National PTSD Awareness Day (I)

Antonio Canova Madness of Hercules

Hercules Firing Arrows at His Children, by Antonio Canova (1757—1822). Source unknown.

Almighty Father, our help and our shield: look with mercy upon thy servants who have suffered in the service of our country. Soothe their distress, and grant them a sure recovery from the wounds of heart and mind and spirit. Grant . . . → Read More: National PTSD Awareness Day (I)

The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Jacopo Pontormo Nativity of John the Baptist

The Birth of John the Baptist by Jacopo Pontormo (1494-1557). From The Yorck Project: 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei. DVD-ROM, 2002. ISBN 3936122202. Distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way . . . → Read More: The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

The First Sunday after Trinity

Trinity (celtic knot)

O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in thee: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because, through the weakness of our mortal nature, we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and . . . → Read More: The First Sunday after Trinity

Saint Alban, Protomartyr of England

Martyrdom of Alban

The martyrdom of St Alban, from a 13th-century manuscript, now in the Trinity College Library, Dublin. From Wikipedia.

O God, in whose sight the death of thy saints is precious, and who gavest grace to thy blessed Martyr Saint Alban to glorify thee by his death: Grant that we, following his faith . . . → Read More: Saint Alban, Protomartyr of England

Summer Solstice

Appearance of Christ to the People

O Lord Christ, who wast born in the bleak mid-winter, and yet was the Light of the world: shine thy love upon us even as the mid-summer sun shone upon the birth of thy cousin blessed John Baptist; and enkindle faith in our hearts, that we may join him in preparing thy way, even as . . . → Read More: Summer Solstice

Juneteenth

Union soldiers accompanying freed slaves

O Lord God of hosts, who with a mighty arm delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt: Let not our hearts be hardened like Pharaoh’s, but incline our hearts to mercy; that we might fight against slavery of body and mind, and oppression of the soul. Help us to welcome the liberated into the fulness of . . . → Read More: Juneteenth

For the Victims of the Pulse Nightclub Shooting

Pieter Brueghel II Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery

For the Victims of Hatred

Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery, by Pieter Brueghel the Younger. From Wikipedia.

Almighty God, Father of all mankind: we beseech thee to turn the hearts of those who through malice and hatred would seek to injure or oppress the stranger, the sojourner, and the Samaritan . . . → Read More: For the Victims of the Pulse Nightclub Shooting

Saint Barnabas

St Barnabas healing the sick

St Barnabas healing the sick by Paolo Veronese (1528–1588). From Wikimedia

O Lord God Almighty, who didst endue thy holy Apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of the Holy Ghost: Leave us not, we beseech thee, destitute of thy manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use them alway to thy honour and . . . → Read More: Saint Barnabas

Saint Columba, Abbot of Iona

Columba at Bridei's fort

Columba at Bridei’s fort, by Joseph Ratcliffe Skelton (1865–1927) , in Scotland’s Story, by Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall. From . . . → Read More: Saint Columba, Abbot of Iona

Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, and the First Book of Common Prayer

Thomas Cranmer by Gerlach Flicke

Portrait of Thomas Cranmer, by Gerlach Flicke (1495–1558). From Wikimedia

Almighty and everliving God, whose servant Thomas Cranmer, with others did restore the language of the people in the prayers of thy Church: Make us always thankful for this heritage; and help us so to pray in the Spirit and with the . . . → Read More: Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, and the First Book of Common Prayer