May is traditionally the month to remember Mary, the Mother of Our Lord. The national Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham, is one of the most beautiful power houses of prayer in our land.

Saints’ days in May

1 Philip and James, Apostles

2 Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 373

4 English Saints and Martyrs of the Reformation Era

8 Julian of Norwich, Spiritual Writer, c.1417

14 Matthias the Apostle

16 Caroline Chisholm, Social Reformer, 1877

19 Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, Restorer of Monastic Life, 988

20 Alcuin of York, Deacon, Abbot of Tours, 804

21 Helena, Protector of the Holy Places, 330

24 John and Charles Wesley, Evangelists, Hymn Writers, 1791 and 1788

25 The Venerable Bede, Monk at Jarrow, Scholar, Historian, 735

25 Aldhelm, Bishop of Sherborne, 709

26 Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, 605

26 John Calvin, Reformer, 1564

26 Philip Neri, Founder of the Oratorians, Spiritual Guide, 1595

28 Lanfranc, Prior of Le Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, Scholar, 1089

30 Josephine Butler, Social Reformer,1906

30 Joan of Arc, Visionary, 1431

30 Apolo Kivebulaya, Priest, Evangelist in Central Africa, 1933

31 The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.

Why we receive the ashes?

Following the example of the Ninevites, who did penance in sackcloth and ashes, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and reminds us that life passes away on Earth. We remember this when we are told

“Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return.”

Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice.

Lenten Resources

In 2012 the Church of Scotland General Assembly received the report of the Special Commission on the Purposes of Economic Activity – A right relationship with money.

For Lent 2014, a small writers group has produced a six-session study resource based upon this report. The group was chaired by Professor Charles Munn, who was Chair of the Special Commission.  http://www.ctbi.org.uk/649

Saints’ days in March

1 David, Bishop of Menevia, Patron of Wales, c.601

2 Chad, Bishop of Lichfield, Missionary, 672

7 Perpetua, Felicity and their Companions, Martyrs at Carthage, 203

8 Edward King, Bishop of Lincoln, 1910

8 Felix, Bishop, Apostle to the East Angles, 647 8 Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, Priest, Poet, 1929

17 Patrick, Bishop, Missionary, Patron of Ireland, c.460

18 Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem, Teacher of the Faith, 386

19 Joseph of Nazareth

20 Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, Missionary, 687

21 Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, Reformation Martyr,1556

24 Walter Hilton of Thurgarton, Augustinian Canon, Mystic, 1396

24 Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, Martyr, 1980

25 The Annunciation of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary

26 Harriet Monsell, Founder of the Community of St John the Baptist, 1883

31 John Donne, Priest, Poet, 1631

What meaning does the annual repetition of Epiphany have for our faith and for our Christian life? The feast of Epiphany is not held only as a commemoration of a historical event in the life of Jesus, not merely for the attractiveness of the atmosphere of lights, music, and poetry. The recurrent celebration of Epiphany has a great spiritual significance far beyond either of these. It is not the mere commemoration of a historical event because in the Christian faith everything is present, here and now, for our Lord Jesus Christ is with us here and now, our inseparable Companion and Comforter. The historical event is but a motive and remembrance, for the Person of Christ is ever present, and His Grace is not merely a memory of history.

Saints’ days in January

2 Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishops, Teachers of the Faith, 379 and 389

2 Seraphim, Monk of Sarov, Spiritual Guide, 1833

2 Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah, Bishop in South India, Evangelist, 1945

6 The Epiphany

13 Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, Teacher of the Faith, 367

13 Kentigern (Mungo), Missionary Bishop in Strathclyde and Cumbria, 603

13 George Fox, Founder of the Society of Friends (the Quakers), 1691

17 Charles Gore, Bishop, Founder of the Community of the Resurrection, 1932

18 Amy Carmichael, Founder of the Dohnavur Fellowship, Spiritual Writer, 1951

22 Vincent of Saragossa, Deacon, first Martyr of Spain, 304

24 Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, Teacher of the Faith, 1622

28 Thomas Aquinas, Priest,Philosopher,Teacher of the Faith,1274

31 John Bosco, Priest, Founder of the Salesian Teaching Order, 1888

The first 24 days of December fall during the liturgical season known as Advent and are represented by the liturgical colour purple. The remaining days of December mark the beginning of the Christmas season. The liturgical colour changes to white or gold — a symbol of joy, purity and innocence.

THE ADVENT COLLECT

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

Feast days in December

1 Charles de Foucauld, Hermit in the Sahara, 1916

3 Francis Xavier, Missionary, Apostle of the Indies, 1552

4 John of Damascus, Monk , Teacher of the Faith, c.749

4 Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, Founder of the Little Gidding Community, 1637

6 Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c.326

7 Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Teacher of the Faith, 397

8 The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

13 Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, 304

13 Samuel Johnson, Moralist, 1784

14 John of the Cross, Poet, Teacher of the Faith, 1591

17 O Sapientia

17 Eglantyne Jebb, Social Reformer, Founder of ‘Save The Children’, 1928

24 Christmas Eve

25 Christmas Day

26 Stephen, Deacon, First Martyr

27 John, Apostle and Evangelist

28 The Holy Innocents

29 Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1170

31 John Wycliff, Reformer, 1384

In the month of November, we have cause to remember the Dead, both of All the Faithful Departed on November 2nd, and those fallen on Active Service in War, on November 11th.

Prayer

+ Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon the. May they rest in peace, and rise in glory. Amen.

This month is also the time our liturgical year ends. Traditionally in this month we consider the end times, our own as well as that of our world. It is a good time to begin to consider how we will spend Advent this year, and what preparations we should make for this. The month culminates in the feast of Christ the King.

Feast days this month

1 All Saints’ Day
2 Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day)
3 Richard Hooker, Priest, Anglican Apologist, Teacher of the Faith, 1600
3 Martin of Porres, Friar, 1639, Leonard, Hermit, 6th century
6 William Temple,Archbishop of Canterbury,Teacher of the Faith,1944
7 Willibrord of York, Bishop, Apostle of Frisia, 739
8 The Saints and Martyrs of England
9 Margery Kempe, Mystic, c.1440
10 Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome, Teacher of the Faith, 461
11 Martin, Bishop of Tours, c.397
13 Charles Simeon, Priest, Evangelical Divine, 1836
14 Samuel Seabury, first Anglican Bishop in North America, 1796
16 Margaret, Queen of Scotland, Philanthropist, Reformer of the Church, 1093
16 Edmund Rich of Abingdon, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1240
17 Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, 1200
18 Elizabeth of Hungary, Princess of Thuringia, Philanthropist, 1231
19 Hilda, Abbess of Whitby, 680
19 Mechtild, Béguine of Magdeburg, Mystic, 1280
20 Edmund, King of the East Angles, Martyr, 870
20 Priscilla Lydia Sellon, a Restorer of the Religious Life in the Church of England, 1876
22 Cecilia, Martyr at Rome, c.230
23 Clement, Bishop of Rome, Martyr, c.100
25 Catherine of Alexandria, Martyr, 4th century
25 Isaac Watts, Hymn Writer, 1748
29 Day of Intercession and Thanksgiving for the Missionary Work of the Church
30 Andrew the Apostle