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…
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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…
The Structure of the Daily Office, Part IV
Part IV of Mr. Tom Bako’s series on the Daily Office. This essay explores the canticles. Click here for the full essay. Sections in this essay: The First Canticle of Morning Prayer The Three Gospel Canticles [The photo is of Tunstall Chapel in Durham Castle, where the Choir of University College at Durham University sings…
“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…
The Structure of the Daily Office, Part III
Part III of Mr. Tom Bako’s series on the Daily Office. This essay explores the lectionary. Click here for the full essay. Sections in this essay: Notes on the Lectionary Practical Matters Finding the Day’s Lessons
The Ordinariate Liturgical Calendar and the General Roman Calendar.
Another essay by Mr. Tom Bako, this time on the Ordinariate Liturgical Calendar. For the full essay, click here. Sections in the essay: Ember and Rogation Days The Pentecost Octave The Reckoning of Ordinary Sundays Proper First Vespers for Feasts
The Structure of the Daily Office, Part II
Part II of Mr. Tom Bako’s series on the Daily Office, this time focusing on the Psalms. Click here for the full essay. Sections in this essay: The Psalms in Morning and Evening Prayer The Psalms in the Day Hours and Compline
The Structure of the Daily Office, Part I
I refer you to a new installment in Mr. Tom Bako’s series on the Daily Office. Click here for the full essay. Sections in this essay: The Sentences and Penitential Fore-Office The Opening Versicles The Invitatory Psalm (Mattins) and Lamp-lighting Hymn (Evensong) [Image: Bristol Cathedral Choir Stalls]
The Daily Office in the Ordinariate (Anglican) Use of the Roman Rite
Excellent essay by Tom Bako on the Daily Office. To whet your appetite, here are the three main section: The Anglican Office: A (Very) Brief Historical Overview Reclaiming the Office for the Entire People of God Reasons to Pray the Divine Office in the Ordinariate’s Anglican Use In my Anglican days (as an Episcopalian in…
