/collect-form.html

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.

http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n101/mode/2up

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

http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity7.html

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

http://orderofcenturions.org/collect-form.html

-- 

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

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 ...

http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n101/mode/2up

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 

http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity6.html

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

http://orderofcenturions.org/collect-form.html

-- 

Fifth Sunday after Trinity MMXII

O God, who has prepared for them who  love thee such good things; pour into our hearts such love towards thee, that we loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through...

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...

http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n99/mode/2up

"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 

http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity5.html

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

http://orderofcenturions.org/collect-form.html

-- 

The Fourth Sunday after Trinity MMXII

Grant us, O Lord our God, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered and directed, that thy church may rejoice in tranquil devotion of thee, through...

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. 

http://www.archive.org/stream/commonserviceb00unknuoft#page/n99/mode/2up

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.html

Our 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

http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity3_10.html

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

http://orderofcenturions.org/collect-form.html

-- 

Mobilis