Reformed Evangelical Synod of America

Archive for the ‘Feasts and Commemorations’ Category

Francis, born in 1182, was the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. He lived a carefree life and aided his father until 1201 ,when he joined a military expedition against Perugia. He was taken prisoner and spent a year as a captive. Upon his return to Assisi in 1203, Francis returned to his life until a serious illness led to a spiritual crisis. In 1205 Francis left for Puglia to enlist in the army of the Count of Brienne. In Spoleto, a strange vision made him return to Assisi, deepening his spiritual awakening.

Eventually, Francis’ call came into focus when, in a vision, he was given a mission to ‘rebuild the Church’. At first he focused on the small chapel where he received the vision, rebuilding it while, at the same time, laying the foundations for his future life as a mendicant. Others gathered around him, and soon a community was formed. In February 1209 he heard a life-changing sermon which called him to a life of total poverty and oneness with all creation, which stood in stark contrast with many of the clergy and monks of his own day.

Francis’ example strongly affected Clare, who, facing an arranged marriage to a man she did not truly love, elected to surrender her life to Christ’s service by following a path similar to Francis. While Francis’ followers travelled widely, Clare and her sisters lived quiet lives in enclosed communities, devoting themselves to prayer, nursing the sick, and works of mercy for the poor and neglected.

Francis died in 1226. Clare lived until 1253. Both remain cherished examples of selflessness among the many who today are members of or are influenced by the various orders of the Franciscan family.

COLLECT
Most holy God, grant your people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, following the way of your blessed servants Francis and Clare, we may, for love of you, delight in your whole creation with perfectness of joy, serve you with singleness of heart, and attain to the riches of the age to come. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Remigius was elected bishop of Rheims at the age of twenty-two. He is chiefly remembered for having baptized Clovis, king of the Franks, on Christmas Day in 468. Clovis’ conversion drastically changed the history of Europe, for through Remigius, the Franks were won to the catholic faith as opposed to the doctrines of the Arians.

COLLECT
Lord God, by the teaching of your faithful servant and bishop Remigius you turned the nation of the Franks from vain idolatry to the worship of you, the true and living God, in the fullness of the catholic faith. Grant that we who glory in the name of Christian may show forth our faith in worthy deeds. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

The ancient kingdom of Armenia was the first country to become Christian, and it recognizes Gregory as its apostle. Armenia was a buffer state between the powerful empires of Rome and Parthia, and both of them sought to control it.

Gregory was born about 257. When he was still an infant, his father assassinated the King of Parthia, and friends of the family carried Gregory away for protection to Caesarea in Cappadocia, where he was reared as a Christian. About 280 he returned to Armenia, where he was at first treated severely, but eventually by his preaching and example brought both King Tiridates and a majority of his people to the Christian faith.

About 300, Gregory was consecrated the first bishop of Armenia. He died about 332. Armenian Christians to this day remember him with honor and gratitude.

COLLECT
Almighty God, it is your great joy and desire to be glorified in the lives of your saints. You raised up your servant Gregory to be a light in the world, and to preach the Gospel to the people of Armenia. Shine, we pray, in our hearts, that we also in our generation may show forth your praise, who called us out of darkness into your marvelous light. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Jerome (born Eusebius Hieronymus Sophronius) studied in Rome and was baptized there. He traveled for a time, eventually settling down to live as an ascetic among fellow believers in Aquileia. In 374, he moved to Palestine where he learned Hebrew while living in the Syrian Desert. He was ordained as a presbyter and, working in a rock-hewn cell, he translated the Bible into Latin. While not without its faults, Jerome’s translation, commonly known as the Vulgate, was the standard scholarly translation for well over fifteen centuries. Jerome died on this date in the year 420, and was buried in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

COLLECT
Lord God of truth, your Word is a lantern to our feet and a light upon our path. We give you thanks for your servant Jerome, and those who, following in his steps, have labored to render the Holy Scriptures in the language of the people; and we pray that your Holy Spirit will overshadow us as we read the written Word, and that the living Word will transform us according to your righteous will. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

On the Feast of The Holy Angels, we give thanks for the many ways in which God’s loving care watches over us, both directly and indirectly, and we are reminded that the richness and variety of God’s creation far exceeds our knowledge of it.

What is the value to us of remembering the Holy Angels? Since they appear to excel us in both knowledge and power, they remind us that, even among created things, we humans are not the top of the heap. Since it is the common belief that demons are angels who have chosen to disobey God and to be his enemies rather than his willing servants, they remind us that the higher we are the lower we can fall. The greater our natural gifts and talents, the greater the damage if we turn them to bad ends. The more we have been given, the more will be expected of us. And, in the picture of God sending his angels to help and defend us, we are reminded that apparently God, instead of doing good things directly, often prefers to do them through his willing servants, enabling those who have accepted his love to show their love for one another.

COLLECT
Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals. Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

READINGS
Daniel 10: 10-14; 12: 1-3
Psalm 103
Revelation 12: 7-12
Luke 10: 17-20 or Matthew 18: 1-10

Matthew, a former tax collector (also known as Levi) was called from his civil duties to become an apostle of our Lord. Despised as tax collectors were, his selection was accompanied by no small amount of controversy – at least on the part of some who questioned Jesus’ approach to ministry.

His apostolic activity after Pentecost was at first restricted to the communities of Palestine. Nothing definite is known about his later life. There is a tradition that points to Ethiopia as his field of labor; other traditions mention of Parthia and Persia. It is uncertain whether he died a natural death or received the crown of martyrdom.

Matthew’s Gospel is written from a strongly Jewish viewpoint, and may well have originally been written in Aramaic, the common Semitic dialect of Palestine during Jesus’ lifetime.

COLLECT
We thank you, heavenly Father, for the witness of your apostle and evangelist Matthew to the Gospel of your Son our Savior; and we pray that, following his example, we may with ready wills and hearts obey the calling of to follow our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

READINGS
Ezekiel 2:8 – 3:11
Psalm 119a
Ephesians 2: 4-10
Matthew 9: 9-13

Januarius, the bishop of Naples, died in 305 during the Diocletian persecution. He was imprisoned while visiting incarcerated deacons at the sulphur mines of Puteoli. After many tortures, including being thrown to lions in the town’s Amphitheater, he was beheaded at Solfatara, along with his companions, including the deacon Festus, the lector Sossus, and his friends Proculus, Acuitus, and Euticius.

COLLECT
Almighty and everlasting God, you planted in the hearts of Januarius and his companions a burden for those imprisoned on account of your Son’s holy name. Grant us a deep awareness of the suffering of our brothers and sisters who are in chains on account of their faith, and, if it be your blessed will, lead us to engage in works which may encourage them in their suffering – even when such works may require us to sacrifice our freedom or our lives. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Ninian was a Celt, born in southern Scotland in about 360, and is regarded as the first major preacher of the Gospel to the people living in Britain north of the Wall–that is, living outside the territory that had been under Roman rule. He is said to have studied in Rome, but was chiefly influenced by his friendship with Martin of Tours, with whom he spent some considerable time when he was returning from Italy to Britain.

Throughout southern Scotland there are many and widespread churches that bear his name, and have traditionally been assumed to be congregations originally founded by him.

COLLECT
God of power and might, by the preaching of your blessed servant and bishop Ninian you caused the light of the Gospel to shine in the heart of the British Isles. Grant, we pray, that having his life and labors in remembrance we may show our thankfulness by following the example of his zeal and patience. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Cyprian was born around 200 in North Africa, of pagan parents. He was a prominent trial lawyer and teacher of rhetoric. Around 246 he became a Christian, and in 248 was chosen Bishop of Carthage. A year later the persecution under the Emperor Decius began, and Cyprian went into hiding, causing him to be severely censured.

Many of his writings have been preserved. His essay “On The Unity of The Catholic Church” stresses the importance of visible, concrete unity among Christians, and the role of the bishops in guaranteeing that unity. It has greatly influenced Christian thought, as have his essays and letters on Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

COLLECT
Almighty God, you gave to your servant Cyprian boldness to confess the Name of the Savior before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith. Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

(Because the Commemoration of John Chrysostom falls on a Sunday in 2009, it may be observed on any convenient open day in the following week.)

John was called “Chrysostom” (“Golden Mouth”) because of his eloquence. He was a priest of Antioch, and an outstanding preacher. (Audiences were warned not to carry large sums of money when they went to hear him speak, since pickpockets found it very easy to rob his hearers — they were too intent on his words to notice what was happening.) His sermons are mostly straightforward expositions of Holy Scripture (he has extensive commentaries on both Testaments, with special attention to the Epistles of Paul), and he emphasizes the literal meaning, whereas the style popular at Alexandria tended to read allegorical meanings into the text.

He loved the city and people of Antioch, and they loved him. However, he became so famous that the Empress at Constantinople decided that she must have him for her court preacher, and she had him kidnapped and brought to Constantinople and there made bishop. This was a failure all around. His sermons against corruption in high places earned him powerful enemies (including the Empress), and he was sent into exile, where he died.

COLLECT
Father, you gave your servant John Chrysostom grace eloquently to proclaim your righteousness in the great congregation, and fearlessly to bear reproach for the honor of your Name. Mercifully grant to all bishops and pastors such excellence in preaching, and faithfulness in ministering your Word, that your people may be partakers with them of the glory that shall be revealed on the Great Day of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.