Memorial for St. Mary the Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ

The Collect

O GOD, who hast taken to thyself the blessed Virgin Mary, mother of thine only Son; Grant that we who have been redeemed by his blood may share with her the glory of thine eternal kingdom, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen

The Memorial of Mary's ‘falling asleep' dates from the end of the sixth century, but was influenced by legendary narratives of the end of Mary's life already widely in circulation. In the West, the most influential of them is the 'Transitus Mariae'. Belief in Mary's assumption is rooted in the promise of the resurrection of the dead and the recognition of Mary's dignity as Theotókos and ‘Ever Virgin', coupled with the conviction that she who had borne Life should be associated to her Son's victory over death, and with the glorification of his Body, the Church.

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Memorial for Thomas Ken, Bishop of Bath & Wells

The Collect

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, we give thee thanks for the purity and strength with which thou didst endow thy servant Thomas Ken, and we pray that by thy grace we may have a like power to hallow and conform our souls and bodies, to the purpose of thy most holy will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thomas Ken trained at Winchester and New College, Oxford, and was ordained a priest in 1662. He was chaplain to Princess Mary, and later to the British fleet. He assumed the office of Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1685. Ken was imprisoned in for refusing to sign James II’s Declaration of Indulgence; he was tried and acquitted.

He published a Manual of Prayers for the use of the scholars of Winchester College and wrote much poetry, many of which were published posthumously in 1721.

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Carefully Prepare: A simple message for Advent

by +Seraphim Mary, OSF

The daily office readings with the seasonal collect that is used during Advent is filled with contrasts. They compare ‘works of darkness’ with ‘the armour of light’; ‘this mortal life’ to ‘the life immortal’; ‘great humility’ with ‘glorious majesty’; ‘now’ with ‘the last day’; ‘time to wake’ with ‘sleep’; ‘walk honestly’ to ‘rioting and drunkenness’. When we take all of these contrasts together, the point clearly calls the faithful Christian believers to wakefulness, alertness, and careful preparation.

It is important to note that these pairings do not necessarily always refer to profound deontological notions of good and evil, but simply to this world as opposed to the world to come. In our present life we have choices to make and those choices refer to the groups of pairs: darkness or light; good or evil; honesty and humility and virtue or selfishness and sin and pride. While our mundane decisions may seem minor and occur daily, each little decision is a brick, a small thing, but each small thing that when multiplied hundreds and thousands of times makes a building, a wall, and eventually a substantial faith-filled edifice. As a result, the believer must stay awake because if we are not faithful in little things, the product of our lives might in fact end up as a wall that cuts us off from God almighty; rather than creating a fitting eternal mansion for us that is built on the foundation of our shared faith.

This point is my simple Advent message: Carefully prepare.  

So prepare. Put aside carelessness and heedlessness, and remember that Advent is the season for preparation and anticipation. It is a time to read again the ancient prophecies of a Saviour to come. Advent is our time to contemplate the end of the world, the end of time, and more particularly, for me, to contemplate the end of my own world and of my own little time here and now. Indeed, my death and yours are most certainly today one day closer than it was yesterday, and that is a fit subject for our shared Advent reflection. Advent is a time to receive the sacraments with earnest gratitude; to say our daily office prayers, to make our confessions, to repent of our sins, and to receive Holy Communion at the altar. Advent is not Christmas, but the path to Christmas, the way to prepare to receive the Christ-Child, whom we are most certainly unworthy to receive without Advent and without the careful preparation of ourselves. During the approaching liturgical season let us seek healing for our blindness, so that we may prepare ourselves wisely, and say, with the people of Jerusalem long ago, ‘Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.’

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Fifth Sunday after Trinity

The Collect

GRANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle (1 St. Peter iii. 8)

BE ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.

The Gospel (St. Luke v. 1)

IT came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: and so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Trinity V - Sermon Message in a Minute

When we read the New Testament we see that Christians are not to live in a system like Israel's where the laws of religion and the laws of government are identical. We are told we are really citizens of heaven and are only passing through here on earth. Because we are only passing through, and because any form of political order reflects God more accurately than anarchy does, we should obey the laws of the government where we happen to find ourselves living.

To this, Saint Paul teaches, "The powers that be are ordained of God." Saint Peter says, "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake." And remember that those two men lived when the Roman imperial government was actively hostile to Christianity and they both died martyrs' deaths because of it. Jesus tells Pontius Pilate, who is very impressed with his own power, "You would have no power at all over me if it had not been given to you from above."

All political power comes from the Lord. Obey the laws where you happen to live and remember the words of Jesus: "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required."

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Memorial of Gregory the Illuminator, Bishop of Armenia

The Collect

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, we than thee for thy servant Gregory, whom thou didst call to preach the Gospel to the people of Armenia: Raise up, we pray thee, in this and every land, heralds and evangelists of thy kingdom, that thy Church may make known the unsearchable riches of Christ, and may increase with the increase of God; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Armenia was the first country to become Christian, and it recognizes Gregory as its apostle. Armenia was the kingdom between the powerful empires of Rome and Persia, and both worked to control it. Born about 257, when Gregory was still an infant, his father assassinated the King of Persia, and friends of the family carried Gregory away for protection to Caesarea in Cappadocia, where he was raised as a Christian. In 280 he returned to Armenia and by his preaching and example brought both King Tiridates and a majority of his people to the Christian faith.

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Memorial for Chad, Missionary & First Bishop of Lichfield

The Collect

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who didst enkindle the flame of thy love in the heart of thy servant Chad: Grant to us, thy humble servants, the same faith and power of love; that, as we rejoice in his triumph, we may profit by his example, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Readings: (Acts i. 1; Saint Luke x. 1)


Chad (died 2 March 672) was a 7th century Anglo-Saxon churchman, Bishop of the Northumbrians and subsequently Bishop of the Mercians and Lindsey People. He was later canonised as a saint. He features strongly in the work of Bede the Venerable and is credited with introducing Christianity to the Mercian kingdom.

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"Do not be afraid. Look, I bring you news of great joy…”

Christmas message of Fr. Francesco Patton, OFM- Custos of the Holy Land

We are in Bethlehem at the Shepherds’ Field, the place where, during the night in which Jesus was born, the shepherds were keeping watch and guarding their flocks.

Church of the Nativity

Luke the evangelist tells us that when Mary gave birth to Jesus, these shepherds were precisely the first persons who received the good news of His birth. An angel appeared to them, a great light shone around them, and they were afraid. But the messenger of God reassured them: "Do not be afraid. Look, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." (Lk 2: 10-12). On that night of the first Christmas, the darkness in which the shepherds and the inhabitants of Bethlehem lived was enlightened by the birth of the Child Jesus.

Even today we still need to let ourselves be enlightened by the birth of this Child, Who is the Son of God and our Saviour. How many people, even today, live surrounded by darkness like the shepherds who kept watch in this field two thousand years ago. Our brothers and sisters in Syria and in Yemen, as in many other Countries of the world, have been living for many years in the darkness of bloody conflicts, which transform millions of people into homeless people, into refugees who have been uprooted from their own family and from their own culture, who have been expelled from their own country and often find it impossible to be welcomed in a new land.

Many others of our brethren in humanity live in the darkness caused by economical and ecological crises, which force entire populations to their knees often obliging them to emigrate. For them too, the experience of Joseph, Mary and the Child repeats itself: there is no place for them anywhere. At the most, they can find shelter under a tent. (more)

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Values & Virtue: What is the rub?

Values = Seeds

Virtue = Harvest

Virtues and values are often treated as synonyms, they are not. There is however a synergistic relationship between them --  virtues are lived values, while values by themselves are ideals or goals which tend to be more aspirational. Secular morality and personal ethics are the primary reasons we have placed so much interest on values and missed the mark when it comes to creating a virtuous society. Today values are seen primarily as a tool for encouraging, promoting, and reinforcing positive ethical behaviour.

As Anglo-Catholic catechists we must be mindful that values are simply a method for expressing our shared Christian ideals, both for society generally and individuals specifically; while virtues are the end result of achieving those ideals and are embodied and expressed by genuine Anglo-Catholic action. The difficulty we face as teachers is that we is that we can teach our student principles that are related values but until they positively act in accordance with those values they have not achieved the virtuous life.

Life is about deeds not words.

I believe that virtue as the end goal is more important than empty secular values, but also recognize that without learning Anglo-Catholic values we can never truly achieve a virtuous end.

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Holy Saturday... He descended into Hell

Why is Holy Saturday important, and what does it mean that Christ descended into Hell?

Tradition affirms that immediately after the death of Christ, he went down in triumph into the place where the souls of those justified under the Old Law were held. While called hell (hades in Greek, sheol in Hebrew), the Creed is actually referencing a place where souls were separated from the presence of God and not the hell of eternal damnation.

Scripture calls this place the Abraham's bosom (St. Luke 16:22). The place where faithful, covenanted people waited for the Messiah to open the gates of heaven to them. Among them included the Old Testament patriarchs as Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David and even our Lord’s foster Father St. Joseph. Christological discourses identify this as the last phase of Jesus’ messianic mission.

St. John 5:25 teaches that "the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live". It would not be fair to those who lived before Jesus if they did nor have a chance to hear the Gospel and be saved. On Holy Saturday we remember that even the dead had the chance to hear and be saved.

The Collect

GRANT, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, so by continual mortifying our corrupt affections we may be buried with him; and that through the grave, and gate of death, we may pass to our joyful resurrection: for his merits, who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Easter Even Readings: (1 Saint Peter iii. 17; Saint Matthew xxvii. 57)

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The Great Necessity and Advantage of Public Prayer

(Number 25, extracted from Bishop Beveridge's Sermon on the subject)

The Oxford Fathers

BESIDES our praying to, and praising GOD in the midst of other business, we ought to set apart some certain times in every day wholly for this. The Saints of old were wont to do it three times a day, as we learn from Daniel. For when King Darius had signed the decree, "That whosoever should ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of the king, should be cast into the den of lions," it is written, "That when Daniel knew that the decree was signed, he went into his house; and, his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks unto his GOD, as he did aforetime." (Daniel vi. 10.) As he did aforetime; which shows that this had been his constant practice before, and he would not leave it off now, though he was sure to be cast into the den of lions for it. But what times of the day these were, which were anciently devoted to this religious purpose, we may best gather from king David, where he saith, "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud; and He shall hear my voice." (Psal. lv. 17.) He begins with the evening, because day then began, according to the Jewish account; but he observed all these times of prayer alike. And so questionless did other devout people as well as he. The Jews have a tradition that those times were ordained to that use, the morning by Abraham; noon, by Isaac; and evening by Jacob. But whether they have any ground for that or no, be sure this custom is so reasonable and pious, that the Church of CHRIST took it up, and observed it all along from the very beginning. Only to distinguish these times more exactly, the Christians called them, (as the Jews also had done before,) by the names of the third, the sixth, and the ninth hours. Of which Tertullian saith, "Tres istas horas ut insigniores in rebus humanis, ita et solenniores fuisse in orationibus divinis; ‘as they were more famous than others in human affairs, so hey were more solemn in divine prayers.’ " (Tertul de Jejun c. 10.)

I know the Primitive Christians performed their private devotions at other times as well as these; but at these set times every day, especially at the third and ninth hour, they always performed them publicly, if they could get an opportunity. And if we would be such Christians as they were, we must follow their pious example in this, as well as in other things.

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As the Jewish Church had by GOD’S own appointment the Morning and Evening Sacrifice every day in the year; so all Christian Churches have been used to have their Morning and Evening Prayers publicly performed every day. As might easily be shown out of the Records of the Church, from the beginning of Christianity.

Not to insist upon other Churches, I shall instance at present only in our own; which, as in all things else, so particularly in this, is exactly conformable to the Catholic and Apostolic Church. In the First Book of Common-Prayer, made by our Church at the beginning of the Reformation, there was a form composed both for Morning and Evening Prayer: the title of that for the Morning ran thus; An Order for Mattins daily through the year; and of that for the Evening, An Order for Even Song throughout the year: and accordingly there were Psalms and Chapters appointed both for the Morning and Evening of every day. About three or four years after, the same book was revised and put forth again. And then the Church taking notice that Daily Prayers had been in some places neglected, at the end of the Preface she added two new Rules, or, as we call them, Rubrics; which are still in force, as ye may see in the Common-Prayer Books which we now use.

The first is this:

And all Priests and Deacons are to say daily the Morning and Evening Prayer, either privately or openly, not being let by sickness, or other urgent cause.

By this, every one that is admitted into Holy Orders, although he be neither Parson, Vicar, nor Curate of any particular place, yet he is bound to say both Morning and Evening Prayer every day, either in some Church or Chapel where he can get leave to do it, or else in the house where he dwells, except he be hindered by some such cause which the Ordinary of the place judges to be reasonable and urgent. (more)

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Recalling Christmas: The precious gift of the Franciscans to the children of Aleppo

The blessed joy of Christmas in Aleppo

January 2018 | Pro Terra Sancta

In 2016, Christmas in Aleppo was marked by the liberation of a city that has suffered much during the endless Syrian conflict. The hope brought by the liberation of the city, grew timidly in 2017: some activities have resumed and some destroyed apartments have been rebuilt, thanks to your valuable support through the Association pro Terra Sancta. Yet there still are many deep wounds that need to be cured. Childrens are the ones who suffer most. For this reason the Christmas letter by Fr. Ibrahim, parish priest of Aleppo, was adressed particularly to them.

In the letter, Fr. Ibrahim wrote: “Many are wondering what gifts we Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land will give to the children of Aleppo. There are many gifts we could give them, but we wish to introduce you to one of the best. It is a post-school project aimed at psychological, academic and spiritual recovery for 150 little angels in Aleppo’s society, who were extremely wounded by the war”. In fact, many of these children are not able to follow lessons and learn. They are blocked by war traumas and disturbances of various kinds. They are therefore in need of a constant and patient process of recovery.

The project, which began at the beginning of the 2017-18 school year, will last nine months and is aimed at those who “are the most fragile and most affected by war traumas”. In this case, they are 150 out of a total of 600 elementary school children. It is a small starting point, considering that there are thousands of children in need of this kind of assistance in Syria. Unfortunately, as Ibrahim says, “To cover the post-school activites for a child, providing for his different needs, would cost around 85 $ each per month”.

In the letter, therefore Fr. Ibrahim asks for help: “The value and result of a person’s recovery is worth much more than this amount. Each of them has great dreams and so much hope. Despite the fact that they also come with so many sad stories from these last six years, which will certainly leave a very deep mark on their personalities, the hope of a Church and of a society that yearns to rise again also remains in them. Each of them is a gift from on high: the ‘little brother’ for whom Jesus gave his life. Indeed, for each of us, each child helped is the ‘Child born for us’, Jesus himself”. (more)

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The Promise of Eternal Life

by Archdeacon Seraphim Mary, OSF.

The first chapter of Saint Matthew lists the lineage of Jesus Christ: 42 generations starting with the miracle of Isaac, born to Abraham and Sarah, and ending with the miracle of deity assuming human form. In between are the names of a schemer, a prostitute, a murderer, kings, and former idol worshipers. These men and women had their lives transformed by God and, by His supernatural workings, were given a place in the ancestry of our Saviour. God protected this line despite betrayal, war, captivity and assimilation.

It is this same God who promises us eternal life through Jesus Christ. The Bible recounts promise after promise from the Lord, and 2 Corinthians 1. 20 reassures us that they are all yes in Christ. We who are born again through the waters of baptism and faith in Jesus are given a permanent place in God's family, which is guaranteed by both the Father and the Son. The Holy Ghost is given to us as a seal of the pledge, ensuring that we will receive our eternal inheritance as children of God.

For the guarantee of eternal to take effect, there is but a single requirement – that we enter into a personal relationship with Christ. The Lord Himself registers our name in the Lamb's book of life. There are no additional specifications to meet for the guarantee to be in effect, and it remains in place forever. Eternal life belongs to us the instant we become children of God. The Lord has promised this, and we can count on it. Alleluia!

Scriptural Meditations: (2 Cor 1. 20-22; John 10. 28-29; Rev 21. 27)

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