Category: Prayers and liturgy

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

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 3:8-15a
The Gospel: St Luke 5:1-11

Artwork: Konrad Witz, The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, 1443-44. Tempera on wood, Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, Geneva.

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The collect for today, the 4th 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 Festival of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth (source):

Almighty God,
by whose grace Elizabeth rejoiced with Mary
and greeted her as the mother of the Lord:
look with favour, we beseech thee, on thy lowly servants,
that, with Mary, we may magnify thy holy name
and rejoice to acclaim her Son our Saviour,
who liveth and reigneth with thee,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

For the Epistle: Zephaniah 3:14-18a
The Gospel: St Luke 1:39-49

Artwork: Jacques Daret, Visitation, 1434-35.  Oil on oak, Staatliche Museen, Berlin.

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The collects for today, the Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul the Apostles, from The Book of Common Prayer (Canadian, 1962):

O Almighty God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock: Make, we beseech thee, all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, who, through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Saint Paul, hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we beseech thee, that we, having his manifold labours in remembrance, may show forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same, by following the holy doctrine which he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle: 1 St Peter 1:1-9
The Gospel: St Matthew 16:13-19

Artwork: Bartolmeo Vivarini, Sts. Peter and Paul, 1482. Panel, Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venice.

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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: Jesus as Good Shepherd, c. 250.  Fresco, Catacomb of St. Callixtus, Rome.

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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.

For the Epistle: Isaiah 40:1-11
The Gospel: St Luke 1:57-80

Artwork: Giusto de’Menabuoi, Naming of the Baptist, 1376-78. Fresco, Cathedral Baptistery, Padua, Italy.

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The collect for today, the Feast of St Alban (d. c. 250), First Martyr of Britain (source):

Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Alban triumphed over suffering and was faithful even unto death: Grant to us, who now remember him with thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may receive with him the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

The Epistle: 1 St John 3:13-16
The Gospel: St Matthew 10:34-42

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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: Leandro Bassano, The Rich Man and Lazarus, c. 1590-95.  Oil on canvas, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.

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The collect for today, the Feast of St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231), Franciscan friar, priest, Doctor of the Church (source):

O God, who by thy Holy Spirit didst give to thy servant Antony a love of the Holy Scriptures, and the gift of expounding them with learning and eloquence, that thereby thy people might be established in sound doctrine and encouraged in the way of righteousness, grant to us always an abundance of such preachers, to the glory of thy Name and the benefit of thy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

The Epistle: 1 Corinthians 4:9b-14
The Gospel: St Luke 12:35-40

Born to a noble family in Lisbon, St Anthony (or Antony) is associated with the city of Padua, Italy, where he resided in the final years of his life and is buried in a magnificent basilica that bears his name.  Unimpressive in his appearance, his dynamic and charismatic preaching sparked a spiritual renewal in the church in Europe.  He has been called “the Billy Graham of the thirteenth century”.  He became one of the most renowned and beloved saints of his time; still today, his life and witness inspire great devotion.

When he was 16, he began studying the Bible, theology, and apologetics under several respected teachers.  In 1220, he was admitted to the Order of St Francis and joined a group of Franciscan friars going to Morocco to preach the Gospel among Moors.  A serious illness soon forced him to return to Europe, however.

Initially assigned to kitchen duty at a monastery in Forli, Italy, his preaching ability became known when he was asked to speak at an ordination service because no one had prepared a sermon.  Told to say whatever the Holy Ghost should put into his mouth, he delivered an address that astonished everyone with its eloquence, passion, and insight.

News of his gift soon reached Franciscan superiors, who called him to preach throughout central Italy.  He was also appointed the first teacher of the Franciscan order, reportedly at the behest of St Francis himself, and began to teach theology to the friars in Bologna and Padua.  He is credited with introducing Augustinian theology to the Franciscans.

St Anthony was driven by a passion for souls.  Thousands came to listen to him speak; spiritual renewal followed wherever he went.  Churches were often too small to hold the crowds who wanted to hear him, so he preached in market squares and other open-air locations.  His zealous and powerful preaching against the Cathari and Albigensians in Italy and France earned him the title “Hammer of heretics”.

From 1226, he lived in Padua, where the fruits of his ministry were evident in widespread reformation of conduct.  His series of Lenten sermons in 1231 saw 30,000 listening to him preach in an open field, and was accompanied by acts of repentance and reconciliation.  The ungodly confessed Christ.  Thieves and swindlers publicly made restitution.  Long-standing feuds were settled and friendships renewed.

St Anthony was canonised by Gregory IX within a year of his death at age 36.  His relics are kept in the Basilica of St Anthony, Padua.

Artwork:

Maso di Banco (active 1320-46), St. Anthony of Padua.  Tempera on wood with gold ground, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Donatello, Madonna and Child between St Francis and St Anthony, 1448. Bronze, High Altar (detail), Basilica di Sant’Antonio, Padua.

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