Hello and happy Civic Holiday Monday. 

Thursday, August 7, 4-5pm in the Trinity Centre is our next time of exploration of contemplative prayer. Please join us in practicing the presence of God. 

Since “contemplative prayer” quite likely will lead you to think of monks or nuns (it is highly unfortunate that contemplative prayer is thought to be something that “regular” Christians don’t do) and Friday is the memorial of Dominic who founded the order of what became known as the Dominican monks, here is a quick refresher of the “prayer hours” on which we base the timing of several of our liturgies…

Traditional Prayer Hours: In the “Rule” of Benedict of Nursia, we read of Matins or Vigils (not the same as what we now call Morning Prayer), Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline. These are the “Divine Offices” and generally consist of psalms, scripture reading, prayers, and perhaps a hymn or two. Matins or Vigils is the “night office” so it may be best to refer to this office as Vigils since the word matins actually means morning and could cause confusion. This office is always sung (or said) before the sunrise – not at sunrise, before sunrise when it is very dark. There is no set time for Vigils but it is often prayed at about 3am.  Lauds (meaning “praise”, associated with the resurrection of Christ) is the morning office, sung at daybreak and is the one most closely associated with our Morning Prayer despite the fact that, technically, it’s meant to be quite a bit earlier than the usual Morning Prayer time of our churches. 

Next come Prime, Terce, Sext, and None – the “little hours”. The Office of Prime is prayed at about 7am and was actually added – according to John Cassian – in order to prevent the monks at Bethlehem from going back to bed in between Lauds and Terce. Some communities pray the Office of Prime and some do not. Terce, Sext, and None are Latin terms that mean “third”, “sixth”, and “ninth”, respectively. So, Terce is at the third hour (9am), Sext is at the sixth hour (noon), and None is at the ninth hour (3pm).  

Vespers means “shadows” and so it is the office sung at sunset. Clearly the time of this office will vary according to what season you are in.  This office is strongly aligned with our Evening Prayer and predates monasticism since it has its roots in the sunset sacrifices of the Jerusalem Temple. Compline is the closing office of the day and is prayed when it is fully night, i.e. completely dark. There is no set time for this prayer office although it would typically come before midnight and is considered the church’s “bedtime prayer”.

(christdesert.org)https://christdesert.org/prayer/opus-dei/the-eight-daily-prayer-periods/

For Your Devotions:

Wednesday, August 6th is the Holy Day of the Transfiguration of the Lord.  Peter, James, and John were invited to accompany Jesus to the mountain top where they were astounded to see Christ’s glory revealed to them for a brief time. Something for you to think about: this amazing event occurs right after the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) record Jesus as telling them, “But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God” (Lk.9:27; see also Matt.16:28; Mk.9:1). Have a look at p.230 here for more information:   For All the Saints PDF

Also on August 6^th: the Memorializing of the Apology.  Although we do not celebrate other memorials or commemorations on a Holy Day, it would be appropriate to acknowledge this day of the apology of our then Primate, Michael Peers, to the Indigenous Peoples of Canada on behalf of the Anglican Church of Canada. Here is a Collect you may wish to pray on this day:

Creator God, from you every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. You have grounded us in your covenant love, and empowered us by your Spirit to speak the truth in love, and to walk in your way towards justice and wholeness. Mercifully grant that your people, journeying together in partnership, may be strengthened and guided to help one another grow into the full stature of Christ, who is our light and our life.  Amen.

Thursday, August 7th is the commemoration of the presbyter, John Mason Neale who died in 1866. Born in 1818, Neale lived in a time when Anglicans and Roman Catholics were still wary of each other. He was often the target of violence from those who considered him to be an “agent of the Vatican” sent to destroy the Anglican Church. He wrote some hymns I’m positive you’ll know – especially Good King Wenceslas. He died at the young age of 48. To find out what hastened his early demise and to learn more about him check out p.232:  For All the Saints PDF

Friday, August 8th is the memorial of Dominic, Priest and Friar, who died in 1221. Dominic was a Spanish aristocrat who was concerned with the violence used to combat heresy. He founded the Order of Preachers to combat heresy with sound theology and teaching rather than with violence. He gave up all his possessions and devoted his life to instructing others – especially those who had wandered from the church to practice strange non-Christian practices. The order became known as the Dominicans or “Black Friars” in England. To read more go to p.234:  For All the Saints PDF

In the joy of Christ,

Susan