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Exciting Holiness: Collects and Readings for the Festivals and Lesser Festivals of the Calendars of the Church of England, the Church of Ireland, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church in Wales
Exciting Holiness: Collects and Readings for the Festivals and Lesser Festivals of the Calendars of the Church of England, the Church of Ireland, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church in Wales
Exciting Holiness: Collects and Readings for the Festivals and Lesser Festivals of the Calendars of the Church of England, the Church of Ireland, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church in Wales
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Exciting Holiness: Collects and Readings for the Festivals and Lesser Festivals of the Calendars of the Church of England, the Church of Ireland, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church in Wales

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Contains information on public worship, private devotion, and connecting us with our spiritual heritage. This work offers a resource for Eucharistic worship on all festivals and feast days. It provides prayers and Scripture readings for each day of the calendars of four national Anglican provinces.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJan 3, 2013
ISBN9781848253650
Exciting Holiness: Collects and Readings for the Festivals and Lesser Festivals of the Calendars of the Church of England, the Church of Ireland, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church in Wales

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    Exciting Holiness - Brother Tristram

    excitingpic.jpg

    Collects and Readings

    for the Festivals and Lesser Festivals

    of the Calendars

    of

    The Church of England

    The Church of Ireland

    The Scottish Episcopal Church

    and

    The Church in Wales

    Canterbury%20logo.gif

    Copyright information

    Exciting Holiness

    is published by Canterbury Press Norwich

    a publishing imprint of Hymns Ancient & Modern Limited,

    a registered charity,

    St Mary’s Works, St Mary’s Plain, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 3BH

    www.scm-canterburypress.co.uk

    copyright © European Province of the Society of Saint Francis, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2007

    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission, which should be sought from the editor

    editor@excitingholiness.org

    For further copyright and permission information see here

    First published September 1997

    Reprinted 1997 (twice), 1998

    Revised July 1999

    Second Edition July 2003

    Reprinted 2005

    Third Edition May 2007

    Reprinted 2010

    Fourth edition 2012

    Edited by Brother Tristam SSF

    and Simon Kershaw

    For further details, corrections and updates

    see www.excitingholiness.org

    A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

    ISBN 978 1 85311 806 7

    Typeset by crucix www.crucix.com

    Printed and bound in Great Britain by MPG Books Ltd, Bodmin, Cornwall

    Dedication

    Dedicated to the memory of

    Brother

    TRISTAM

    SSF

    born 20 March 1946

    died 28 December 2002

    Contents

    Introduction

    Notes

    The Calendar

    The Proper of the Saints

    January

    February

    March

    April

    May

    June

    July

    August

    September

    October

    November

    December

    The Common of the Saints

    Short Passages of Scripture

    Acknowledgements

    Index of Biblical Readings

    Index of Celebrations

    Introduction

    When, in 1935, Bishop Walter Frere first produced his Collects, Epistles and Gospels for the Lesser Feasts According to the Calendar set out in 1928, he was providing, for the first time in one book, collects and readings for use on ‘black letter’ saints’ days in the Church of England. This tradition was maintained by the excellent book compiled by Martin Draper and George Timms, The Cloud of Witnesses, produced to complement the publication of The Alternative Service Book 1980, and by many others throughout the Anglican Communion.

    The authorization of a new Calendar in the Church of England, first in 1997, and subsequently with slight modification in Common Worship, and including – for the first time since the Reformation – authorized proper collects for the ‘Black Letter’ days, meant that an entirely new companion was required. The compilation of this companion was undertaken by Brother Tristam SSF, a member of the Liturgical Commission, and of the committee which had drafted the Calendar, and the first edition of this book was published in 1997.

    At the same time as the Church of England has been revising its Calendar, so too have the other Anglican Churches in Britain and Ireland. These Calendars generally share many of the same commemorations, occasionally with a different emphasis or date, but each of these Churches also has its own selection of local commemorations. The Church of Ireland and the Church in Wales each published a ‘supplement’ of local additions to Exciting Holiness, and this material, together with the equivalent material from the Scottish Episcopal Church, was incorporated into the second edition, which also followed the Common Worship text of the psalms. The third edition includes a small number of additions and changes to the calendars that have been made in the intervening period, together with a few corrections and some other improvements.

    All this helps to make Exciting Holiness, as its subtitle suggests, a convenient companion to the Calendar for Anglicans throughout Britain and Ireland.

    Simon Kershaw

    Notes

    CLASSIFICATION

    The classification of Saints’ Days is no indication of the measure of sanctity ascribed to each person in the Calendar, merely a recommendation of the level of importance a Church gives to the celebration of each feast. Each of the four Churches of the Anglican Communion in Britain and Ireland has differing, though similar, classifications.

    The Church of England has four categories of celebration of those it includes in its Calendar: Principal Feasts, Festivals, Lesser Festivals and Commemorations. Principal Feasts and Festivals are each provided with a proper collect, readings, psalm and post-communion prayer; Lesser Festivals have a proper collect, and in this book appropriate readings, psalm and post-communion prayer have been selected, nearly always from the Common of Saints; Commemorations are not usually celebrated at the same level, but material from the Common of Saints may be used where necessary.

    Principal Feasts and Festivals are not usually displaced (though the Epiphany, the Presentation and All Saints’ may be kept on a Sunday). Festivals are not celebrated on a Sunday in Advent, Lent or Eastertide, nor in Holy Week and Easter week, but otherwise, if falling on a Sunday, may be observed on that day or transferred to another suitable weekday. Lesser Festivals, falling on a Principal Feast or Holy Day, or on a Festival, are normally omitted that year. The minister may be selective as to which Lesser Festivals are celebrated, and may choose to observe some as Commemorations. Commemorations are usually observed simply by a mention in prayers of intercession and thanksgiving.

    In the Church of Ireland, there are Principal Holy Days, Festivals and Commemorations – there has been no recognition of ‘black letter’ saints’ days since the first post-disestablishment edition of the Book of Common Prayer in 1878. Commemorations are included in the 2004 revision of Ireland’s Book of Common Prayer, which describes them as ‘persons associated with dioceses of the Church of Ireland, to remind us of the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in the Church in all ages’. Each Commemoration is provided with a proper collect or ‘memorial prayer’, approved for use by the House of Bishops of the Church of Ireland.

    In the Scottish Episcopal Church, there are six categories. No description of these categories is given (other than Category VI, which is named Commemorations), only an ascription as to which each celebration is allocated. Those in Category VI are not provided with proper prayers or readings. Feasts in Categories I to IV are intended to be kept by the whole Church, but those in categories V and VI may be kept according to diocesan or local discretion.

    Similarly, the Church in Wales has five categories, and again no description is given of these. Each is provided with at least a proper collect. Holy Days in groups I and II should always be celebrated, and those in group II which are moved may be celebrated on any convenient weekday before the following Sunday. The celebration of days in groups III, IV and V is optional.

    In order to make this book easier to use, the appropriate classification is given next to the name of each Church. On a few occasions a celebration has different collects in the different Churches, and these are marked appropriately.

    ABBREVIATIONS

    To simplify references to the Anglican Provinces, England indicates the Church of England, Ireland indicates the Church of Ireland, Scotland indicates the Scottish Episcopal Church and Wales indicates the Church in Wales. In the Calendar these are represented by (E), (I), (S), and (W) respectively.

    THE CALENDAR

    The Calendar on the following pages provides a consolidated view of the Calendars of the four Churches. Occasionally there is disagreement on the date of a particular feast, or on its title or its categorization. Because it is not possible to show all the detail of such cases within the confines of the Calendar, an attempt has been made to follow the majority view, and to cross-reference variant dates. Full details of a feast’s categorization can be found in the corresponding entry in the Proper of Saints.

    With that qualification, and using the English terminology, Principal Feasts are printed in BOLD UPPER CASE; Festivals in bold lower case; Lesser Festivals in ordinary type; and Commemorations in italic.

    Where several entries occur on the same date they are listed in order of classification, and within a single classification by the year of death, oldest first.

    THE LECTIONARY

    If only two readings are used at the Principal Service and that service is a Eucharist, the second reading must always be the Gospel reading. When this lectionary is used at a service other than the Eucharist, the Gospel reading need not always be chosen.

    ROUND BRACKETS ( ) which are included in the text of the NRSV are repeated here. Such text should always be read.

    SQUARE BRACKETS [ ] in the bible readings indicate that the text within them may be omitted, as suggested by the compilers of the Lectionaries. In the psalm responses, they indicate the second part of a longer response. Usually it will be convenient to use the shorter form which can more easily be remembered.

    SUPERSCRIPT VERSE NUMBERS

    Where some verses have been omitted, the verse number at which the text resumes is noted in superscript. This may be quietly announced if others are following the text in their own Bibles. Otherwise, no announcement is necessary.

    SISTER VOLUMES

    Three volumes, entitled The Word of the Lord – Year A, The Word of the Lord – Year B and The Word of the Lord – Year C accompany this book.

    A fourth, slimmer volume of readings for use on special occasions, such as Guidance of the Holy Spirit, Harvest Thanksgiving, Ministry (Ember Days), Mission and Evangelism, Peace, Rogation Days, Social Justice, Unity, For the Sovereign, In Time of Trouble, is entitled The Word of the Lord – Readings for Special Occasions.

    A book containing all the Gospel readings for use at the Principal Service is called The Gospel of the Lord.

    The final sister volumes to this series of books are Celebrating the Saints and Celebrating the Seasons, compiled by Robert Atwell and published by Canterbury Press Norwich. They contain non-scriptural readings for use through the Christian Year.

    The Calendar

    January

    1 The naming and Circumcision of Jesus

    2 Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishops, Teachers of the Faith, 379 and 389 (E)

    2 Munchin, Abbot, 7th century (I)

    2 Seraphim, Monk of Sarov, Spiritual Guide, 1833 (ES)

    2 Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah, Bishop in South India, Evangelist, 1945 (E)

    3 Morris Williams, Priest, Poet, 1874 (W)

    6 THE EPIPHANY

    10 William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1645 (ESW)

    11 David, King of Scots, 1153 (S)

    11 Rhys Prichard, William Williams, Isaac Williams, Poets, 1644, 1791 and 1865 (W)

    11 Mary Slessor, Missionary in West Africa, 1915 (E)

    12 Aelred of Hexham, Abbot of Rievaulx, 1167 (E)

    12 Benedict Biscop, Abbot of Wearmouth, Scholar, 689 (E)

    13 Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, Teacher of the Faith, 367 (EW)

    13 Kentigern (Mungo), Missionary Bishop in Strathclyde and Cumbria, 603 (ES)

    13 George Fox, Founder of the Society of Friends (the Quakers), 1691 (E)

    14 Hilary (S) see 13 January

    14 Kentigern (Mungo) (W) see 13 January

    17 Antony of Egypt, Hermit, Abbot, 356 (ESW)

    17 Charles Gore, Bishop, Founder of the Community of the Resurrection, 1932 (E)

    18 The Confession of Peter (SW)

    18 Amy Carmichael, Founder of the Dohnavur Fellowship, Spiritual Writer, 1951 (E)

    18–25 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

    19 Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester, 1095 (E)

    20 Richard Rolle of Hampole, Spiritual Writer, 1349 (E)

    21 Agnes, Child Martyr at Rome, 304 (ESW)

    22 Vincent of Saragossa, Deacon, first Martyr of Spain, 304 (E)

    23 Francis de Sales (W) see 24 January

    24 Cadoc, Abbot, 6th century (W)

    24 Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, Teacher of the Faith, 1622 (ES)

    25 The Conversion of Paul

    26 Timothy and Titus, Companions of Paul (ESW)

    27 John Chrysostom (SW) see 13 September

    28 Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Philosopher, Teacher of the Faith, 1274 (ESW)

    30 Charles, King and Martyr, 1649 (ES)

    31 Edan, Bishop, 632 (I)

    31 Charles Mackenzie of Central Africa, Bishop, Missionary, 1862 (S)

    31 John Bosco, Priest, Founder of the Salesian Teaching Order, 1888 (E)

    February

    1 Brigid (Bride), Abbess of Kildare, c.525

    2 THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE (CANDLEMAS)

    3 Seiriol, Abbot, 6th century (W)

    3 Anskar, Archbishop of Hamburg, Missionary in Denmark and Sweden, 865 (E)

    3 Saints and Martyrs of Europe (SW)

    4 Gilbert of Sempringham, Founder of the Gilbertine Order, 1189 (E)

    4 Manche Masemola, Martyr, 1928 (W)

    6 The Martyrs of Japan, 1597 (ES)

    9 Teilo, Bishop, 6th century (W)

    10 Scholastica, Sister of Benedict, Abbess of Plombariola, c.543 (ES)

    14 Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs, 869 and 885 (ESW)

    14 Valentine, Martyr at Rome, c.269 (E)

    15 Sigfrid, Bishop, Apostle of Sweden, 1045 (E)

    15 Thomas Bray, Priest, Founder of the SPCK and the SPG, 1730 (ES)

    17 Finan of Lindisfarne, Bishop, 661 (S)

    17 Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda, Martyr, 1977 (E)

    18 Colman of Lindisfarne, Bishop, 676 (S)

    18 John of Fiesole (Fra Angelico), Priest, and Andrei Rublev, Religious, Painters, 1455 and c.1430 (W)

    19 Martin Luther, Reformer (S) see 31 October

    19 Thomas Burgess, Bishop, Teacher of the Faith, 1837 (W)

    20 Saints, Martyrs and Missionaries of Africa (W)

    23 Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr, c.155 (ESW)

    27 George Herbert, Priest, Poet, 1633 (EW)

    Alternative Date

    Matthias may be celebrated on 24 February instead of 14 May (E).

    March

    1 David, Bishop of Menevia, Patron of Wales, c.601 (ESW)

    2 Chad, Bishop of Lichfield, Missionary, 672 (ES)

    3 John and Charles Wesley, Priests (S) see 24 May

    4 Adrian of May Island, Abbot, and Companions, Martyrs, 875 (S)

    5 Non, Mother of David of Wales, 5th century (W)

    5 Kieran of Seirkeiran, Bishop, Monk, c.545 (I)

    6 Baldred, Hermit and Bishop, 608 (S)

    7 Perpetua, Felicity and their Companions, Martyrs at Carthage, 203 (ESW)

    8 Duthac, Bishop of Ross, 1068 (S)

    8 Edward King, Bishop of Lincoln, 1910 (E)

    8 Felix, Bishop, Apostle to the East Angles, 647 (E)

    8 Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, Priest, Poet, 1929 (E)

    10 Kessog, Monk, Bishop, Martyr, c.700 (S)

    16 Boniface of Ross, Bishop, 8th century (S)

    17 Patrick, Bishop, Missionary, Patron of Ireland, c.460

    18 Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem, Teacher of the Faith, 386 (ESW)

    19 Joseph of nazareth

    20 Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, Missionary, 687 (ES)

    21 Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, Reformation Martyr, 1556 (ES)

    21 Thomas Cranmer, Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley, and Robert Ferrar, Bishops, Teachers of the Faith and Martyrs, 1556 and 1555 (W)

    22 Thomas Ken (S) see 8 June

    24 Macartan, Bishop, c.505 (I)

    24 Walter Hilton of Thurgarton, Augustinian Canon, Mystic, 1396 (E)

    24 Paul Couturier, Priest, Ecumenist, 1953 (ES)

    24 Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, Martyr, 1980 (EW)

    25 THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LORD TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

    26 Harriet Monsell, Founder of the Community of St John the Baptist, 1883 (E)

    28 Patrick Forbes, Bishop, 1635, and the Aberdeen Doctors, Teachers of the Faith (S)

    29 Woolos, King, 6th century (W)

    29 John Keble (S) see 14 July

    31 John Donne, Priest, Poet, 1631 (E)

    Alternative Dates

    Chad may be celebrated with Cedd on 26 October instead of 2 March (E).

    Cuthbert may be celebrated on 4 September instead of 20 March (E).

    April

    1 Gilbert of Caithness, Bishop, 1245 (S)

    1 Frederick Denison Maurice, Priest, Teacher of the Faith, 1872 (E)

    7 Brynach, Abbot, 5th century (W)

    8 Griffith Jones, Priest and Teacher of the Faith, 1761 (W)

    9 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Lutheran Pastor, Martyr, 1945 (ESW)

    9 Saints, Martyrs and Missionaries of South America (W)

    10 William Law, Priest, Spiritual Writer, 1761 (ES)

    10 William of Ockham, Friar, Philosopher, Teacher of the Faith, 1347 (E)

    11 George Augustus Selwyn, first Bishop of New Zealand, 1878 (ESW)

    12 William Forbes, Bishop of Edinburgh, 1634 (S)

    15 Padarn, Bishop, 6th century (W)

    16 Magnus of Orkney, Martyr, c.1116 (S)

    16 Isabella Gilmore, Deaconess, 1923 (E)

    17 Donnan, Abbot, and his Companions, Martyrs, c.617 (S)

    18 Laserian, Abbot of Leighlin, 639 (I)

    19 Alphege, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1012 (E)

    20 Beuno, Abbot, c.640 (W)

    20 Maelrubha of Applecross, Abbot, Missionary, 722 (S)

    21 Anselm, Abbot of Le Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher of the Faith, 1109 (ESW)

    23 George, Martyr, Patron of England, c.304 (ESW)

    24 Mellitus, Bishop of London, first Bishop at St Paul’s, 624 (E)

    24 The Seven Martyrs of the Melanesian Brotherhood, Solomon Islands, 2003 (E)

    25 Mark the Evangelist

    26 Albert Earnest Laurie, Priest, 1957 (S)

    27 Assicus (Tassach), Bishop of Raholp, 470 (I)

    27 Christina Rossetti, Poet, 1894 (E)

    28 Peter Chanel, Missionary in the South Pacific, Martyr, 1841 (E)

    29 Catherine of Siena, Teacher of the Faith, 1380 (ESW)

    30 Pandita Mary Ramabai, Translator of the Scriptures, 1922 (E)

    May

    1 Philip and James, apostles

    2 Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 373 (ESW)

    3 Henry Vaughan, Poet, 1695 (W)

    4 English Saints and Martyrs of the Reformation Era (E)

    5 Asaph, Bishop, 6th century (W)

    8 Julian of Norwich, Spiritual Writer, c.1417 (ESW)

    9 Gregory of Nazianzus (W) see 2 January

    10 Comgall, Abbot of Bangor, 602 (I)

    12 Thomas Rattray, Bishop, 1743 (S)

    12 Gregory Dix, Priest, Monk, Scholar, 1952 (E)

    14 Matthias the apostle

    14 Carthagh of Lismore, 637 (I)

    15 Edmwnd Prys, Priest, Poet, Translator, and John Davies, Priest, Translator, 1624 and 1644 (W)

    16 Brendan the Navigator, 577 (I)

    16 Caroline Chisholm, Social Reformer, 1877 (E)

    19 Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, Restorer of Monastic Life, 988 (EW)

    20 Chad (W) see 2 March

    20 Alcuin of York, Deacon, Abbot of Tours, 804 (E)

    21 Helena, Protector of the Holy Places, 330 (ES) 23 William of Perth, 1201 (S)

    24 John and Charles Wesley, Evangelists, Hymn Writers, 1791 and 1788 (EW)

    25 The Venerable Bede, Monk at Jarrow, Scholar, Historian, 735 (ESW)

    25 Aldhelm, Bishop of Sherborne, 709 (E)

    26 Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, 605 (ESW)

    26 John Calvin, Reformer, 1564 (E)

    26 Philip Neri, Founder of the Oratorians, Spiritual Guide, 1595 (E)

    28 Melangell, Abbess, 6th century (W)

    28 Lanfranc, Prior of Le Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, Scholar, 1089 (E)

    30 Josephine Butler, Social Reformer, 1906 (E)

    30 Joan of Arc, Visionary, 1431 (E)

    30 Apolo Kivebulaya, Priest, Evangelist in Central Africa, 1933 (E)

    31 The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth

    Alternative Dates

    Matthias may be celebrated on 24 February instead of 14 May (E).

    The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth may be celebrated on 2 July instead of 31 May (E).

    June

    1 Justin, Martyr at Rome, c.165 (ESW)

    2 Blandina and her Companions, Martyrs, 177 (W)

    3 Kevin of Glendalough, 618 (I)

    3 The Martyrs of Uganda, 1885–7 and 1977 (E)

    3 Charles Lwanga and his Companions, Janani Luwum (S)

    3 James Hannington; the Martyrs of Uganda; Janani Luwum (W)

    4 Petroc, Abbot of Padstow, 6th century (E)

    4 John XXIII, Bishop of Rome, Reformer, 1963 (S)

    5 Boniface (Wynfrith) of Crediton, Bishop, Apostle of Germany, Martyr, 754 (ESW)

    6 Jarlath of Tuam, c.550 (I)

    6 Ini Kopuria, Founder of the Melanesian Brotherhood, 1945 (E)

    7 Colman of Dromore, 6th century (I)

    8 Ephrem of Syria (S) see 9 June

    8 Thomas Ken, Bishop of Bath and Wells, Non-Juror, Hymn Writer, 1711 (E)

    9 Columba (Columcille), Abbot of Iona, Missionary, 597

    9 Ephrem of Syria, Deacon, Hymn Writer, Teacher of the Faith, 373 (E)

    10 Ephrem of Syria (W) see 9 June

    11 Barnabas the Apostle

    12 John Skinner, Priest, and John Skinner, Bishop, 1807 and 1816 (S)

    14 Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus, Gregory of Nyssa (S) see 2 January and 19 July

    14 Basil the Great (W) see 2 January

    14 Richard Baxter, Puritan Divine, 1691 (E)

    15 Evelyn Underhill, Spiritual Writer, 1941 (E)

    16 Richard, Bishop of Chichester, 1253 (EW)

    16 Joseph Butler, Bishop of Durham, Philosopher, 1752 (E)

    17 Samuel and Henrietta Barnett, Social Reformers, 1913 and 1936 (E)

    18 Bernard Mizeki, Apostle of the MaShona, Martyr, 1896 (ES)

    19 Sundar Singh of India, Sadhu (holy man), Evangelist, Teacher of the Faith, 1929 (E)

    20 Alban, Julius and Aaron, Martyrs, c.250 and c.304–5 (W)

    20 Fillan, Abbot, c.750 (S)

    22 Alban, first Martyr of Britain, c.250 (ES)

    23 Etheldreda, Abbess of Ely, c.678 (E)

    24 The Birth of John the Baptist

    25 Moluag of Lismore, Bishop, c.592 (S)

    26 Robert Leighton, Archbishop of Glasgow, 1684 (S)

    27 Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 444 (E)

    27 Alexander Jolly, Bishop of Moray, 1838 (S)

    27 Richard Fitzralph, Archbishop of Armagh, Reformer, 1360 (I)

    28 Irenæus, Bishop of Lyons, Teacher of the Faith, c.200 (ESW)

    29 Peter and Paul, Apostles

    30 The Martyrdom of Paul (W)

    Alternative Date

    Peter the Apostle may be celebrated alone, without Paul, on 29 June.

    July

    1 Serf, Bishop, 6th century (S)

    1 Euddogwy, Bishop, 6th century (W)

    1 Henry, John, and Henry Venn the younger, Priests, Evangelical Divines, 1797, 1813 and 1873 (E)

    3 Thomas the Apostle

    4 Peblig, Abbot, 4th century (W)

    6 Palladius, Bishop, c.450 (S)

    6 Moninne of Killeavy, 518 (I)

    6 Thomas More, Scholar, and John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, Reformation Martyrs, 1535 (E)

    6 Thomas More (W)

    8 Kilian, Bishop, Martyr, 689 (I)

    11 Benedict of Nursia, Abbot of Monte Cassino, Father of Western Monasticism, c.550 (ESW)

    12 Drostan (Tristan) of Deer, Abbot, c.600 (S)

    14 John Keble, Priest, Tractarian, Poet, 1866 (EW)

    15 Swithun, Bishop of Winchester, c.862 (E)

    15 Bonaventure, Friar, Bishop, Teacher of the Faith, 1274 (E)

    16 Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury, 1099 (E)

    18 Elizabeth Ferard, first Deaconess of the Church of England, Founder of the Community of St Andrew, 1883 (E)

    18 Elizabeth of Russia, Religious, Marytr, 1918 (W)

    19 Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, and his sister Macrina, Deaconess, Teachers of the Faith, c.394 and 379 (EW)

    20 Margaret of Antioch, Martyr, 4th Century (E)

    20 Bartolomé de las Casas, Apostle to the Indies, 1566 (E)

    21 Howell Harris, Preacher, 1773 (W)

    21 William Wilberforce (S) see 30 July

    22 Mary Magdalene

    23 Bridget of Sweden, Abbess of Vadstena, 1373 (E)

    24 Declan, Bishop, 5th century (I)

    25 James the Apostle

    26 Anne and Joachim, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary (ES)

    26 Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary (W)

    27 Brooke Foss Westcott, Bishop of Durham, Teacher of the Faith, 1901 (E)

    27 John Comper, Priest, 1903 (S)

    28 Samson, Bishop, 5th century (W)

    29 Mary, Martha and Lazarus, Companions of Our Lord (E)

    29 Mary and Martha (SW)

    29 William Wilberforce, Josephine Butler, and all Social Reformers (W) see 30 May and 30 July

    30 Silas, Companion of Paul (SW)

    30 Thomas Clarkson, Olaudah Equiano and William Wilberforce, Anti-Slavery Campaigners, 1846, 1797 and 1833 (E) 31 Joseph of Arimathea (W)

    31 Ignatius of Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus, 1556 (ES)

    Alternative Dates

    The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth may be celebrated on 2 July instead of 31 May (E).

    Thomas the Apostle may be celebrated on 21 December instead of 3 July (ES).

    Thomas Becket may be celebrated on 7 July instead of 29 December (E).

    August

    3 Germanus, Bishop, 5th century (W)

    4 JeanBaptiste Vianney, Curé d’Ars, Spiritual Guide, 1859 (E)

    5 Oswald, King of Northumbria, Martyr, 642 (ESW)

    6 The Transfiguration of our Lord

    7 Boisil of Melrose, c.642 (S)

    7 John Mason Neale, Priest, Hymn Writer, 1866 (E)

    8 Dominic, Priest, Founder of the Order of Preachers, 1221 (ESW)

    9 Felim, Father of Columba, c.560 (I)

    9 Crumnathy (Nathi), c.610 (I)

    9 Augustine Baker, Priest, Monk, 1641 (W)

    9 John Mason Neale (S) see 7 August

    9 Mary Sumner, Founder of the Mothers’ Union, 1921 (EW)

    9 Edith Stein, Teacher of the Faith, Religious, Martyr, 1942 (W)

    10 Laurence, Deacon at Rome, Martyr, 258 (ESW)

    11 Clare of Assisi, Founder of the Minoresses (Poor Clares), 1253 (ESW)

    11 John Henry Newman, Priest, Tractarian, 1890 (E)

    12 Muredach (Murtagh), Bishop, c.480 (I)

    12 Blane, Missionary, c.590 (S)

    12 Ann Griffiths, Poet, 1805 (W)

    13 Jeremy Taylor, Bishop of Down and Connor, Teacher of the Faith, 1667

    13 Florence Nightingale, Nurse, Social Reformer, 1910 (E)

    13 Octavia Hill, Social Reformer, 1912 (E)

    14 Fachtna (Fachanan), Bishop of Ross, 6th century (I)

    14 Maximilian Kolbe, Friar, Martyr, 1941 (ESW)

    15 The Blessed Virgin Mary (ESW)

    16 Charles Inglis, Bishop of Nova Scotia, 1816 (I)

    20 Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, Teacher of the Faith, 1153 (ESW)

    20 William and Catherine Booth, Founders of the Salvation Army, 1912 and 1890 (E)

    23 Tydfil, Martyr, 430 (W)

    24 Bartholomew the Apostle

    25 Ebba of Coldingham, Abbess, 683 (S)

    27 Monica, Mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387 (ESW)

    28 Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, Teacher of the Faith, 430 (ESW)

    29 The Beheading of John the Baptist (ESW)

    30 John Bunyan, Spiritual Writer, 1688 (E)

    31 Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, Missionary, 651 (ESW)

    Alternative Date

    The Blessed Virgin Mary may be celebrated on 8 September instead of 15 August (EI).

    September

    1 Giles of Provence, Hermit, c.710 (E)

    2 The Martyrs of Papua New Guinea, 1901 and 1942 (ESW)

    3 Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome, Teacher of the Faith, 604 (ESW)

    4 Oengus Mac Nisse of Dalriada, Bishop of Connor, 514 (I)

    4 Birinus, Bishop of Dorchester (Oxon), Apostle of Wessex, 650 (E)

    4 Cuthbert (W) see 20 March

    6 Allen Gardiner, Missionary, Founder of the South American Mission Society, 1851 (E)

    8 The Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary

    9 Ciaran of Clonmacnoise, c.545 (I)

    9 Charles Fuge Lowder, Priest, 1880 (E)

    10 Finnian of Movilla in the Ards, 579 (I)

    10 William Salesbury, Translator and William Morgan, Bishop and Translator, 1584 and 1604 (W)

    11 Deiniol, Bishop, 6th century (W)

    12 Ailbhe, Bishop, c.526 (I)

    13 Cyprian (SW) see 15 September

    13 John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, Teacher of the Faith, 407 (E)

    14 Holy Cross Day (ESW)

    15 Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, Martyr, 258 (E)

    16 Ninian, Bishop of Galloway, Apostle of the Picts, c.432 (ESW)

    16 Edward Bouverie Pusey, Priest, Tractarian, 1882 (E)

    17 Hildegard, Abbess of Bingen, Visionary, 1179 (ES)

    19 Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury, 690 (E)

    20 Saints, Martyrs and Missionaries of Australasia and the Pacific (W)

    20 John Coleridge Patteson, first Bishop of Melanesia, and his Companions, Martyrs, 1871 (ES)

    21 Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

    23 Adamnán (Eunan), Abbot of Iona, 704 (IS)

    25 Fin Barre of Cork, Hermit and Abbot, 623 (I)

    25 Finnbar of Caithness, Bishop, 5th–6th century (S)

    25 Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop of Winchester, Spiritual Writer, 1626 (E)

    25 Sergei of Radonezh, Russian Monastic Reformer, Teacher of the Faith, 1392 (EW)

    26 Lancelot Andrewes (W) see 25 September

    26 Wilson Carlile, Founder of the Church Army, 1942 (E)

    27 Vincent de Paul, Founder of the Congregation of the Mission (Lazarists), 1660 (ESW)

    29 Michael and All Angels

    30 Jerome, Translator of the Scriptures, Teacher of the Faith, 420 (ESW)

    Alternative Dates

    Cuthbert may be celebrated on 4 September instead of 20 March (E).

    The Blessed Virgin Mary may be celebrated on 8 September instead of 15 August (EI).

    October

    1 Gregory the Enlightener, Bishop, Apostle of Armenia, c.332 (S)

    1 Remigius, Bishop of Rheims, Apostle of the Franks, 533 (E)

    1 Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, Social Reformer, 1885 (E)

    3 George Bell, Bishop of Chichester, Ecumenist, Peacemaker, 1958

    4 Francis of Assisi, Friar, Deacon, Founder of the Friars Minor, 1226 (ESW)

    6 William Tyndale, Translator of the Scriptures, Reformation Martyr, 1536 (EW)

    8 Alexander Penrose Forbes, Bishop of Brechin, 1875 (S)

    9 Denys, Bishop of Paris, and his Companions, Martyrs, c.250 (E)

    9 Cynog, Abbot, Martyr, 5th century (W)

    9 Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln, Philosopher, Scientist, 1253 (E)

    10 Paulinus, Bishop of York, Missionary, 644 (E)

    10 Thomas Traherne, Poet, Spiritual Writer, 1674 (E)

    11 Philip the Deacon (I)

    11 Canice (Kenneth), Bishop, Abbot, c.600 (IS)

    11 Ethelburga, Abbess of Barking, 675 (E)

    11 James the Deacon, companion of Paulinus, 7th century (E)

    12 Móibhí, teacher of Columba, 545 (I)

    12 Wilfrid of Ripon, Bishop, Missionary, 709 (E)

    12 Elizabeth Fry, Prison Reformer, 1845 (ES) 12 Edith Cavell, Nurse, 1915 (E)

    13 Edward the Confessor, King of England, 1066 (EW)

    14 Esther John, Missionary, Martyr, 1960 (W)

    15 Teresa of Avila, Teacher of the Faith, 1582 (ESW)

    16 Gall, Missionary, 630 (I)

    16 Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of London and Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Worcester, Reformation Martyrs, 1555 (E)

    16 Daniel Rowland, Priest and Preacher, 1790 (W)

    17 Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, Martyr, c.107 (ESW)

    18 Luke the Evangelist

    19 Henry Martyn, Translator of the Scriptures, Missionary in India and Persia, 1812 (ESW)

    23 James of Jerusalem, the Brother of Our Lord, Bishop, Martyr (ISW)

    25 Crispin and Crispinian, Martyrs at Rome, c.287 (E)

    25 Lewis Bayley, Bishop, Writer, 1631 (W)

    26 Alfred the Great, King of the West Saxons, Scholar, 899 (EW)

    26 Cedd, Abbot of Lastingham, Bishop of the East Saxons, 664 (E)

    27 Otteran, Abbot, 563 (I)

    28 Simon and Jude, apostles

    29 James Hannington, Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa, Martyr in Uganda, 1885 (ES)

    30 Richard Hooker (W) see 3 November

    31 Catholic and Protestant Saints and Martyrs of the Reformation Era (W)

    31 Martin Luther, Reformer, 1546 (E)

    Alternative Date

    Chad may be celebrated with Cedd on 26 October instead of 2 March (E).

    November

    1 ALL SAINTS’ DAY

    2 Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day) (ESW)

    3 Martyrs and Confessors of our Time (W)

    3 Winifred, Abbess, 7th century (W)

    3 Malachy, Bishop, 1148 (I)

    3 Richard Hooker, Priest, Anglican Apologist, Teacher of the Faith, 1600 (ES)

    3 Martin de Porres, Friar, 1639 (E)

    4 Saints and Martyrs of the Anglican Communion (W)

    5 Cybi, Abbot, 6th century (W)

    6 Illtud, Abbot, 5th century (W)

    6 Leonard, Hermit, 6th century (E)

    6 William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher of the Faith, 1944 (E)

    7 Willibrord of York, Bishop, Apostle of Frisia, 739 (ES)

    7 Richard Davies, Bishop, Translator, 1581 (W)

    8 Saints and Martyrs of England (E)

    8 Saints of Wales (W)

    9 Margery Kempe, Mystic, c.1440 (E)

    9 George Hay Forbes, Priest, 1875 (S)

    10 Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome, Teacher of the Faith, 461 (ESW)

    11 Martin, Bishop of Tours, c.397 (ESW)

    12 Tysilio, Abbot, 6th century (W)

    12 Machar, Bishop, c.600 (S)

    13 Charles Simeon, Priest, Evangelical Divine, 1836 (EW)

    14 Dyfrig, Bishop, 6th century (W)

    14 Laurence O’Toole, Abbot, Archbishop, 1180 (I)

    14 Samuel Seabury, first Anglican Bishop in North America, 1796 (E)

    15 Saints, Martyrs and Missionaries of North America (W)

    16 Margaret, Queen of Scotland, Philanthropist, Reformer of the Church, 1093 (ESW)

    16 Edmund Rich of Abingdon, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1240 (E)

    17 Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, 1200 (ESW)

    18 Hilda (W) see 19 November

    18 Fergus, Bishop, c.750 (S)

    18 Elizabeth of Hungary, Princess of Thuringia, Philanthropist, 1231 (E)

    19 Hilda, Abbess of Whitby, 680 (ES)

    19 Elizabeth of Hungary (W) see 18 November

    19 Mechtild, Béguine of Magdeburg, Mystic, 1280 (E)

    20 Edmund, King of the East Angles, Martyr, 870 (E)

    20 Priscilla Lydia Sellon, a Restorer of the Religious Life in the Church of England, 1876 (E)

    21 Paulinus of Wales, Abbot, 5th century (W)

    21 Columban (S) see 23 November

    22 Cecilia, Martyr at Rome, c.230 (ES)

    23 Clement, Bishop of Rome, Martyr, c.100 (ESW)

    23 Columbanus, Bishop, Abbot, 615 (I)

    24 Colman of Cloyne, Priest, 601 (I)

    24 Lucy Menzies, 1954 (S)

    25 Catherine of Alexandria, Martyr, 4th century (E)

    25 John Donne (W) see 31 March

    25 Isaac Watts, Hymn Writer, 1748 (E)

    29 Day of Intercession and Thanksgiving for the Missionary Work of the Church (EW)

    30 Andrew the Apostle, Patron of Scotland

    December

    1 Nicholas Ferrar (W) see 4 December

    1 Charles de Foucauld, Hermit in the Sahara, 1916 (ES)

    2 Saints, Martyrs and Missionaries of Asia (W)

    2 Nicholas Ferrar (S) see 4 December

    3 Francis Xavier, Missionary, Apostle of the Indies, 1552 (ESW)

    4 Clement of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, c.210 (S)

    4 John of Damascus, Monk, Teacher of the Faith, c.749 (E)

    4 Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, Founder of the Little Gidding Community, 1637 (E)

    6 Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c.326 (ESW)

    7 Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Teacher of the Faith, 397 (ESW)

    8 The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (ES)

    8 Cynidr, Bishop, 6th century (W)

    12 Finnian of Clonard, Abbot, c.549 (I)

    13 Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, 304 (EW)

    13 Samuel Johnson, Moralist, 1784 (E)

    14 John of the Cross, Poet, Teacher of the Faith, 1591 (ESW)

    17 O Sapientia (O Wisdom!)

    17 Eglantyne Jebb, Social Reformer, Founder of ‘Save the Children’, 1928 (E)

    18 O Adonai!

    18 Flannan, Missionary and Pilgrim, c.640 (I)

    19 O Root of Jesse!

    20 O Key of David!

    21 O Dayspring!

    22 O King of the Nations!

    23 O Emmanuel!

    25 CHRISTMAS DAY

    26 Stephen, Deacon, First Martyr

    27 John, Apostle and Evangelist

    28 The Holy Innocents

    29 Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1170 (ESW)

    30 Tathan, Abbot, 6th century (W)

    30 Josephine Butler (S) see 30 May

    31 John Wyclif, Reformer, 1384 (ESW)

    Alternative Dates

    Thomas the Apostle may be celebrated on 21 December instead of 3 July (ES).

    Thomas Becket may be celebrated on 7 July instead of 29 December (E).

    The Proper of the Saints

    January

    1 January

    The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus

    White

    England, Ireland: Festival – Scotland, Wales: I

    The celebration of this scriptural festival marks three events: firstly, the naming of the infant Christ as Jesus; secondly, the circumcision as the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham ‘and his children for ever’, thus Christ’s keeping of the Law; and thirdly, traditionally the first shedding of the Christ’s blood. The most significant of these in the gospels is the name itself, which means ‘Yahweh saves’ and so is linked to the question asked by Moses of God: ‘What is your name?’ ‘I am who I am,’ was the reply, hence the significance of Jesus’s words: ‘Before Abraham was, I am.’ This feast has been observed in the Church since at least the sixth century.

    Collect

    Almighty God,

    whose blessed Son was circumcised

    in obedience to the law for our sake

    and given the Name that is above every name:

    give us grace faithfully to bear his Name,

    to worship him in the freedom of the Spirit,

    and to proclaim him as the Saviour of the world;

    who is alive and reigns with you,

    in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

    one God, now and for ever.

    A reading from the book Numbers.

    The L

    ord

    spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying,

    Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them,

    The L

    ord

    bless you and keep you;

    the L

    ord

    make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;

    the L

    ord

    lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

    So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.

    This is the word of the Lord.

    Numbers 6.22–end

    Responsorial Psalm

    R: O Lord our governor,

    how glorious is your name in all the world!

    Your majesty above the heavens is praised

    out of the mouths of babes at the breast.

    You have founded a stronghold against your foes,

    that you might still the enemy and the avenger. R

    When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,

    the moon and the stars that you have ordained,

    What is man, that you should be mindful of him;

    the son of man, that you should seek him out?

    You have made him little lower than the angels

    and crown him with glory and honour. R

    You have given him dominion over the works of your hands

    and put all things under his feet,

    All sheep and oxen, even the wild beasts of the field,

    The birds of the air, the fish of the sea

    and whatsoever moves in the paths of the sea. R

    Psalm 8

    A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Galatians.

    When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

    This is the word of the Lord.

    Galatians 4.4–7

    Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

    When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

    This is the Gospel of the Lord.

    Luke 2.15–21

    Post Communion

    Eternal God,

    whose incarnate Son was given the Name of Saviour:

    grant that we who have shared

    in this sacrament of our salvation

    may live out our years in the power

    of the Name above all other names,

    Jesus Christ our Lord.

    2 January

    Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzus

    White

    Bishops, Teachers of the Faith

    England: Lesser Festival

    9 May – Wales (Gregory only): V

    14 June – Scotland: Commemoration – Wales (Basil only): V

    Gregory and Basil were two friends bound together by their desire to promote and defend the divinity of Christ as proclaimed in the Nicene Creed. This was against the seemingly overwhelming pressure from both Church and State for the establishment of Arianism, which denied Christ’s divinity and thus the whole Christian doctrine of the Trinity. Basil was renowned for being headstrong and forceful, in comparison to his friend Gregory, who would rather spend his days in prayer and living the simple, ascetic life. Gregory’s brilliance in oratory and theological debate meant that a hidden life was virtually impossible, and Basil drew him into the forefront of the controversy. Their joint persuasive eloquence convinced the first Council of Constantinople, meeting in 381, that their teaching was the truly orthodox one and the Council ratified the text of the Nicene Creed in the form in which it is used in the East to this day. Basil died in 379 and Gregory ten years later.

    Collect

    Lord God,

    whose servants Basil and Gregory

    proclaimed the mystery of your Word made flesh,

    to build up your Church in wisdom and strength:

    grant that we may rejoice in his presence among us,

    and so be brought with them to know

    the power of your unending love;

    through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

    who is alive and reigns with you,

    in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

    one God, now and for ever.

    A reading from the Wisdom of Solomon.

    May God grant me to speak with judgement,

    and to have thoughts worthy of what I have received;

    for he is the guide even of wisdom

    and the corrector of the wise.

    For both we and our words are in his hand,

    as are all understanding and skill in crafts.

    For it is he who gave me unerring knowledge of what exists,

    to know the structure of the world and the activity of the elements;

    the beginning and end and middle of times,

    the alternations of the solstices and the changes of the seasons,

    the cycles of the year and the constellations of the stars,

    the natures of animals and the tempers of wild animals,

    the powers of spirits and the thoughts of human beings,

    the varieties of plants and the virtues of roots;

    I learned both what is secret and what is manifest,

    for wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me.

    This is the word of the Lord.

    Wisdom 7.15–22a

    Responsorial Psalm

    R: You say, O Lord, ‘Seek my face’;

    [your face will I seek].

    The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?

    The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?

    When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes,

    came upon me to eat up my flesh,

    they stumbled and fell. R

    Though a host encamp against me,

    my heart shall not be afraid,

    and though there rise up war against me,

    yet will I put my trust in him. R

    One thing have I asked of the Lord and that alone I seek:

    that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

    To behold the fair beauty of the Lord

    and to seek his will in his temple. R

    My heart tells of your word, ‘Seek my face.’

    Your face, Lord, will I seek.

    Hide not your face from me,

    nor cast your servant away in displeasure.

    You have been my helper, leave me not,

    neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. R

    From Psalm 27

    A reading from the Second Letter of Paul to Timothy.

    In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

    As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

    This is the word of the Lord.

    2 Timothy 4.1–8

    Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

    Jesus said to the crowds: ‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

    ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

    ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’

    This is the Gospel of the Lord.

    Matthew 5.13–19

    Post Communion

    God of truth,

    whose Wisdom set her table

    and invited us to eat the bread and drink the wine

    of the kingdom:

    help us to lay aside all foolishness

    and to live and walk in the way of insight,

    that we may come with Basil and Gregory

    to the eternal feast of heaven;

    through Jesus Christ our Lord.

    2 January

    Munchin

    Abbot

    Ireland: Commemoration

    If celebrated otherwise, Common of Religious

    Munchin, a seventh-century monk, affectionately known as the wise, is honoured in Limerick and known as patron of the city. The ‘little monk’ inaugurated a tradition of prayer and study in a golden period of Irish Christianity and Celtic monastic life.

    Collect

    Source of all wisdom,

    you so inspired your servant Munchin

    that he became affectionately known as ‘The Wise’:

    renew in your church the tradition of prayer and study,

    that we may for ever honour you with heart, soul and mind;

    through Jesus Christ our Lord.

    2 January

    Seraphim

    Monk of Sarov, Spiritual Guide

    England, Scotland: Commemoration

    If celebrated otherwise, Common of Religious

    Born in 1759 at Kursk in Russia, Seraphim entered the Monastery of our Lady at Sarov near Moscow when he was twenty years old. He lived as a Solitary for over thirty years but his gifts as a staretz, or spiritual guide, became more widely-known until he found himself sharing his gift of healing spirit, soul and body with the thousands who made the pilgrimage to his monastery. The ‘Jesus Prayer’ formed the heart of his own devotional life and he stressed the need for all Christians to have an unceasing communion with the person of Jesus. He died on this day in 1833 and is revered in the Russian Orthodox Church as ‘an ikon of Orthodox Spirituality’.

    2 January

    Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah

    Bishop in South India, Evangelist

    England: Commemoration

    If celebrated otherwise, Common of Bishops

    Samuel Azariah was born in 1874 in a small village in South India, his father Thomas Vedanayagam being a simple village priest, and his mother Ellen having a deep love and understanding of the Scriptures. Samuel became a YMCA evangelist whilst still only nineteen, and secretary of the organization throughout South India a few years later. He saw that, for the Church in India to grow and attract ordinary Indians to the Christian faith, it had to have an indigenous leadership and reduce the strong western influences and almost totally white leadership that pervaded it. He was ordained priest at the age of thirty-five and bishop just three years later, his work moving from primary evangelism to forwarding his desire for more Indian clergy and the need to raise their educational standards. He was an avid ecumenist and was one of the first to see the importance to mission of a united Church. He died on 1 January 1945, just two years before the creation of a united Church of South India.

    3 January

    Morris Williams

    Priest and Poet Wales: V

    If celebrated otherwise, Common of Spiritual Writers

    Morris Williams (usually known as ‘Nicander’, his bardic name) was born at Caernarvon in 1809. He was apprenticed to a carpenter. Once his literary and academic gifts became clear, Nicander was helped to enter King’s School, Chester, and Jesus College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1835. He was ordained in the same year, serving his first curacy at Holywell. In 1847 he was appointed perpetual curate of Amlwch, becoming rector of Llanrhuddlad in 1859. Nicander assisted with the revision of the Welsh version of the Book of Common Prayer and edited the 1847 edition of Llyfr yr Homiliau (The Book of Homilies). He was a pioneer of the Tractarian movement in the diocese of Bangor and used his considerable poetic gifts to promote its ideals. Some of the poems from his collection Y Flwyddyn Eglwysig (The Church Year), published in 1843, were adapted into hymns which had a profound impact on the spiritual lives of Welsh-speaking Anglicans. He died in 1874.

    Collect

    Lord of heaven and earth,

    whose affection and love for us

    inspired your servant Nicander

    to praise the wonder of your unfailing grace:

    grant that we may be faithful to the covenant

    you made with us in Jesus Christ our Lord,

    to whom with you and the Holy Spirit

    be all honour and glory now and for ever.

    6 January

    The Epiphany

    Gold or White

    England: Principal Feast – Ireland: Principal Holy Day – Scotland, Wales: I

    The subtitle in the Book of Common Prayer of this, one of the principal feasts of the Church, is ‘The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles’. This emphasizes that, from the moment of the incarnation, the good news of Jesus Christ is for all: Jew and Gentile, the wise and the simple, male and female. Nothing in the Greek text of the gospels indicates that the Magi were all male: even the idea that there were three and they were kings is a much later, non-scriptural, tradition. The date of this feast goes back to the tradition of the Eastern Church, which celebrated both the Nativity and the Baptism of Christ on 6 January, whilst the West celebrated the Nativity on 25 December. As often happens, the two dates merged into a beginning and an end of the same celebration. The Western Church adopted ‘the twelve days of Christmas’ climaxing on 5 January, the eve of Epiphany, or ‘Twelfth Night’. The implication by the fifth century was that this was the night on which the Magi arrived. The complications of dating became even more confused with the changing in the West from the Julian to the Gregorian Calendar, the Eastern Church refusing to play any part in such a radical change. So this day remains the chief day of celebrating the incarnation in Orthodox Churches.

    Collect

    O God,

    who by the leading of a star

    manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:

    mercifully grant that we,

    who know you now by faith,

    may at last behold your glory face to face;

    through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

    who is alive and reigns with you,

    in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

    one God, now and for ever.

    A reading from the prophecy of Isaiah.

    Arise, shine; for your light has come,

    and the glory of the L

    ord

    has risen upon you.

    For darkness shall cover the earth,

    and thick darkness the peoples;

    but the L

    ord

    will arise upon you,

    and his glory will appear over you.

    Nations shall come to your light,

    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

    Lift up your eyes and look around;

    they all gather together, they come to you;

    your sons shall come from far away,

    and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.

    Then you shall see and be radiant;

    your heart shall thrill and rejoice,

    because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,

    the wealth of the nations shall come to you.

    A multitude of camels shall cover you,

    the young camels of Midian and Ephah;

    all those from Sheba shall come.

    They shall bring gold and frankincense,

    and shall proclaim the praise of the L

    ord

    .

    This is the word of the Lord.

    Isaiah 60.1–6

    Responsorial Psalm

    R: [May your name remain for ever, for]

    All the nations shall call you blessed, O God.

    [Give the king your judgements, O God,

    and your righteousness to the son of a king.

    Then shall he judge your people righteously

    and your poor with justice. R

    May the mountains bring forth peace,

    and the little hills righteousness for the people.

    May he defend the poor among the people,

    deliver the children of the needy and crush the oppressor. R

    May he live as long as the sun and moon endure,

    from one generation to another.

    May he come down like rain upon the mown grass,

    like the showers that water the earth. R

    In his time shall righteousness flourish,

    and abundance of peace

    till the moon shall be no more. R

    May his dominion extend from sea to sea

    and from the River to the ends of the earth.

    May his foes kneel before him

    and his enemies lick the dust. R]

    The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute;

    the kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring gifts.

    All kings shall fall down before him;

    all nations shall do him service. R

    For he shall deliver the poor that cry out,

    the needy and those who have no helper.

    He shall have pity on the weak and poor;

    he shall preserve the lives of the needy.

    He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence,

    and dear shall their blood be in his sight. R

    Long may he live;

    unto him may be given gold from Sheba;

    may prayer be made for him continually

    and may they bless him all the day long. R

    From Psalm 72

    A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians.

    This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles – for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

    Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.

    This is the word of the Lord.

    Ephesians 3.1–12

    Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

    In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

    "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

    for from you shall come a ruler

    who is to shepherd my people Israel." ’

    Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

    This is the Gospel of the Lord.

    Matthew 2.1–12

    Post Communion

    Lord God,

    the bright splendour whom the nations seek:

    may we who with the wise men have been drawn by your light

    discern the glory of your presence in your Son,

    the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord.

    10 January

    William Laud

    Archbishop of Canterbury

    England, Scotland: Commemoration – Wales: V

    If celebrated otherwise, Common of Martyrs

    William Laud was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury by his friend and ecclesiastical ally, King Charles, in 1633. The aim of both Archbishop and Monarch was to counter the reforming Puritan movement, which emphasized personal and ecclesial austerity as a means of sustaining conversion. Laud was a High Churchman who felt that the majesty of God should be reflected in the liturgy of the church and rigorously set about ensuring that its ministers should practise what he preached. His relentless approach left no room for variance of practice but neither did the Puritans and the latter had the upper hand in Parliament and eventually impeached him in 1640 and imprisoned him in the Tower of London. His friend the king did not or could not come to his assistance and he was beheaded on this day in 1645.

    Collect (Wales)

    God,

    by whose grace your servant William

    professed the Christian faith

    and in that profession came to die:

    grant that we who have been baptized into your Church

    may prove steadfast in faith

    and share with him the crown of glory;

    through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

    to whom with you and the Holy Spirit

    be all honour and glory now and for ever.

    11 January

    David of Scotland

    King of Scots

    Scotland: Commemoration

    If celebrated otherwise, Common of any Saint

    The fourth son of Queen Margaret of Scotland, David succeeded his brothers as king, and continued their policy of bringing Scotland closer to Norman England in its secular and religious institutions. In place of decaying Culdee foundations such as those in St Andrews, Melrose and Jedburgh, he introduced monastic communities of Roman observance, favouring reforming orders. These exercised a powerful, civilizing influence and became centres of education, care for the sick and relief of the poor. He founded royal burghs and promoted a feudal system in the Norman style. He died in 1153.

    11 January

    Rhys Prichard, William Williams, Isaac Williams

    Rhys Prichard, Priest and Poet, William Williams, Deacon and Poet,

    Isaac Williams, Priest and Poet

    Wales: V

    If celebrated otherwise, Common of Spiritual Writers

    Rhys Prichard (known as ‘Yr Hen Ficer’ ‘The Old Vicar’) was probably born near Llandovery in 1579. He graduated from Jesus College, Oxford, in 1603, a year after his ordination to the priesthood, and was appointed vicar of Llandovery. In 1626 he became chancellor of St Davids Cathedral. Prichard was one of the most effective communicators of the Christian message in Welsh history. His teachings were contained in easily remembered verses in colloquial Carmarthenshire Welsh. After Prichard’s death his poems were collected by Stephen Hughes in Cannwyll y Cymry (The Welshmen’s Candle). The impact of this often-reprinted volume on Welsh Christianity has been compared with that of Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. He died in 1644 and was buried in the churchyard of the Cathedral.

    William Williams was born at Llanfair-ar-y-bryn, Carmarthenshire, in 1717. He underwent a conversion while listening to Howell Harris preach, was ordained deacon and served as curate of Llanwrtyd. His Methodist leanings became clear

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