The collect for today, the Feast of Saint Swithun (d. 862), Bishop of Winchester (source):
Almighty God,
by whose grace we celebrate again
the feast of thy servant Swithun:
grant that, as he governed with gentleness
the people committed to his care,
so we, rejoicing in our inheritance in Christ,
may ever seek to build up thy Church in unity and love;
through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord,
who liveth and reigneth with thee,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
With the Epistle and Gospel for a Bishop or Archbishop, from The Book of Common Prayer (Canadian, 1962):
The Epistle: 1 Timothy 6:11-16
The Gospel: St. Luke 12:37-43
Saint Swithun was a respected ninth-century bishop and is one of England’s best-known early saints. Although little is known about his early life, he became Bishop of Winchester around 852 during the reign of King Ethelwulf of Wessex.
As bishop, Swithun gained a reputation for piety and learning. He is credited with restoring and expanding Winchester Cathedral and played a significant role in the spiritual life of Wessex during a period of Viking incursions and religious renewal. Medieval hagiographies portray him as a humble, charitable leader devoted to monastic reform and pastoral care.
Before his death in 863, he asked to be buried outside the cathedral where rain would fall upon his grave and people could walk over it, believing that he deserved no special honour. In 971, however, his remains were transferred inside the cathedral to a magnificent shrine. According to folklore, this disruption of his wishes provoked a violent rainstorm that lasted for forty days. This legend birthed the famous British weather lore: whatever the weather on Saint Swithun’s Day (July 15), it will persist for the subsequent forty days.
After his death, miracles were attributed to his intercession, particularly healing miracles associated with his shrine at Winchester. This led to his widespread veneration as a saint.
Artwork: Saint Swithun, stained glass, Winchester Cathedral, Winchester, England.