Frs. Isaac and Barry are ready for Rose Sunday Texts: Isaiah 66, Galatians 4, John 6 Today is the fourth Sunday in Lent, often called Laetare Sunday, from the Latin word for “Rejoice,” which comes from today’s Introit, a text from Isaiah 66 and Psalm 122: Rejoice ye with Jerusalem: and be ye glad for…
Text: Luke 11:14-28 When I was a child, one of the most popular novels in the Christian circles in which I traveled was Frank E. Peretti’s This Present Darkness. The book is was probably one of the most important works of fiction to popularize, portray, and influence contemporary Christian ideas of spiritual warfare, depicting the…
Sunday Lent 2 Homily Introduction As we observe our Second Sunday in Lent, we are well underway in our respective efforts to engage in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. To that end, we should pursue a deeper season of prayer, while tempering satisfaction of our appetites through fasting, and finally making the most of every opportunity…
Text: Matthew 4:1-11 As you know, today is the first Sunday in Lent, our 40-ish-day period of prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and repentance prior to Easter. As is our parish custom, we chanted the Great Litany today and on Ash Wednesday in lieu of a processional hymn. The Litany, or “General Supplication,” is a masterpiece of…
Editor’s note: this was our homily for the Holy Communion service on Ash Wednesday 2019, adapted from the first part of the Homily “Of Good Works and First of Fasting” in the Second Book of Homilies. The two Books of Homilies are the official sermons of the Church of England in the 16th Century, endorsed…
March 6, 2019 Season of Lent Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission…
Week 6 of our study through WH Griffith-Thomas’ book Methods of Bible Study, in which we discuss Proverbs, Isaiah, Lamentations, and Amos. We finish up the class discussing the “gesima” season of Pre-Lent and some Lenten issues. Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 On Septuagesima and Pre-Lent from our Archives Septuagesima on…
Editor’s note: This is our annual pre-lent post, originally published on our blog on February 12, 2017. It has slightly been edited to reflect our current liturgical customs. – IJR+ This morning we begin Septuagesima, the first of three Sundays in “pre-Lent.” This period from Septuagesima to Shrove Tuesday began as a way for monastic…
This Wednesday we begin the 40 days of Lent, in which we metaphorically go through the desert with Our Lord in preparation for Easter. Lent began as a way for new converts to prepare for Baptism at the Easter Vigil with prayer and fasting. These practices eventually spread to the rest of the Church. Last…
Editor’s note: This was originally published on our blog on February 12, 2017. It has slightly been edited to reflect our current liturgical customs. – IJR+ This morning we begin Septuagesima, the first of three Sundays in “pre-Lent.” This period from Septuagesima to Shrove Tuesday began as a way for monastic clergy to prepare for…