The Prayer
Lord God, who seest that we put not our trust in any thing that we do, mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Latin
Deus, qui conspicis, quia ex nulla nostra actione confidimus, concede propitius ut contra adversa omnia, Doctoris gentium protectione muniamur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen
The Commentary
This is one of the collects that comes from the Gregorian sacramentary and that was translated.
The Meditation
Last Sunday we were encouraged to recognise our own sinfulness, as well as that which prevails in this fallen world.
This Sunday we are brought face to face with the humbling fact that we cannot even begin to put things right by our own unaided efforts, for we cannot "trust in anything that we do". It is only by the help of our Lord God that "we may defended against all adversity".
Yet how the world vainly thinks that by its own efforts, with new laws, and new projects and new initiatives, evil can be overcome and problems solved!
We as Christians too need to be on our guard against self-satisfaction and pride in our good works. Indeed it is a remarkable fact that we shall often find that it is at the very point of our greatest blessing in the work of the Lord, that the Devil comes in with a most powerful temptation, suggesting, in some way or other, that we can now rest on our laurels, because of what we have achieved! [Source: The Church of England (Continuing)]
Showing posts with label Shrovetide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shrovetide. Show all posts
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Saturday, February 03, 2007
The Collect - Septuagesima
The Prayer
O Lord, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people, that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth & reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.
The Latin Collect
Preces populi tui, quæsumus Domine, clementer exaudi, ut qui juste pro peccatis nostris affligimur, pro tui nominis gloria misericorditer liberemur. Per Dominum
The Commentary
Septuagesima is the ninth Sunday before Easter and the third before Lent, known among the Greeks as "Sunday of the Prodigal" from the Gospel they read on this day. It is called Dominica Circumdederunt by the Latins, from the first word of the Introit of the Mass.
The word means seventieth in Latin. Why the day has this name is unknown. Contrary to some popular thought, a quick counting of fingers will show that this Sunday is not 70 days before Lent. The Catholic Encyclopaedia states that Amularius, in "De eccl. Off.", I, I, would make it mystically represent the Babylonian Captivity of 70 years, would have it begin with this Sunday on which the Sacramentaries and Antiphonaries give the Introit Circumdederunt me undique and end with the Saturday after Easter, when the Church sings Eduxit Dominus populum suum. Again, it may simply denote the earliest day on which some Christians began the 40 days of Lent, excluding Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from the observance of the fast.
What is clear about Septuagesima is that it marks the end of the Christmas/Epiphany cycle in the liturgical calendar and ushers in the pre-Lenten season. Hence, the beginning of a penitential focus.
The Meditation
Throughout Epiphany, our prayers have focused on our frailness and helplessness, on how ultimately defenceless we are as creatures apart from God. Yet at each turn, we are reminded that, living in God, He will defend, strengthen and support us, giving us peace.
As we enter the pre-Lenten cycle, there is an abrupt shift in focus from our weakness to our wickedness. Contrary to what post-modern theologians would have us believe, we are sinners, and worthy of punishment.
Yet, even here, and just as importantly, God will be with us if we open ourselves up to Him. Our sinfulness is a reflection of our weakness, of our separation from God. But, just as we have the assurance that He will bear us up when our footsteps falter, we are assured that He will also forgive us when our path strays.
O Lord, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people, that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth & reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.
The Latin Collect
Preces populi tui, quæsumus Domine, clementer exaudi, ut qui juste pro peccatis nostris affligimur, pro tui nominis gloria misericorditer liberemur. Per Dominum
The Commentary
Septuagesima is the ninth Sunday before Easter and the third before Lent, known among the Greeks as "Sunday of the Prodigal" from the Gospel they read on this day. It is called Dominica Circumdederunt by the Latins, from the first word of the Introit of the Mass.
The word means seventieth in Latin. Why the day has this name is unknown. Contrary to some popular thought, a quick counting of fingers will show that this Sunday is not 70 days before Lent. The Catholic Encyclopaedia states that Amularius, in "De eccl. Off.", I, I, would make it mystically represent the Babylonian Captivity of 70 years, would have it begin with this Sunday on which the Sacramentaries and Antiphonaries give the Introit Circumdederunt me undique and end with the Saturday after Easter, when the Church sings Eduxit Dominus populum suum. Again, it may simply denote the earliest day on which some Christians began the 40 days of Lent, excluding Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from the observance of the fast.
What is clear about Septuagesima is that it marks the end of the Christmas/Epiphany cycle in the liturgical calendar and ushers in the pre-Lenten season. Hence, the beginning of a penitential focus.
The Meditation
Throughout Epiphany, our prayers have focused on our frailness and helplessness, on how ultimately defenceless we are as creatures apart from God. Yet at each turn, we are reminded that, living in God, He will defend, strengthen and support us, giving us peace.
As we enter the pre-Lenten cycle, there is an abrupt shift in focus from our weakness to our wickedness. Contrary to what post-modern theologians would have us believe, we are sinners, and worthy of punishment.
Yet, even here, and just as importantly, God will be with us if we open ourselves up to Him. Our sinfulness is a reflection of our weakness, of our separation from God. But, just as we have the assurance that He will bear us up when our footsteps falter, we are assured that He will also forgive us when our path strays.
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