Anglican Mainstream

FIFTH SATURDAY OF LENT    Gregory the Illuminator, Bishop and Missionary of Armenia, c.332

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: On this day we remember the first Bishop of Armenia, Gregory. 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 (Persia), 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.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: We have all been where Jesus is, where Martha is and where Mary is. Sad that a person we love has gone onto a distant shore in a far more glorious light. We are sad for ourselves, because of lost opportunities with that person or things that were left said. Or we may simply just miss the joy of their company as it is experienced in this life. One does wonder in this case if Jesus knew Lazarus was ill, why he didn’t extend himself as he had with people he did not know well and heal Lazarus. Perhaps that was part of Jesus thinking that in permitting this unspeakable loss Jesus could teach something deeper about why he was on the earth and what was to come as well . Jesus simply couldn’t be the one who could make our eyes better but more importantly he had to be the one who could  save us from the grave, where sin and death could have the final say. No he acts with his dear friends with great love because he is teaching that the salvation that is to come is a permanent one.  Lazarus’ exiting of the tomb was only a stay of execution. But in Christ, the tomb has no say because he will break the bonds of the tomb. This is the hope we count on as we enter into Holy Week. Perhaps our challenge is to get our dear friends who are not part of this journey to discover what we knkow just as jesus offered to the family at Bethany.

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FIFTH FRIDAY OF LENT – St Basil of Ancyra, 362

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Saint Basil strove in martyrdom during the short reign of Julian the Apostate, from 361-363. The Saint was denounced as a Christian to Saturninus, Governor of Ancyra, who, when Basil would not deny Christ, had him hanged from a post and scraped on his sides, then beaten, and cast into prison. A few days later, when Julian himself came through Ancyra, the Saint was brought before him and was asked to deny Christ; he refused and was further tortured receiving the crown of martyrdom.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: The Church in its wisdom gives us Psalm 22 on this last Friday of Lent which sets the tone for the coming days. While the world around us is filled with Easter Bunnies  and Holiday Spring colors, the Psalm reminds us that  it is not possible for us to get to any of those images with any meaning  without being confronted with the reality of  the suffering of Christ on the Cross. It should compel us, inspire us, humble us and move us.  The words of this Psalm are filled with power and awe that should inspire and make humble all people. Today, consider the words to this profound Psalm and remember Jesus' suffering anew. His torture was our triumph. His sorry was our salvation.

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FIFTH THURSDAY OF LENT – James the Confessor, Bishop, 868

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: An 8^th Century Saint of the Oriental Church, He was a monk of the Studion monastery in Constantinople, and a disciple of St Theodore the Studite. As a bishop he was severely persecuted by the iconoclasts in the time of the Emperor Constantine Copronymus, enduring hunger, imprisonment and mocking. Known for his steadfastness and piety, he reminds us of the importance of standing firm in the faith when ridicule comes our way.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: In this very significant passage from St.Paul, he teaches with clarity that there are different kinds of gifts, different kinds of service, different kinds of workings but they all come from the same place. Namely, they come from God. There is an undoubted pointing to the Holy Trinity in these verses and what we notice is that the Holy Trinity gives gifts always to the same end. The gifts we receive do not come from different places and they do not come from a myriad of gods who are striving in competition with one another. The gifts we have come from the same God who works in cooperation with himself. All of these gifts are manifestations of God’s grace to us. All spiritual gifts, are charismata, that is, grace gifts. In his mysterious way, God’s grace flows to us even in the gifts that he gives us to use for his own purposes in bringing glory to Jesus. If these gifts are gifts of grace to us, then it seems fair to conclude that their use should also be manifestations of God’s grace to others. How would you discern your gifts have been used as grace to others?

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FIFTH WEDNESDAY OF LENT – Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne,687

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Today we remember Cuthbert, who at the age of eight had a prophetic remark from a playmate turn his mind to sober and godly thoughts, and his upbringing as a shepherd gave him ample time for prayer. One night he saw in the sky a dazzling light and angels carrying a soul up to heaven, and resolved to dedicate his life to God. Some years later Cuthbert came to Melrose Abbey asking to be admitted as a monk. It was from here that he began his missionary work, which he continued from Lindisfarne when he became abbot there. Consecrated bishop in 685 he remained an indefatigable traveler and preacher, walking all over his diocese, and spending time as a hermit on Farne Island in between. After only a year however, he felt his end coming and resigned his office, dying on Farne in the company of a few of his monks.

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FIFTH TUESDAY OF LENT – St. Joseph the Worker, Foster Father of Our Lord, 1 st Cent.

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: In the gospel of Matthew, Joseph is depicted as a good man, a working carpenter, who trusted in God. He received God's messenger who shared with him God's will for him and for Mary, to whom he was engaged to be married. Luke's gospel describes how Joseph took the new-born child as if he were his own. He was with Mary when, on the fortieth day after the birth, Jesus was presented in the Temple, 'where every first-born male is designated as holy to the Lord'. The adoption of Jesus by Joseph also established Jesus in the descent of David, to accord with the prophecy that Israel's deliverer would be of the House and lineage of David.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY:  Certainly when we are the ones seeking help we desperately want another to stop. We want the Lord to hear our cry. We could be stranded onteh side of the road with a broken down car late at night or have just sustained an injury and find ourselves incapable of moving, we cry out for help, wanting another to hear us. However, is that the perspective we have when we see another in need of help? Do we see ourselves in that position of the other?

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FIFTH MONDAY OF LENT –  St. Patrick Bishop & Missionary of Ireland, 461 (transf.)

LITURGICAL THEME OF THE DAY:  Saint Patrick, the Apostle of the Irish, was seized from his native Britain by Irish marauders when he was sixteen years old. Though the son of a deacon and grandson of a priest, it was not until his captivity that he sought out the Lord with his whole heart. In his Confession, the testament he wrote towards the end of his life, he says, 'After I came to Ireland — every day I had to tend sheep, and many times a day I prayed — the love of God and His fear came to me more and more, and my faith was strengthened. And my spirit was so moved that in a single day I would say as many as a hundred prayers, and almost as many at night, and this even when I was staying in the woods and on the mountain; and I would rise for prayer before daylight, through snow, through frost, through rain, and I felt no harm."

After six years of slavery in Ireland, he was guided by God to make his escape, and afterwards struggled in the monastic life in Aesir in Gaul [now France], under the guidance of the holy Bishop Germanus. Many years later he was ordained bishop and sent to Ireland once again, about the year 432, to convert the Irish to Christ. His arduous labors bore so much fruit that within seven years, three bishops were sent from Gaul to help him shepherd his flock . His apostolic work was not accomplished without much 'weariness and painfulness,' long journeys through difficult country, and many perils; he says his very life was in danger twelve times. When he came to Ireland , it was a pagan country; when he ended his earthly life some thirty years later , about 461, the Faith of Christ was established in every corner. The work of St Patrick and his brethren has been called the most successful single missionary venture in the history of the Church.

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FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT – Sometimes known as Passion Sunday

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Until 1959, the fifth Sunday of Lent was known as Passion Sunday. It marked the beginning of a two-week-long period known as Passiontide, which is still observed by some Anglicans, Lutherans and various traditionalist Latin Catholics. This transition in the modern liturgical movement began in 1960, with Pope John XXIII Code of Rubrics, which changed the name for this Sunday to "First Sunday of the Passion" bringing liturgical consistency with what was established five years earlier in 1955 by Pius XII when the Sixth Sunday of Lent, became known as the "Second Sunday of the Passion or Palm Sunday".

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FOURTH SATURDAY OF LENT: St. Aristobulus of the Seventy (1^st Century)

LITURGICAL THEME OF THE DAY:  :   Anglicans especially will find it interesting that on the Eastern Orthodox Calendar is commemorated today St. Aristobulus of the Seventy, first Bishop of Britain (1st c.) . Tradition holds that he was born in Cyprus and was the brother of the Apostle Barnabas who aided St. Paul (and who mentions him in Romans 16:10). Aristobulus was commissioned and sent out landing in Britain where he endured terrible torments, misfortunes and malice from the people They were without mercy, dragging him through the streets, mocking him. But in the end this holy man came to success by the power of the grace of God. He enlightened the people, baptized them in the name of Christ the Lord, and established churches.

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THE FOURTH FRIDAY OF LENT: Agapios and his 7 companions, Martyrs 304

LITURGICAL THEME OF THE DAY: : The holy Martyrs contested for piety's sake during the reign of Diocletian (284-305), when Urban was Governor of Caesarea of Palestine. Urbanus, the governor of the region, observed a pagan festival by having some Christians publicly tortured and executed: some by fire, others on the gallows, and some by being thrown to wild beasts in the arena.

When Urban commanded that together with the heathen festival, certain condemned Christians be publicly cast to wild beasts, Timolaus, Dionysius of Tripolis in Phoenicia, Romulus of Diospolis, Plesius (or Paisius) and Alexander from Egypt, and another Alexander from Gaza, seeing the patience and serenity with which the Christians endured their torments, were reached by the Holy Spirit, tied their own hands and presented themselves to Urban when the exhibition was about to begin, professing their faith in Christ; they were immediately cast into prison. A few days later Agapius (the only baptized Christian amongst these youths) and Dionysius also presented themselves. All were beheaded together at Caesarea. Their martyrdom is recorded by Eusebius (Eccl. Hist.,Book VIII, ch.3, called The Martyrs of Palestine).

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THE FOURTH THURSDAY OF LENT: St Theognostus, Metropolitan of Kiev, 1353

LITURGICAL THEME OF THE DAY:  :   Some of the churches of the eastern rites remember today St Theognostus, Metropolitan of Kiev. He was born in Greece and succeeded St Peter of Kiev as Metropolitan of that city. Some of his enemies among his own flock denounced him to the Mongol ruler because of his dedication and inability to be swayed by politics. They said he had paid the no tribute to obtain his position — as was often done by the clergy. Summoned before the Mongol prince and asked about this, he answered Christ our God bought His Church from the unbelievers with His precious Blood. For what do we now pay tribute to unbelievers?' At last he managed somehow to free himself and return home. He governed the Church for twenty-five years and entered into rest in the Lord in 1353.

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THE FOURTH WEDNESDAY OF LENT- St. Gerald, Bishop of Mayo, 731

LITURGICAL THEME OF THE DAY:  :  St. Gerald Bishop of Mayo, was an English monk who came to Ireland after  the Synod of Whitby and settled in Innisboffin, in 668. Gerald’s circumstances remind us of today’s church as dissensions arose, after a time, between the Irish and the English monks, and St. Colman the Abbot decided to found a separate monastery for the thirty English monks so that they may have safe practice of the faith given the difference between the Celtic and Saxon expressions of the faith.  Thus, arose the Abbey of Mayo. St. Bede wrote that: "This monastery occupied by English monks contained an exemplary body who gathered there from England and live d after the manner of the church fathers. As Anglicanism continues to struggle with how to live out its orthodox expressions of common life, perhaps St. Gerald and followers can offer some insight from their example.

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THE FOURTH TUESDAY OF LENT – St. Gregory the Great, Bishop and Scholar, 604

LITURGICAL THEME OF THE DAY: Gregory is perhaps best known for influence on the forms of public worship throughout Western Europe, which was enormous. He founded a school for the training of church musicians, and Gregorian chant (plainchant) is named for him. The schedule of Scripture readings for the various Sundays of the year, and the accompanying prayers (many of them written by him), in use throughout most of Western Christendom for the next thirteen centuries is largely due to his passion for organization.

Gregory is recognized as re-energizing the Church's missionary work among the barbarian peoples of northern Europe. He is most famous for sending a mission, often called the Gregorian mission, under Augustine of Canterbury, prior of Saint Andrew's, where he had perhaps succeeded Gregory, to evangelize the pagan Anglo-Saxons of England. The mission was successful, and it was from England that missionaries later set out for the continent along with their Celtic/Irish counterparts. The preaching of the catholic faith and the elimination of all deviations from it was a key element in Gregory's worldview, and it constituted one of the major continuing policies of his ministry. He is also known as St. Gregory the Dialogist in Eastern Orthodoxy because of his renown work know as the Dialogues.

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FOURTH MONDAY OF LENT – St. Sophronius,  Monk, Bishop  and Defender of the Faith, 639

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Sophronius was a monk who lived from 550 to 639 who lived as a solitary dedicated to a life of prayer, fasting, and sacrifice first in Egypt, the Jordan River, and in Jerusalem. Heresy abounded in the early days of the faith often about the nature of Jesus being both human and divine. Sophronius worked to put an end to this heresy as he travelled in the Holy Land region and his teachings were officially accepted by the local bishops. As a result, he was appointed bishop and wrote hymns, and poems still used today.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY:  One of the most striking Psalms in the entire Psalter #89 which is the Psalm appointed for today. What strikes the reader very quickly is that the Psalmist is descriptive in his very clear contrasts of the eternity of God with the fleeting time of that we as humans experience. Our existence has the frailty of the grass that springs up at dawn; suddenly it hears the whistle of the sickle that reduces it to a heap of hay. The freshness of life all too soon gives way to the aridity of death (cf. vv. 5-6). In our prayers today let us ask God that a reflection of eternity penetrate our temporal lives and actions. With the presence of divine grace in us, a light will shine on the passing of our days; misery will be turned into glory, what seems not to make sense will acquire meaning. The reader should be reminded that this powerful Psalm is about God’s Covenant with us which is as enduring as the heavens and that is a great promise to those of us on this Lenten journey.

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LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY:  The fourth Sunday of Lent is rather unique. In Anglicanism this Sunday is known as Mothering Sunday people went to Church where they were baptized (their mother church) and on arrival would make altar offerings in thanksgiving to God. Over time this grew to the custom of visiting their own mothers, as well, often bringing gifts of flowers and simnel cakes (so-called because they were made with fine white flour, or simila.) There are many different recipes for this cake, but all are fruit-cakes covered with almond paste. Like the third Sunday of Advent ("Gaudete Sunday"), the fourth Sunday of Lent is a break in an otherwise penitential season. The vestments for this day have the option of being rose, as they are on Gaudete Sunday in Advent, and flowers may adorn the Altar. This day is called "Laetare Sunday" (also "Rose Sunday" ), and takes its name from the opening words of the Mass, the Introit's "Laetare, Jerusalem": Rejoice O Jerusalem!.  Alternatively, historically, the Eastern Church observed this Sunday in the middle of Lent as a feast of the Holy Cross.

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LENT IIII – Saint Catherine of Bologna , Abbess and Artist,  1463

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Catherine was born in 1413 in Bologna, Italy. Her father was an important government official who worked for the Marquis, a member of the royal family. When she was eleven, Catherine was invited to live in the palace to be a companion to the Marquis’ daughter, Margaret. It was a wonderful opportunity for Catherine. She and Margaret were educated together by a private tutor. Catherine especially enjoyed the art lessons she and Margaret were given. Catherine discovered that God had blessed her with a talent for drawing.

During her years in the palace, Catherine also discovered that God was calling her to a more simple and prayerful life. Catherine returned home and joined a group of young women who performed good works in Jesus’ name and spent time in prayer together every day.

Soon, the women decided to join the Poor Clares, who  lived in silence much so that they could listen and talk to God in the quiet of their hearts without distractions. Catherine was appointed as the abbess, or superior, of the order. Catherine praised God through her art. She painted pictures of Jesus, Mary, and the saints. She created beautiful illuminated manuscripts by painting small illustrations on the pages of prayer books and Bibles, which she also lettered and copied by hand. She also wrote books and poems about her faith.

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LENT III – Hieromartyr Theodoretus (362)

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Theodoretus was custodian of a great cathedral in Antioch, built by the Emperor Constantine and known in its time as 'the golden church' for the beauty and luxury of its appointments. When Julian the Apostate came to the throne, he denied Christ and launched a persecution of Christians. The Emperor's uncle, also named Julian, came to Antioch to prosecute the persecution there. After plundering the church he brought Theodoretus to trial and demanded that he deny Christ. Instead, the faithful priest confessed Christ fervently and rebuked the Emperor for having denied the faith and returned to idol-worship Theodoretus was beheaded and revered thereafter.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: For many Christians in and beyond the Roman Catholic Church, Friday is treated as a day of Penance and  fasting is an important component to this theme. The abstinence from food can create a spirituality whereby there becomes a solidarity  with the hungry and poor of the world  is to be on the side of those Jesus is on the side of.   The principle is rooted in the biblical notion of justice, where  Jesus makes it very clear that  He is on the side of the poor and  advocates for the voiceless and the powerless. Friday abstinence can remind us that those who are in any way deprived or who are particularly vulnerable have a special moral claim on the community of faith and these efforts during Lent can deepen our faith and connection to the people of God.

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LENT III –   Perpetua & her Companions, Martyrs at Carthage, 292

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY:   Vibia Perpetua was a young, married noblewoman of Carthage and Felicity was her personal slave. Saturas was possibly a priest and there were two other men, Saturninus and Revocatus, the latter also a slave. Felicity was pregnant. It seems most of them were catechumens when arrested and only baptized later in prison. They were condemned as Christians by the Roman authorities and dispatched to the public arena, there to be mauled by wild animals. They all survived and were then taken to be executed by the sword. Before this, they all exchanged the Kiss of Peace and affirmed their faith in Christ, the Son of God.

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LENT III – 42 Martyrs of Amorion in Phrygia ( 845)

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: These disciples were taken captive when Amorion in Phrygia fell to the Muslims in 838, during the reign of Emperor Theophilus. Many of them were officers, and because of their status and reputation, their captors, rather than kill them, attempted to convert them to Islam. The forty-two were kept in a miserable dungeon in Syria, where they were alternately promised the highest honors and privileges if they would convert and threatened with the most horrible consequences if they refused. This continued for seven full years, but none would deny his faith in Christ. Finally, unable to shake their faith, their captors beheaded them all in 845.

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LENT III: Sts Adrian and Eubulus, of Palestine, martyrs, 309, St. Kieran 4^th Century

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY:  Adrian and Eubulus arrived from their place of Baneas in Caesarea of Cappadocia to attend the imprisoned Christians in the dungeon and to console and encourage them. However they, too, were arrested and sentenced to death. Adrian was beheaded and Eubulus was thrown before wild beasts in the year 309 A.D. Today in the west we mark the date for St. Kieran, a 4^th Century saint from the south of County Cork.  Upon entering religious life he was ordained a bishop and on his homeward journey, he met St. Patrick who instructed Kieran to travel until he came to a well where he should found a monastery. Patrick gave him a bell, which was not to ring until such a time as Kieran reached the correct well. He at last reached a well called Uaran, where he built his monastery known as Saighir-Kiaran, which is in County Ofally. His monastery flourished and he ordained many holy men to the priesthood. He was not content to preach to the native Irish but also spent time in Cornwall, Brittany, Wales and Scotland. The name St. Kieran is still remembered in many of these places.

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LENT III – John & Charles Wesley, Priests, Evangelist and Missionaries( transferred ) 1788,1791

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: John Wesley was educated at Charterhouse School and Christ Church, Oxford, and after ordination to the priesthood in 1728 became for a time his father's curate. Later John accompanied his brother Charles to America and published his first hymnbook in Charlestown in 1737. Returning to London John became a travelling preacher and a leader in the Methodist movement which eventually separated from the Church of England and established its own chapel. Charles Wesley was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. He was ordained in 1735 and travelled to Georgia as secretary to the governor, James Oglethorpe, but stayed there only a few months. Returning to England he became, like his brother John, a travelling evangelist and missionary. A prolific poet, Charles Wesley wrote more than 6000 hymns and is widely regarded as the greatest of all English hymn writers.

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