Christ Church

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

Grant, O merciful God, that as thine holy Apostle Saint James, leaving his father and all that he had, without delay was obedient unto the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him; so we, forsaking all worldly and carnal affections, may be evermore ready to follow thy holy commandments; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lesson: Acts 11:27-12:3a
The Gospel: St Mark 10:32-40

Artwork: Master Mateo, Saint James, 1188. Granite, Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (detail from the right side of the “Portico de la Gloria”), Galicia, Spain.

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The collect for today, the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, from The Book of Common Prayer (Canadian, 1962):

O Almighty God, whose blessed Son did sanctify Mary Magdalene, and call her to be a witness to his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by thy grace we may be healed of all our infirmities, and always serve thee in the power of his endless life; who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Lesson: Acts 13:27-31
The Gospel: St John 20:11-18

Artwork: Martin Schongauer, Noli me tangere, c. 1480-90. Tempera on panel, Musée d’Unterlinden, Colmar, France.

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The collect for today, the 6th Sunday after Trinity, from The Book of Common Prayer (Canadian, 1962):

O God, who hast preparest for them that love thee such good things as pass man’s understanding: Pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle: Romans 6:3-11
The Gospel: St Luke 6:27-36

Artwork: Fra Angelico, Sermon on the Mount, 1442. Fresco, Museo di San Marco, Florence.

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The collect for today, the commemoration of John Keble (1792-1866), Priest, Tractarian, Poet (source):

Father of the eternal Word,
in whose encompassing love
all things in peace and order move:
grant that, as thy servant John Keble
adored thee in all creation,
so we may have a humble heart of love
for the mysteries of thy Church
and know thy love to be new every morning,
in 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.

The Epistle: Romans 12:9-21
The Gospel: St Matthew 5:1-12

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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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