William Laud, born in 1573, was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645 in the days of King Charles I. It was a turbulent time throughout, one of violent divisions in the Church of England, eventually culminating in the English…
Continue ReadingKeep us, O Lord, constant in faith and zealous in witness, that, like your servant William Laud, we may live in your fear, die in your favor, and rest in your peace; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son…
Continue ReadingJesuit priest Fr. Eugene Lobo S.J. writes of today’s Feast: The Baptism of Christ as recorded in all the four Gospels indicates the Trinitarian Revelation and the commencement of the public ministry of Jesus. John the Baptist, the cousin of…
Continue ReadingFather in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have…
Continue ReadingBorn in 1875, Harriet became an Episcopal deaconess in 1922 after attending the New York Training School for Deaconesses. After becoming a deaconess, Harriet became a missionary among American Indian and Alaskan Native peoples. Harriet emphasized health and education rather…
Continue ReadingHoly God, you chose your faithful servant Harriet Bedell to exercise the ministry of deaconess and to be a missionary among indigenous peoples: Fill us with compassion and respect for all people, and empower us for the work of ministry…
Continue ReadingAbout the Feast of Epiphany, Dennis Bratcher of the Christian Research Institute writes: In western Christian tradition, January 6 is celebrated as Epiphany. It goes by other names in various church traditions. In Hispanic and Latin culture, as well as…
Continue ReadingO God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through…
Continue ReadingOn the Second Sunday of Christmas, our Lectionary gives us a choice of three Gospel lessons. Today at St. Paul’s Parish, we will hear the story of the flight to Egypt from Matthew’s Gospel: Now after the wise men had…
Continue ReadingO God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns…
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