Saint Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage

Heiliger_Cyprianus

Saint Cyprian, by the Master of Meßkirch (active 1515–1540). From Wikipedia.

O Almighty God, who didst give to thy servant Cyprian boldness to confess the Name of our Saviour Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to . . . → Read More: Saint Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage

For All True Martyrs

martyrdom of st stephen by carracci

O Lord God, whose Son hath taught us that the greatest love is to lay down one’s life for one’s friends: we bless thee for the example of all thy martyrs who have answered pride with humility, anger with forgiveness, and hatred with charity. Grant, we beseech thee, that like thy proto–martyr St Stephen, all . . . → Read More: For All True Martyrs

Saint Deiniol

Y Ddraig Goch

O God, the light of the faithful and shepherd of souls, who didst set blessed Deiniol to be a Bishop in the Church, that he might feed thy sheep by his word, and guide them by his example: Grant us, we beseech thee, to keep the faith which he taught, and to follow in . . . → Read More: Saint Deiniol

On the Kalendar: Saint Deiniol, Abbot and Bishop

Deiniol is traditionally considered the first Bishop of Bangor, in the Kingdom of Gwynedd, Wales. According to Deiniol’s Life, he was the son of Abbot Dunod Fawr, the son of Pabo Post Prydain. Other sources trace his ancestry to Coel Godhebog, a chieftain in Strathclyde, which, at the time, was a Brythonic speaking region. (The . . . → Read More: On the Kalendar: Saint Deiniol, Abbot and Bishop

Star Trek Day

St Sigfrid baptizes the heathen

Almighty Father: Send down, we beseech thee, thy Holy Spirit, the great Dove of the Universe, to inspire us to preach the Gospel both with words and with deeds, both far and near. Let us go forth, both clergy and laity, to seek out new congregations, and to boldly go where no priest has gone . . . → Read More: Star Trek Day

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Giotto The Birth of the Virgin

The Birth of the Virgin, by Giotto (1266/7—1337). From Wikipedia.

Almighty and everlasting God, who by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost didst prepare the body and soul of the Virgin–Mother Mary to be a dwelling place for thy Son: Keep us, we beseech thee, pure and undefiled, that we may be . . . → Read More: The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

celtic trefoil

Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve: Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are . . . → Read More: The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

On the Kalendar: Saint Evurtius, Bishop of Orleans

“September”, kalendar page from Les Petites Heures d’Anne de Bretagne (The Little Hours of Queen Anne of Bretagne), by the Maître des Triomphes de Pétrarque. From Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris (France).

Saint Evurtius is something of a cipher. Almost nothing is known about him. He was apparently highly revered as Bishop . . . → Read More: On the Kalendar: Saint Evurtius, Bishop of Orleans

For Safety from a Natural Cataclysm

Jesus Stilling the Tempest, by Gustave Doré

Jesus Stilling the Tempest (Mark iv:39) by Gustave Doré

In anticipation of the landfall of Hurricane Dorian

O God, who makest the clouds thy chariot, and who walkest upon the wings of the wind: Preserve us, we beseech thee, from storm and tempest, earthquake and fire. Keep us safe in our homes, and . . . → Read More: For Safety from a Natural Cataclysm

Saint Giles of Provence, Abbot

Saint Giles

Detail of Saint Giles and the Hind, by the Master of St Giles (c. 1500)

O Lord Jesus Christ, who bought us by thy Blood: Help us to follow thee and the company of Saints in merciful thought and loving deed; and especially after the gracious pattern of thy servant Giles, make us . . . → Read More: Saint Giles of Provence, Abbot