Category: Prayers and liturgy

The collect for today, the Fourth Sunday after Trinity, from The Book of Common Prayer (Canadian, 1962):

O GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle: Romans 8:18-23
The Gospel: St Luke 6:36-42

Artwork: Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Parable of the Blind Leading the Blind, 1568. Tempera on canvas, Museo e Gallerie Nazionali di Capodimonte, Naples.

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The collect for today, the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, from The Book of Common Prayer (Canadian, 1962):

ALMIGHTY God, by whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Saviour, by preaching of repentance: Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching, and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth’s sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lesson: Isaiah 40:1-11
The Gospel: St Luke 1:57-80

Artwork: Giotto, Birth and Naming of John the Baptist, 1320. Fresco, Peruzzi Chapel, Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence.

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The collect for today, the Third Sunday after Trinity, from The Book of Common Prayer (Canadian, 1962):

O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom thou hast given an hearty desire to pray, may by thy mighty aid be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle: 1 St Peter 5:5-11
The Gospel: St Luke 15:1-10

Artwork: John Everett Millais, The Lost Sheep, 1864. Relief print, Tate Collection, London.

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The collect for today, the Feast of St Barnabas the Apostle, from The Book of Common Prayer (Canadian, 1962):

O LORD God Almighty, who didst endue thy holy Apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of the Holy Spirit: Leave us not, we beseech thee, destitute of thy manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use them alway to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lesson: Acts 11:22-26
The Gospel: St John 15:12-16

Artwork: Sandro Botticelli, San Barnaba Altarpiece (detail showing Saint Barnabas with the Virgin and Child), c. 1488. Tempera on panel, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.

A church dedicated to St Barnabas was founded in the Republic of Florence in the 14th century after Florence’s army won two important victories on the saint’s feast day. Botticelli was commissioned to create the altarpiece for the main altar.

The San Barnaba Altarpiece shows the Virgin and Child with six saints. Barnabas, as the patron saint of the church, stands in the place of honour on the immediate right of the Virgin. To his right are Augustine and Catherine of Alexandria. On the left of the virgin are John the Baptist, Ignatius of Antioch, and the archangel Michael. Around the throne are four angels, two of whom hold instruments of Christ’s Passion–nails and the crown of thorns.

The altarpiece has been at the Uffizi since 1919.

Click here to see the complete San Barnaba Altarpiece.

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The collect for today, the Second Sunday after Pentecost, commonly called The First Sunday after Trinity, from The Book of Common Prayer (Canadian, 1962):

O GOD, the strength of all them that put their trust in thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping of thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle: 1 St John 4:7-21
The Gospel: St Luke 16:19-31

Artwork: Bonifacio Veronese, Dives and Lazarus, 1540-50. Oil on canvas, Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venice.

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The collect for today, the Octave Day of Pentecost, commonly called Trinity Sunday, from The Book of Common Prayer (Canadian, 1962):

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity: We beseech thee, that this holy faith may evermore be our defence against all adversities; who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Lesson: Revelation 4:1-1
The Gospel: St John 3:1-15

Artwork: El Greco, The Holy Trinity, 1577. Oil on canvas, Prado, Madrid.

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The collects for today, The Day of Pentecost, being the fiftieth day after Easter, commonly called Whit-Sunday, from The Book of Common Prayer (Canadian, 1962):

O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by the sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

O GOD, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon thy disciples in Jerusalem: Grant that we who celebrate before thee the Feast of Pentecost may continue thine for ever, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit, until we come to thine eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lesson: Acts 2:1-11
The Gospel: St John 14:15-27

Artwork: Duccio di Buoninsegna, Pentecost (from Back Crowning of The Maestà), 1308-11. Tempera on wood, Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Siena.

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The collect for today, Sunday After Ascension Day, from The Book of Common Prayer (Canadian, 1962):

O GOD the King of Glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven: We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless; but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Epistle: 1 St Peter 4:7-11
The Gospel: St John 15:26-16:4a

Artwork: Francesco Fontebasso, The Last Supper, 1762. Oil on canvas, The Hermitage, St Petersburg.

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The collect for today, The Ascension Day, being the fortieth day after Easter, sometimes called Holy Thursday, from The Book of Common Prayer (Canadian, 1962):

GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continuously dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Lesson: Acts 1:1-11
The Gospel: St Mark 16:14-20

Artwork: Franz Anton Maulbertsch, Ascension of Christ, 1758. Fresco, Parish Church of the Ascension, Sümeg, Hungary.

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