Calendar

Saint Athanasius, Bishop, Confessor and Doctor

Raised by Christian parents, Athanasius (c. 296 - 373) was educated at schools in Alexandria, and became the Bishop of Alexandria.

He is best known for defending the Faith against the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Our Lord. The Council of Nicaea in 325 condemned this heresy, and Athanasius was present as a deacon and secretary to his bishop, Alexander.

Athanasius was a staunch defender against the Arians and, as a consequence, underwent continual persecutions throughout his life. He endured lawsuits, quarrels and numerous exiles at the hands of his enemies. He is a powerful example of stedfastness to moderns, whose temptations are as strong, even though more subtle at times.

Collect: ALMIGHTY, everlasting God, whose servant Athanasius steadfastly confessed thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ to be Very God and Very Man: Grant that we may hold fast to this faith, and evermore magnify his holy Name; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Finding of the Holy Cross

According to legend, Constantine's mother, Saint Helena, traveled to Jerusalem to find the true cross. Nails and three crosses were subsequently discovered. Pious tradition has it that one of these was the true cross, being authenticated by the miraculous healing of a woman. Whatever the case may be, today we do well to remember the gift given through the Holy Cross

The Collect: O God, who in the glorious Finding of they saving Cross didst renew the wonders of thy Passion: grant, that by the ransom brought us by the Tree of Life, we may obtain election unto life eternal. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle: Philippians 2:5ff
The Gospel: John 3:1ff

Saint Monica, Widow

Saint Monica (c. 331-387) is the mother of Saint Augustine of Hippo. Born in Africa, she married a pagan who had a violent temper. Her mother-in-law, who lived with them, also gave her difficulties.

Monica immersed herself in her own personal struggle with excessive drinking. However, this malady was overcome and, through her persistent and devout faith, she was also able to convert both her husband and mother-in-law to Christianity. She had great difficulty in raising one of her three sons, Augustine. Even though she had enrolled him in catechumen class at a young age, he created a lot of anxiety for her.

As a youth, Augustine was given to riotous and drunken living. (see "Confessions") Despite this, Monica was persistent in her prayers, fasts and vigils for him, and after many years, her prayers were answered with his conversion... and the rest is history!

Monica died while traveling and, right before she died, she said to her son Augustine, "Lay this body anywhere... this only I request, that you would remember me at the Lord's altar, wherever you be."

Collect: O GOD, the comforter of them that mourn, and the salvation of such as hope in thee, who didst mercifully accept the loving tears of blessed Monica for the conversion of her son Augustine: grant unto us, at the intercession of them both, to lament our sins and find thy grace and pardon. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle: 1Timothy 5:3ff
The Gospel: Luke 7:11ff

The Conversion of Saint Augustine

Collect: O GOD, who hast adorned this day by the wonderful conversion of blessed Augustine thy Confessor and Bishop: grant, we beseech thee: that as he became a bulwark to thy Church by exposing the errors of heresy, so he may defend us by his prayers from the assaults of the ancient enemy. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishop of Constantinople

Gregory (Bishop, Confessor & Doctor, c.329 - c.389) was the Bishop of Nazianzus and is numbered amongst the Cappadocian Fathers, along with Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa.

The son of a bishop suffragan, Gregory was educated at the highly esteemed University of Athens, which would later aid him in defending the Nicean proclamation of Christ's divinity against Arianism. He subsequently gave up his solitary life as a monk and was ordained priest and later bishop. Gregory is best known for the role he played in shaping the conclusions of the Nicean Creed during the Council of Constantinople in 381. His deep knowledge and love of scripture allowed him to convey through poetic language the ineffable love that exists between the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Collect: ALMIGHTY, everlasting God, whose servant Gregory steadfastly confessed thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ to be Very God and Very Man: Grant that we may hold fast to this faith, and evermore magnify his holy Name, through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

For the Epistle: Wisdom 7:7-14
The Gospel: John 8:25-32

Saint Dunstan, Bishop and Confessor

Saint Dunstan (c. 909-988), Monk and Archbishop of Canterbury was born of a noble family near Glastonbury, England. He is best known for his religious reforms in the Church of England, which he enacted while abbott of Glastonbury monastery, and later as archbishop of Canterbury. Dunstan advocated the Rule of St. Benedict as the standard for many of the monasteries of England. With order and religious zeal restored, the monasteries flourished, purifying and giving new life to the rest of the Church.

Collect: O GOD, who dost ever hallow and protect thy Church: Raise us therein through thy Spirit good and faithful stewards of the mysteries of Christ, as thy servant Dunstan; that by their ministry and example thy people may abide in thy favor and walk in the way of truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Saith Augustine, First Archbishop of Canterbury

Saint Augustine (d. 604 or 605) was a Benedictine monk, who, at the command of St. Gregory the Great, went to Great Britain in 596 to Christianize the heathen. Along with St. Gregory, Augustine is often considered an "apostle" of England, for the two of them were largely responsible for its conversion. On one Christmas day, Augustine converted Ethelbert, King of Kent, along with several thousand persons. After founding Canterbury, he would later rule there as the archbishop.

Collect: ALMIGHTY God, who in thy providence didst choose thy servant Augustine to be an apostle to the people of England, to bring those who were wandering in darkness and error to the true light and knowledge of thee: Grant us so to walk in the light, that we may come at last to the light of everlasting life; through the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.