From January 18 through January 25, Christians throughout the world observe a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The Octave was first conceived by Father Paul of Graymoor on 30 November 1907, before his entrance into the Catholic Church. The initial success in 1908 was so encouraging that he decided to promote it annually, and…
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The Structure of the Daily Office, Part V: Office Hymns
Part V of Mr. Tom Bako’s series on the Daily Office. This essay explores the office hymns. Click here for the full essay. Sections in the essay: Hymns in the Western Office: A Brief Overview Hymns in the Anglican Office tradition Hymns in Divine Worship: The Daily Office [The photo is from Christ Church Cathedral,…
OLSC’s Ordo for 2019
Mr. Tom Bako provides here a review of the 2019 Ordo prepared by the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross. “With this Ordo 2019 and a copy of the Bible … you can now have a full Daily Office cycle in the Ordinariate Use.”
Choral Evensong in Fargo, North Dakota
I had the privilege of praying Evensong, this evening, 4 November 2018, with the bishop, dean, and people of Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral in Fargo, North Dakota. (A mere 2.5 hours from St. John’s. What are distances in the upper Midwest?) In addition to continuing the celebration of All Saints from Thursday, this service of Evensong…
Retirement of Bishop Michael Aidan Smith, Obl.S.B., Announced.
[The following is adapted from the article that can be found here.] The Rt. Rev. Michael G. Smith, Bishop of North Dakota since 2004, has announced his intention to retire in May 2019. Bishop Smith made the announcement near the conclusion of his brief sermon to the 48th annual convention of the diocese. “Our diocesan…
St. Lambert – 17 September
Continuing the series on patron saints of our oblates. Today is the feast day of St. Lambert, patron of Fr. Steve Rice. Name-day blessings to you, Fr. Steve Lambert! [The following is adapted from what is posted here. Image: Liège Cathedral] St. Lambert was born at Maestricht between 633 and 638 and died at Liège…
Translation of St. Cuthbert’s Relics
In addition to the 20 March feast day of St. Cuthbert (observed in the Extraordinary Form—I believe—and the Ordinary Form of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church and by the Church of England), 4 September celebrates the arrival of the relics of St. Cuthbert at their eventual resting place, Durham. The 4 September date…
“Do ordinary things with extraordinary fervor.”
I saw an announcement that in response to the current crisis in the Catholic Church, a bishop has ordered all of the parishes in his diocese “to recite the St. Michael’s prayer after each Holy Mass.” On one hand, this strikes me as an excellent plan. These times call for powerful statements, and the bishop’s…
St. Aidan of Lindisfarne
Continuing the series on patron saints of our oblates. Today is the feast day of St. Aidan of Lindisfarne, Patron of Bishop Michael Aidan Smith, Obl.S.B. Name-day blessings to you, Bishop Michael! [The following is adapted from what is posted here. Image: statue of St. Aidan on Lindisfarne, Holy Island.] In the seventh century, St. Aidan…
St. Aethelwold – 1 August
Continuing the series on patron saints of our oblates. Today is the feast day of St. Aethelwold, Patron of Stephen Aethelwold Hilgendorf, Obl.S.B. Name-day blessings to you, Stephen! And congratulations on being named the Director of Faith Formation at St. Paul’s Cathedral! [The following is adapted from what is posted here.] St. Aethelwold was born…
Saint Martha – 29 July
Continuing the series on patron saints of our oblates. Today is the feast day of St. Martha, Patron of Gregory Martha Herr, Obl.S.B. Name-day blessings to you, Greg! [The following is adapted from what is posted here.] Though Saints Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are represented by St. John as living at Bethany, St. Luke would seem to…
The Oxford Movement Today
On this anniversary of the beginning of the Oxford Movement, I commend to your reading and reflection this excellent reminder—from our own Fr. Steve Lambert Rice, Obl.S.B.—of this important moment in Anglican-Patrimonial history. On 14 July 1833, John Keble preached a sermon entitled “National Apostasy,” which Newman identifies as the moment at which the Oxford…
