FEAST OF ALL SAINTS.
THIS Vigil is commensurate with the duration of Christendom, for the life of every Christian is this vigil: so ought yours to be, so ought mine.
A vigil is a period wherein to fast, pray, watch; repent of the past, amend the present, prepare and long for the future.
Such is a vigil. Is my life such?
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand."
Monday, October 21, 2013
October 30
WHO is this that cometh up not alone
From the fiery-flying serpent wilderness,
Leaning upon her own Beloved One,
Who is this?
Lo, the King of King's daughter, a high princess,
Going home as bride to her Husband's Throne,
Virgin queen in perfected loveliness.
Her eyes a dove's eyes and her voice a dove's moan,
She shows like a full moon for heavenliness,
Eager saints and angels ask in heaven's zone:
Who is this?
From the fiery-flying serpent wilderness,
Leaning upon her own Beloved One,
Who is this?
Lo, the King of King's daughter, a high princess,
Going home as bride to her Husband's Throne,
Virgin queen in perfected loveliness.
Her eyes a dove's eyes and her voice a dove's moan,
She shows like a full moon for heavenliness,
Eager saints and angels ask in heaven's zone:
Who is this?
October 29
WHO has not rejoiced at the ever familiar, ever marvellous aspect of the stars? Those resplendent orbs remote, abiding.
But now science, endeavoring to account for certain recurrent obscurations of one or more such luminaries, suggests that among them and with them may be revoloving other non-luminous bodies; which interposing periodically between individuals of the bright host and our planet, diminish from time to time the light proceeding from one or other; and again, by advancing along an assigned orbit, reveal their original brightness.
"Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me: I cannot attain unto it."
Yet none the less does the physical hypothesis suggest a spiritual analogy.
If certain stars which present mere dimness and obstruction to our eyes are notwithstanding genuine celestial bodies fulfilling their proper revolution in their legitimate orbit, may not some human fellow-creatures who to us exhibit no sign of grace, yet be numbered among the children of God, and have their lot among the saints?
God grant that so it may be, and grant me fellowship with them.
But now science, endeavoring to account for certain recurrent obscurations of one or more such luminaries, suggests that among them and with them may be revoloving other non-luminous bodies; which interposing periodically between individuals of the bright host and our planet, diminish from time to time the light proceeding from one or other; and again, by advancing along an assigned orbit, reveal their original brightness.
"Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me: I cannot attain unto it."
Yet none the less does the physical hypothesis suggest a spiritual analogy.
If certain stars which present mere dimness and obstruction to our eyes are notwithstanding genuine celestial bodies fulfilling their proper revolution in their legitimate orbit, may not some human fellow-creatures who to us exhibit no sign of grace, yet be numbered among the children of God, and have their lot among the saints?
God grant that so it may be, and grant me fellowship with them.
October 28
FEAST OF ST. SIMON AND ST. JUDE, APOSTLES.
TRADITION, but not with unanimous voice, proclaims that St. Simon was martyred in Persia, being sawn asunder: that St. Jude similarly "fell asleep," hanging pierced upon a cross at Edessa.
St. Jude has enriched the Church with the General Epistle which bears his name: of St. Simon no writings remain to us.
The inspired Gospel narrative records little of either Saint beyond his name, except that of course both are included in statements which speak of "the Twelve."
Thus we behold two illustrious Apostles contented scarcely to be mentioned in Holy Scripture: which celestial partial eclipse is followed up by their sharing one Festival between them.
Truly they learnt of Him Who is "meek and lowly in heart;" and now they know by blessed experience that it is enough for the disciple to be as his Master, and the servant as his Lord.
TRADITION, but not with unanimous voice, proclaims that St. Simon was martyred in Persia, being sawn asunder: that St. Jude similarly "fell asleep," hanging pierced upon a cross at Edessa.
St. Jude has enriched the Church with the General Epistle which bears his name: of St. Simon no writings remain to us.
The inspired Gospel narrative records little of either Saint beyond his name, except that of course both are included in statements which speak of "the Twelve."
Thus we behold two illustrious Apostles contented scarcely to be mentioned in Holy Scripture: which celestial partial eclipse is followed up by their sharing one Festival between them.
Truly they learnt of Him Who is "meek and lowly in heart;" and now they know by blessed experience that it is enough for the disciple to be as his Master, and the servant as his Lord.
October 27
VIGIL OF ST. SIMON AND ST. JUDE, APOSTLES.
"THE harvest is past, the summer is ended," writes the Prophet Jeremiah.
Even so this vigil overtakes us in the waning natural year, with harvest past and summer ended.
What has been sown has also been reaped. After the reapers the gleaners have followed: the last ears have been gathered in. It is too late now to sow, whether or not we have sown long ago; or to reap, whether or not we have already reaped.
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved," writes the Prophet Jeremiah.
And wiser than he, and more full of tenderness, Christ wept over Jerusalem, saying, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes."
Nevertheless, to-day, while it is called to-day, He still calls us, saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel."
"THE harvest is past, the summer is ended," writes the Prophet Jeremiah.
Even so this vigil overtakes us in the waning natural year, with harvest past and summer ended.
What has been sown has also been reaped. After the reapers the gleaners have followed: the last ears have been gathered in. It is too late now to sow, whether or not we have sown long ago; or to reap, whether or not we have already reaped.
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved," writes the Prophet Jeremiah.
And wiser than he, and more full of tenderness, Christ wept over Jerusalem, saying, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes."
Nevertheless, to-day, while it is called to-day, He still calls us, saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel."
October 26
OF all the downfalls in the world,
The flutter of an Autumn leaf
Grows grievous by suggesting grief:
Who thought, when Spring was first unfurled,
Of this? The wide world lay empearled;
Who thought of frost that nips the world?
Sigh on, my ditty.
There lurk a hundred subtle stings
To prick us in our daily walk:
An apple cankered on its stalk,
A robin snared for all his wings,
A voice that sang but never sings;
Yea, sight or sound or silence stings.
Kind Lord, show pity.
The flutter of an Autumn leaf
Grows grievous by suggesting grief:
Who thought, when Spring was first unfurled,
Of this? The wide world lay empearled;
Who thought of frost that nips the world?
Sigh on, my ditty.
There lurk a hundred subtle stings
To prick us in our daily walk:
An apple cankered on its stalk,
A robin snared for all his wings,
A voice that sang but never sings;
Yea, sight or sound or silence stings.
Kind Lord, show pity.
October 25
FEAST OF ST. CRISPIN, MARTYR; accounted Patron of shoemakers. The year 285 is perhaps the date of this saint's martyrdom. His brother St. Crispinian suffered and triumphed with him. But so much of their legendary history fails to carry conviction with it, that every alleged particular may prudently be held under correction.
THESE pious brothers, then, were Roman shoemakers working at Soissons. An alternative account makes them Roman nobles. Whatever they were in this world's social scale, they are portrayed to us as such men as "the King delighteth to honor;" and where they now dwell, earth and earthly rank alike have dwindled to nothing.
And if "to nothing" there, can they be any great thing here?
THESE pious brothers, then, were Roman shoemakers working at Soissons. An alternative account makes them Roman nobles. Whatever they were in this world's social scale, they are portrayed to us as such men as "the King delighteth to honor;" and where they now dwell, earth and earthly rank alike have dwindled to nothing.
And if "to nothing" there, can they be any great thing here?
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