Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity, A.D. 2026

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I last commented upon the Collect and readings for Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity in A.D. 2024. In that posting I focused a lot of attention on the importance of key words in the Collect for the day in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. First, here’s the text only:

GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace,
that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect for Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity is another adaptation by Archbishop Cranmer for the 1549 Book of Common Prayer. It is based upon the Gelasian Sacramentary (Rome, circa 750 A.D.). In spite of its name, the Gelasian Sacramentary does have any actual connection to Pope Gelasius I, who was Bishop of Rome from 492 to 496 A.D. Its official name was Liber sacramentorum Romanae ecclesiae, literally The Book of Sacraments of the Church of Rome. In the 8th C. A.D., there were two sacramentaries in liturgies within the Western Church: the Gelasian, used by the Church at Rome, and another, known as the Gallican Rite, widely used in the northern half of Italy and in parts of the rest of Western Europe. The Gelasian rite was replaced across the Holy Roman Empire during the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor since the sacking of Rome in the 5th C. Viewers of this blog will already know that the most important contributor to the worship practices of the Western Church at the time of Charlemagne and his successors was the Blessed Alcuin of York. Alcuin was tutor to the household of the Frankish monarch who adopted the name Charlemagne. Alcuin’s most famous prayer, commonly known as the Collect for Purity, follows the Lord’s Prayer in Anglican Holy Communion in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer (American edition). For more about Alcuin’s interesting history and an image of him, see my Blog post for March 16, A.D. 2024 and an earlier Blog post about Alcuin and his background in northern England on March 9, A.D. 2024

Back to the Collect’s key phrases mentioned above. The Collect for Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity includes a two iconic phrases written by Archbishop Cranmer, “pardon and peace” and “a quiet mind.” These changes are important for Anglican worship in that the word “pardon” was substituted by Abp. Cranmer in the 1549 Book of Common Prayer for the medieval Latin word “indulgence.” Archbishop Cranmer considered “indulgence” as too closely allied to the Roman Catholic practice of selling indulgences, one of the contributing factors which precipitated the Protestant Reformation and the separation of the Church in England from the Roman Church. The word “quiet” in Archbishop Cranmer’s phrase “a quiet mind” replaced the Latin word “secure.” In Cranmer’s thinking, and likely his spiritual advisor Alcuin’s, “a quiet mind” implies unshakeable faith in the face of adversity. Archbishop Cranmer’s Collect for Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity, as amended into its present form, is often used by non-ordained Church leadership as a closing prayer in the Anglican Morning Prayer. The prayer offers the hope of forgiveness without the official sanction of the rite of Absolution, which only an ordained clergyman can dispense. The Collect for Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity is the last of sixteen from the Gelasian Sacramentary in Trinity season (noting that one was changed by Archbishop Cranmer in the 1549 B.C.P., five changed in the 1662 edition, and one changed for the American prayer book in 1789.

Mosaic of a figure with a beard and halo, wearing a robe, gesturing with one hand while holding a book in the other.
St. Paul, mosaic, Inner Narthex, south wall to right of entry arch into the Naos, Chora Church (Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora), 1315-1321 A.D. under administration of Isaac Comnenus, Constantinople/Istanbul. The finger position of the thumb against the tip of the third finger forming the letter “C:” is the Byzantine sign of a blessing offered by a priest. Together the position, with raised first and fourth fingers, form the letters ICXC, which stands for Jesus Christ. In the Byzantine tradition, carried into the modern world by the Orthodox Church, many icons of Christ include the legend ICXC NIKA, which means Jesus Christ, Victor (over death). © Steve Estvank|Dreamstime.com.

The Epistle reading, Ephesians 6:10-20, is St. Paul’s classic explanation of the Christian faith expressed in distinctly martial terms and other meaningful phrases, including: “the whole armor of God,” “spiritual wickedness in high places,” “principalities….powers…rulers of darkness,” “breastplate of righteousness,” “shield of faith,” “helmet of salvation,” “sword of the Spirit.” I explore this kind of imagery in the AIC Bookstore Publication, Christian Spirituality: an Anglican Perspective.” St. Paul’s reference to “against principalities, against powers…spiritual wickedness in heavenly places” is the Scriptural source of the Christian understanding that there are nine ranks, or orders, of angels. In another AIC Bookstore Publication, Layman’s Lexicon, I explore Angels/Archangels on pages 10-13. Both volumes are available exclusively through my Amazon Author Central page. A summary of both books is available on the AIC Bookstore page. Layman’s Lexicon was the featured book in my Blog post for October 18, A.D. 2025. In other AIC resources, the traditional understanding of angels is discussed, with fourteen illustrations of angels, in Episode Nine (Ninth Day of Christmas, Jan. 2nd) of the AIC Christian Education Video series, The Twelve Days of Christmas. All twelve episodes are linked from the Digital Library page and with their audio-only soundtracks in MP3 format linked from the Podcast Archive page.

The Gospel reading, John 4:46-54, is John the Evangelist’s unique account of Jesus’ Healing of the Nobleman’s Son, described as the “second sign Jesus did when he had come out of Judea into Galilee.” The “signs” to which St. John are the Water into Wine account at the Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-12); Healing at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-15); Feeding the 5,000 (John 6:5-14): Walking of the Sea of Galilee (John 6:16-21); Healing the Man Born Blind (John 9:1-7) and the Raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-45). The healing is not often depicted in Christian art. This is probably because the healing was done at a distance and not with Jesus at the man’s side. For one of the few such images, a mid-19th C. engraving from the Bowyer Bible, see my Blog Post for October 19, A.D. 2024.

There are other resources in several media formats on this site related to Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity. The Collect, Epistle and Gospel readings for Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity are discussed and illustrated in Episode Eight in our Seasonal Video series, Trinitytide: the Teaching Season. An audio-only version in MP3 format is available on the Podcast Archive page. My Podcast Homily for Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity is linked from the Podcast Homilies page. A related Podcast Homily, based upon the Psalm reading for Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity is linked from the Podcast Homilies-Morning Prayer page. Angels are the subject of another AIC Bookstore Publication, Angels: In Scripture, Art & Christian Tradition, with 152 illustrations from the 3rd through the 20th C., with the cover illustration being one of the mosaics of angels, presented in five tiers, at the Baptistery of Saint John, Florence, Italy. Like the earlier reference to Layman’s Lexicon, a summary of the volume is linked from the AIC Bookstore page. The volume was the featured book in my Blog post for November 11, A.D. 2025.

As always, thank you for your interest and support. In our immediacy-driven world of the Twenty-first Century in which anti-Christian sentiment is widespread in the media and in political discourse. Your viewership and support for the multimedia resources offered through this site is even more important and is greatly appreciated. On this Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity, A.D. 2026, I hope and pray that these resources, which now include nearly 3,000 historic images, help you maintain “a quiet mind” and that you remain steadfast in your beliefs. Glory be to God for all things! Amen!

Twentieth Sunday after Trinity, A.D. 2026

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For the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity in A.D. 2026 the worship calendar shifts from the weekly schedule in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer to the appointed readings for a Saints Day, or Holy Day, with the full list found on B.C.P. pages 226-259. The readings for Twentieth Sunday after Trinity honor the Feast Day of “thy servant St. Luke the Physician,” which is always celebrated on October 18th. The Feast can be moved backward or forward to the nearest Sunday at the discretion of the local minister. St. Luke is the subject of Episode Fifteen in the AIC Christian Education Video series, The Lives of the Saints – First Series, the 1928 B.C.P. Saints. The audio-only version in MP3 format is linked from the Podcast Archives page.

An illuminated manuscript page featuring Saint Luke, depicted seated and holding a book, wearing a purple robe, with his feet bare. Above him is an angel and a winged calf. The background includes ornate architectural elements.
Luke Writing His Gospel, illumination in colors and gold on parchment, Codex Wittekindeus, circa 970-980, Fulda Abbey, Fulda, Germany. Ms. Theo. Lat.fol1, Folio 67v, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin/Preussische Kulturbesitz, Berlin, Germany. The style is typical of the school of illuminations during and after the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, who was crowned as Holy Roman Emperor at Rome on Christmas Day, 800 A.D.. Even for that school of illumination the use of vivid green is unusual. The image of an ox is the traditional symbol for St. Luke, based on the vision of the four living creatures in Ezekiel. 1:14.

More details about each of the eighteen canonical saints honored on sixteen feast days in the B.C.P. is discussed and illustrated in the AIC Christian Education Video series, The Lives of the Saints, linked from the Digital Library page. The episode focused on St. Luke, with 322 slides, is found in Episode Fifteen. Audio-only versions in MP3 format are linked from the Podcast Archive page. A second series, focused on thirty-five non-1928 B.C.P. saints in both the Western and Eastern Churches, is linked from the Digital Library and Podcast Archive pages.

Collect for the Feast Day of St. Luke is original to the American 1928 Book of Common Prayer. Ir was written by the Rev. Dr. Charles Morris Addison (1846-1947), a member of the Revision Committee which prepared the 1928 B.C.P. It replaced an original composition from the 1549 Book of Common Prayer written by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. Church historian Massey Shepherd notes that where Abp. Cranmer’s original collect was focused on the effects of Christian doctrine on the soul, the Rev. Dr. Addison added the phrase “power and love” referring to Christian ministry as extending not only to the well-being of the body but also the soul. For more commentary on the readings for the Feast Day, or Holy Day, of St. Luke, and any Sunday or Feast Day in the B.C.P., see Shepherd’s landmark volume, The Oxford American Prayer Book Commentary, available online in pdf format. The Rev. Addison was also coauthor, with John Wallace Suter, of A Book of Offices and Prayers for Priest and People (1914) and, with Charles Morris Addison, John Wallace Suter, Wallace Suter and Charles Morris Addi, The People’s Book of Worship: a Study of the Book of Common Prayer (1919); and two books on mysticism (referring specifically to mankind’s search for the presence of God) originally published in 1918 and again in 1923.

Since there are no epistles credited to St. Luke, the authors of the 1928 B.C.P. chose a selection from the canonical epistles, 2 Timothy 4:5-15. St. Paul wrote in verse 11 that, when this letter was written, many others had fallen away and that “only Luke is with me.” St. Paul’s epistle refers frequently and vividly to the suffering of Christ’s ministers as they spread the word of the Gospel from the Holy Land, across Asia Minor and farther west to Rome. In the late 1st and early 2nd C., Church historian Hippolytus of Rome, a disciple of St. John, created a list of the Seventy. His list included Mark, Luke, Stephen the Protomartyr, Polycarp of Smyrna (one of the earliest martyrs, Philemon and Irenaeus of Lyon.. The Eastern Church produced a full list of the Seventy, including Barnabus and Titus, all of whom are considered as saints. Their Feast Day is January 4th. There is no comparable Feast Day/Holy Day in the Western Church tradition. The reading from 2 Timothy includes a unique reference to the Christian blessing, “Peace be to this house,” (verse 5). Christ directed the Seventy to declare these words to every household which received them.

A group of people dressed in historical garments on a hillside, with a vast landscape of rolling hills and a distant village in the background.
He Sent Them Out Two by Two, opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, James Tissot, 1886-1894, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY. Public domain.

The Gospel reading, Luke 10:1-7a, is St. Luke’s account of the calling of the Seventy, who are sent “two by two.” They were to go forth in advance of Jesus’ intended visits “into every city and place, whither he himself would come.” (verse 1). I used the above watercolor of the event painted by James Tissot on the opening page of Chapter 10 in the AIC Bookstore Publication, The Gospel of Luke: Annotated & Illustrated. The illustration of St. Luke at the top of this page also appears in Chapter 10 as Illustration 15. The book is available exclusively through my Amazon Author Central page. St. Luke’s account offers a unique glimpse into the manner in which the Gospel was spread, including the difficulties faced by the Apostles. No salaries or other compensation are paid in the operation of this site. All royalties from the sale of AIC Bookstore Publications are donated to the AIC ministry, an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

As always, thank you for your interest and support of this online ministry.

Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity, A.D. 2026

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For the Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity Archbishop Cranmer adapted a collect from the Gelasian Sacramentary, a document much favored in the England in the years before the separation of the English Church from Rome. The Archbishop’s adaptation was altered for the 1662 B.C.P. by the addition of the reference to the Holy Spirit. The collect addresses clearly understandings that are under attack in the 21st C.: God the Father as mankind’s ultimate protector and His Holy Spirit as His agent in His Creation (vs. the concept that mankind can save itself through self-awareness and good works).

O GOD, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee; mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle reading, Ephesians 4:17-32, is one of the longest pericopes, or quotations from Scripture used in Christian liturgies, in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. Trinity is, as I call it, The Teaching Season, so there should be no surprise that in these verses St. Paul continues his teachings of the subject of what is now known as the Christian Virtues. In the 6th, 7th and 8th C. these concepts were more fully developed by saints and theologians in both the Eastern and Western Church traditions. St. Paul refers to what modern writers refer to as “passions” or “lusts.” In his writings, mostly from the period of his confinement at Rome before his martyrdom, St. Paul widens the definition into more than sexual passions into the subjects of excessive desire for material things, greed and corrupt language. The closing verse refers to forgiveness, urging Christians to forgive others as God, through Christ, forgives the shortcomings of mankind. For more on the concept of the Christian virtues, you can read the Virtue(s) entry in the AIC Bookstore Publication, Layman’s Lexicon, available through my Amazon Author Central page.

A detailed mosaic depicting a biblical scene with figures, including two central characters, a seated woman, and several other figures around them, set against a textured background.
Christ Healing the Paralytic Man at Capernaum, Byzantine mosaic, early 14th C., east wall, far south end, Outer Narthex, Chora Church, Constantinople/Istanbul. © Zzvet/Dreamstime.com.

The Gospel reading, Matthew 9:1-8, an account of the healing of a paralytic man in the region of Capernaum, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee late in 27 A.D. near the start of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The most interesting aspect of the account is Jesus’ statement that he man’s healing at His hand was, in part, the result of the faith of the man’s friends. As I noted in Episode Seven in our Bible Study Video series, Trinitytide: The Teaching Season, Jesus follows the healing with three demonstrations of His divinity (knowing the thoughts of men in verse 4; the power given Him by God the Father to forgive sins in verse 4b; and the healing by His word only in verse 6). The audio-only version is linked from the Podcast Archive page. I discussed the Collect, Epistle and Gospel readings, with two illustrations, in my Blog post for 10/4/24, which is also linked from the Archives page in the righthand column.

As always, thank you for your interest and support. Glory be to God for all things! Amen!

Whitsunday 2026 A.D.

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Sunday, May 24th, 2026 A.D., on the Anglican Church Calendar is Whitsunday, which in other denominations is more commonly known as Pentecost, a celebration of the Descent of the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost in the King James Version). As noted in previous posts in A.D.2026, the Descent is commonly depicted with the Holy Spirit depicted in the form of a dove, as in the Gospel accounts of the Baptism of Christ (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34) and Acts of the Apostles (2:1-11).

The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, gilt and silver on wood icon, probably 18th C., Russia. Holy Spirit depicted as a Dove and flames of fire. From a private collection. Wikimedia Commons.

In the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, there are two Collects for Whitsunday. The first is an adaptation by Archbishop Cranmer from the Gregorian Sacramentary (10th C.), based on the reading used for the Sunday morning Communion service for Whitsunday at St. Peter’s Basilica. In the Collect reference is made to the Spirit offering comfort to “thy faithful people.” The Collect makes clear that it is the presence of the Holy Spirit in the faithful which makes it possible for mankind to achieve “a right judgment in all things.” The second Collect is unique to the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. The identity of the author is unknown. Prayer book scholar Massey Shepherd speculated that it may have been added in order that more of the faithful would hear such doctrine on the Sunday morning celebration of Holy Communion on one of the three most important Sundays on the Church calendar, the other two being Christmas morning and Easter. It contains a plea that by the indwelling of the Spirit the faithful “may be enlightened and strengthened for thy service.” The second Collect is intended for use in the first service when there is more than one service offered on Whitsunday.

The Collects and the two sets of epistle and “for the epistle” reading from St. Luke’s account of the Descent of the Spirit (Acts 2:1-11) plus the Gospel readings for both services are discussed and illustrated in Episode One in our Seasonal Video series, Trinitytide: the Teaching Season, linked from the Digital Library page. The reading from 1 Corinthians 12:4-14 includes important instruction from St. Paul on the nature of the Church and the importance of spiritual gifts. The video series begins with readings for Whitsunday and for weekdays Whitsun Week and closes with the Sunday next before Advent, as well as the complicated rules for moving readings from Epiphany season when there are more than twenty-four Sundays after Trinity. The audio only (MP3) version is linked from the Podcast Archive page. My Podcast Homily for Whitsunday is linked from the Podcast Homilies page. A related Podcast Homily for Whitsunday, based on Psalm 68, the Psalm reading for Morning Prayer on Whitsunday, is linked from the Podcast Homilies-Morning Prayer page.

As always, thank you for your interest and support. Glory be to God for all things! Amen!

Fifth Sunday in Lent & AIC Bookstore 18

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For Fifth Sunday in Lent, commonly known as Passion Sunday, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer composed a Collect based upon the Gregorian Sacramentary (10th C.), affirming that by His “great goodness” mankind may be “governed and preserved.” The Epistle reading, Hebrews 9:11-15, includes a rare reference to the “high priest of good things to come” who is “not made with hands.” The allusion is to the mysterious Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20; Ps. 110:4; Hebrews 5:6-11 & 6:20-7:28), who is considered as a type of Christ. The Gospel reading, the second of two in Lent from the Gospel of John, John 8:46-58, includes Jesus’ bold “I AM” declaration.

Byzantine Mosaic, illustrating Genesis 16:18-20, 6th C, Basilica di San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy. Ravenna, on the northeast coast of Italy, was under the control of Byzantine Empire. The Basilica is contemporary to the rule of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, who sponsored the construction of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. © Dmitry Chulov|Dreamstime.com.

The Collect, Epistle and Gospel readings are discussed and illustrated in Episode Three in the AIC Christian Education Video series, Lent: the Season of Penitence, which is linked from the Digital Library page. The audio-only version of Episode Three is linked from the Podcast Archive page. My Podcast Homily for Fifth Sunday in Lent is linked from the Podcast Homilies page. A separate Podcast Homily for Fifth Sunday in Lent, based on Psalm 51, the Morning Prayer reading for Fifth Sunday in Lent is linked from the Podcast Homilies-Morning Prayer page.

Three scenes from Revelation, Bamberg Apocalypse, 1000-1020 A.D., Bamberg State Library, Bamberg, Germany. © Staatsbibliothek, Bamberg, Germany. Used with permission.

The focus of this week’s AIC Bookstore Preview is Revelation: An Idealist Interpretation, another volume produced in the large page, 8.5″ x 8.5″ paperback format designed to enhance the illustrations and allow their placement fully in the context of book text. The book, patterned after the AIC Bible Study Video series of the same name, was made possible by the generous support of the Bamberg State Library, which provided high-resolution images from the original volume, The Bamberg Apocalypse, produced between 1000 and 1020 A.D., during the reigns of the Ottonian Holy Roman Emperors Otto III and Henry II. One of the Ottonian royal family was linked by marriage to a Byzantine princess. Artists working at the Reichenau monastery on Reichenau Island on Lake Constantine produced some of the finest expressions of traditional Christian teachings ever produced in the Western Church tradition. Their art drew upon earlier works produced in and around Constantinople. The volume includes A Brief History of Revelation and A Primer on Numerology in Revelation, the latter important in understanding St. John’s many uses of numbers. The companion video series of the same name is linked from the Bible Study-New Testament page. The volume is available exclusively through our Virtual Bookstore, which is my Amazon Author Central page. Additional information about the book is found on the AIC Bookstore page. 220 pages. 52 illustrations. $49.95.

A tip for understanding the Revelation and the four Gospels: when reading the Gospels, start with the Gospel of John and read it slowly, as if listening yourself to the Evangelist dictate the words to his scribe, Prochorus. Likewise with Revelation, especially noting the many allusions to 1st C. understandings about the Old Testament, from which St. John derived many of his allusions to important numbers (explained in A Primer on Numerology in Revelation, pages 7 to 11.

As always, thank you for your interest and support. Glory be to God for all things! Amen!

Quinquagesima Sunday & AIC Bookstore 15

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For Quinguagesima Sunday, Archbishop Cranmer created a new Collect based on 1 Corinthians 13:11, which is part of the Epistle reading for the day. He used the English understanding of the Greek agape as “Charity” rather than the modern understanding as “Love.” He closed with the admonition that those without these virtues will be “counted dead before thee.” The Epistle reading, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, in the King James Version also translates agape as “charity.” The Gospel reading, Luke 18:31-43 is the evangelist’s account of Jesus healing the “Blind Man of Jericho.” In St. Mark’s account he is known as “Blind Bartimaeus” and is given a family history. My favorite depiction in Christian art, seen below, is from the 10th C. Ottonian era’s Gospels of Otto III. It is Illustration No. 53 in the AIC Bookstore Publication, The Gospel of Mark: Annotated & Illustrated, which was the subject of the Blog post for Sexagesima Sunday, linked from the Archive column at right. For unknown technical reasons the image would not upload for this Blog post.

Site visitors will find discussion and illustrations for Quinquagesima Sunday in Episode Two of the AIC video series, Gesima: the Sundays of Pre-Lent. The MP3 audio-only version is linked from the Podcast Homilies page. My Podcast Homily for Quinguagesima Sunday is linked from the Podcast Archive page. A related Podcast Homily based on the Psalm reading for Quiquagesima Sunday, Psalms 19 & 23, is linked from the Podcast Homilies-Morning Prayer page. The Gospel of Mark: Annotated & Illustrated and The Gospel of Luke: Annotated & Illustrated (see below for more information) are available through the AIC’s Virtual Bookstore, which is my Amazon Author Central page.

St. Luke Writing, illumination in tempera and gold on parchment, produced at Reichenau Monastery, Reichenau, Germany, circa 1007-1012, Pericope Book of Henry II, Ms. Clm. 4452, Folio 5v, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich, Germany. CC-by-SA 4.0. Perspective correction applied. Henry II was the last of the Ottonian successors to Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne.

For this 15th posting of details of the 22 AIC Bookstore Publications, the focus on The Gospel of Luke: Annotated & Illustrated. The volume offers 21st C. readers views of 86 illustrations from the 5th to the 20th C., including mosaics, frescoes, paintings, watercolors, stained glass windows, and illuminations produced originally only for the use of kings, bishops and clergy. The entire text of the Gospel of Luke, using the New King James Version, is included with commentary. The volume includes fourteen special text boxes: The Art of Illumination of Scripture; A Guide to Reading the Gospel of Luke; Angels in the Gospel of Luke; The Temptations of Christ: Reality or Fiction?; The Holy Spirit in the Gospel of Luke; The Prayer Habits of Jesus Christ; “The Son of Man” in the Gospel of Luke; Discernment; Ambrose of Milan on the Raising of the Daughter of Jairus; Theophanies in Scripture; Isaiah on Lucifer/Satan; Samaria and Samaritans in the Gospel of Luke; Unique Parables in the Gospel of Luke; and The Gospel of Luke in the Anglican Worship Cycle. One hundred and eleven illustrations. 276 pages. 8.5″ x 8.5.” $65.00. Available only through our Virtual Bookstore, which is my Amazon Author Central page.

As always, thank you for your interest and support. Glory be to God for all things! Amen!

Sexagesima Sunday & AIC Bookstore 14

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The Collect, Epistle and Gospel readings for Sexagesima Sunday are discussed and illustrated in Episode Two in the AIC Seasonal Video series, Gesima: the Sundays of Pre-Lent. The audio-only version in MP3 format of Episode Two is linked from the Podcast Archive page. My Podcast Homily for Sexagesima Sunday is linked from the Podcast Homilies page. A separate homily for Sexagesima Sunday-Morning Prayer, based on Psalm 33, the appointed Psalm for Sexagesima Sunday, is linked from the Podcast Homilies-Morning Prayer page. Sexagesima Sunday is the second of three of the pre-Lenten period.

The Collect for the occasion is another original composition by Archbishop Cranmer for the 1549 B.C.P., based on the Gregorian Sacramentary (10th C.), honoring the 590-604 A.D. Roman Catholic Pope who introduced Ash Wednesday to the Christian calendar. The primary theme is God Almighty as the only true defender of the faithful. The Epistle reading, 2 Corinthians 11:19-31, is a variation on St. Paul’s theme of the importance of the Christian virtues, in this case “diligence.” St. Paul also relates a litany of the forms of persecution he suffered for his advocacy in the spread of the Gospels.

The Sower, stained glass window, St. Mary Abbot’s Church, Kensington High St., London, England, probably 3rd Qtr., 19th C. © Jozef Sedmak|Dreamstime.com

The Gospel reading, Luke 8:4-15, the second from St. Luke’s Gospel so far in A.D. 2026, is the Parable of the Sower. Other versions on the same subject are found in Mark 4:1-9, 13-20 and Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23. In St. Luke’s version the Parable and its explanation are part of a single narrative. The reference in Luke 8:10 to seeing, hearing and understanding in both the Old and New Testament contexts is also addressed in the full-page special text box on Page 36 of the AIC Bookstore Publication: The Gospel of Mark: Annotated & Illustrated. See more below.

The cover illustration is a miniature illumination in egg tempera and gold on parchment, The Pericope Book of Henry II, produced at Reichenau Monastery, Reichenau, Germany, 1007-1012, under the supervision of the monk Liuthar. Ms. Clm 4452, Folio 4r, Bayerisches Staatsbibliothek, Munich, Germany. CC-by-SA 4.0. Perspective correction applied. Henry II was the last of the Ottonian successors to Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne.

For this Sexagesima Sunday blog post, the focus among the 22 AIC Bookstore Publications is another in the New Testament: Gospels series, The Gospel of Mark: Annotated & Illustrated. The AIC edition of the Gospel of Mark includes an illumination of the reading for the upcoming Quinquagesima Sunday, St. Matthew’s account of the Healing of the Blind Man of Jericho (illus. # 53). The book includes 86 illustrations from the 6th to the 20th C., including a spectacular pair of illuminations of the Three Women at the Empty Tomb and The Angel at the Empty Tomb, placed on opposite pages as they were in the original book. There are ten special text boxes: The Art of Illumination of Scripture; Guide to Reading the Gospel of Mark; Angels in the Gospel of Mark; The Holy Spirit in the Gospel of Mark; “The Son of Man” in the Gospel of Mark; “Heart” & “Understanding” in Scripture; The Twelve: Disciples or Apostles?’ “Ears to Hear” in the Old and New Testaments; The Christian Virtues and Their Opposites; Concepts of Time in the Gospel of Mark. 190 pages. $49.00. The volume is available through our Virtual Bookstore (my Amazon Author Central page).

Later this week or early next week there will be special Blog post on another AIC Bookstore Publication: Easter: the Resurrection of Our Lord in Scripture, Art & Christian Tradition (discussed in my 11/22/2025 Blog post (linked from the Archive column at right). I hope to establish a promotion through the Blaze system used by our site host, WordPress.com.

As always, thank you for your interest and support.

Septuagesima Sunday and AIC Bookstore 13

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The Collect, Epistle and Gospel readings for Septuagesima Sunday are discussed and illustrated in Episode One in the AIC Christian Education Video series, Gesima: the Pre-Lenten Season. The episode includes explanations of the name, the possible dates and many of the myths about the literal meaning of each name. The season’s usage, and non-usage, in other Christian traditions, especially the Roman Catholic, is also explained. The audio only version of Episode One is linked from the Podcast Archive page. My Podcast Homily for Septuagesima Sunday is linked from the Podcast Homilies page. A second Podcast Homily for Septuagesima Sunday, this one based on the Psalm reading in Morning Prayer, Psalm 18:21-35, is linked from the Podcast Homilies-Morning Prayer page. The abbreviated name “Gesima,” a short transitional season, is derived from a Latin word meaning day or days. The start of “Gesima” season is moveable, with variations based upon the date of Easter. The earliest possible date is January 18th and the latest possible date is February 22nd. In A.D. 2026 the first Sunday in “Gesima” season is February 1st.

The Collect for the Septuagesima Sunday is a composition from the 1549 Book of Common Prayer by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, based on the Gregorian Sacramentary (10th C.) and also strongly influenced by the late 8th-early 9th C. Vulgate Bible translation by Alcuin of York. Alcuin of York was spiritual advisor to Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne and the imperial family, Abbot of the Abbey of St. Martin of Tours, and author of the Collect for Purity in the Anglican Holy Communion liturgy. The complicated relationship between Alcuin and Charlemagne, and the results of their joint effect upon the development and spread of Christianity in Western Europe was the subject of my Blog post for 3/16/2024. The entry is linked from the Archive column (under March 2024) at right.

The Epistle reading, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, is the 4th of four lessons by St. Paul’s focused on the theme of the Christian Virtues. The concept of “virtue/virtues” in the Christian Tradition and its development in both the Western and Eastern Church is explored in the AIC Bookstore Publication, Layman’s Lexicon, which was featured in the blog post on 10/18/2025 for Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity (linked from the October 2025 entry in the Archive column at right).

The Gospel reading, Matthew 20:1-6, the fourth so far in A.D. 2026 from the Gospel of Matthew, is the Evangelist’s account of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. The image below is a 16th C. depiction of the event. An 11th C. depiction of the lesson, with color and more detail, from the Codex Aureus of Echternach, was used in my Blog posts for Feb. 18th, 2025 and Jan. 18th, 2019, both linked from the Archives column at right. The Codex Aureus of Echternach version also appears in the AIC Bible Study Video series, The New Testament: Gospels in Episode Six, using a copy from the Yorck Project: 10,000 Masterworks. The Yorck Project offered quite literally 10,000 images from around the world in both the civil and religious world. The project’s several authors released the images in their DVD into the Public Domain.

The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, engraving after a pen and ink drawing, Andrea del Sarto (also known as Andrea d’Agnola), Florentine artist, 16th C. © Coatchristophe|Dreamstime.com.

This week’s AIC Bookstore Publication is The Gospel of Matthew: Annotated & Illustrated, one of five volumes in our Christian Education: New Testament series. The book is one of twelve printed in the large page format (8.5″ x 8.5″). The format allows for larger images from historic Christian art, wider margins and larger type faces for body text. Three other volumes in the large page format were the subject of my Blog posts in 2025 for 11/15, 11/22 and 11/27. All three are linked from the Archives column.

Matthew Writing His Gospel, a miniature illumination in gold and egg tempera on parchment, Pericope Book of Henry II (1007-1012), the last of Ottonian successor to Charlemagne, produced at Reichenau Monastery, Reichenau, Germany, Ms. Clm 4452, Folio 3v., Bayerisches Staatsbibliothek, Munich, Germany. CC-by-SA 4.0.

The book includes the entire text, with commentary, of the Gospel of Matthew, set in the text of the New Kings James Version. There are thirteen “special text boxes,” including The Art of Illumination of Scripture; A Guide to Reading the Gospel of Matthew; The Holy Spirit in the Gospel of Matthew; Angels in the Gospel of Matthew; Parables in the Gospel of Matthew; The Christian Virtues and Their Opposites; and Samara and Samaritans in the Gospel of Matthew. The book’s 117 illustrations are from the 6th through the early 20th C. 278 pages, including full Bibliography, detailed list of Sources of Illustrations and summary information about other AIC Bookstore Publications. $65.oo. The book is available exclusively through our Virtual Bookstore (which is Fr. Ron’s Author Central page on Amazon.com). Portions of the text of St. Matthew’s Nativity, Resurrection and Post-Resurrection narratives also appear in our two Seasonal publications, Christmas: The Nativity of Our Lord in Scripture, Art & Christian Tradition and Easter: the Resurrection of Our Lord in Scripture, Art & Christian Tradition. Both volumes are also printed in the 8.5″ x 8.5″ format.

During January A.D. 2026 I have continued searching historic archives for additional examples of Christian art depicting scenes which are the subject of the Gospel lessons later in the year. I have also been busy updating and sorting our catalogue of nearly 3,000 images, all with their own detailed entries in an Excel spreadsheet. In the spreadsheet they are categorized first by subject. Each entry includes the source, background, whether Public Domain or copyright protected (with author or source indicated), and where each is filed in the AIC’s records. Even more detailed information about each entry is also listed, where available, in seventeen notebooks labelled “Picture Sources.” I am especially grateful to the helpful staff at the British Library for the continued digitization of the Library’s vast collection. The British Library is still recovering from an assault on its resources in 2024 A.D., which resulted in the destruction of or damage to many valuable cross-references, and previously-digitized material. Many resources used in AIC Bookstore Publications are no longer available to the public. Many sources require expensive re-photographing. The AIC remains committed to keeping these valuable resources available, on-demand, in one or more of the WATCH-LISTEN-READ formats and, except for the Bookstore Publications, free of charge.

As always, thank you for your interest and support. Glory be to God for all things! Amen!

Second Sunday after Epiphany and AIC Bookstore, Part 11

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Welcome to the second of three posts for the Sundays after Epiphany in A.D. 2026.

The Collect (Gregorian), Epistle (Romans 12:1-6) and Gospel (Mark 1:1-11) readings for Second Sunday after Epiphany are discussed and illustrated in Episode Three in the AIC Seasonal Video series, Epiphany: The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The audio version of Episode Three is linked from the Podcast Archive page. My Podcast Homily for Second Sunday after Epiphany is available on the Podcast Homilies page. My Morning Prayer Podcast Homily for Second Sunday after Epiphany, with commentary and reading of Psalms 22 and 29, is linked from the Podcast Homilies-Morning Prayer page.

The Collect for Second Sunday after Epiphany, another composition by Archbishop Cranmer based upon the Gregorian Sacramentary, includes a plea to Almighty God to hear “the supplications of thy faithful people.” The Epistle reading, Romans 12:6-12, is the second of a sequence of four readings from Romans on St. Paul’s understanding of the Christian virtues during Epiphany season.

Baptism of Christ, fresco, Chiesa di San Agostino, Milan, Italy. The fresco is a 20th C. reproduction of the original mosaic which was destroyed by bombing during World War II. © Jozef Sedmak | Dreamtime.com.

The Gospel reading, Mark 1:1-11, is St. Mark’s account of the baptism of Christ, presented in the context of the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (verse 3) and the importance of John the Baptist, the last prophet of the Old Testament, as the “forerunner,” appropriately placed at the start of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

Baptism of Christ, marble bas relief, Benedetto da Maiano, San Zeno Cathedral, Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy. © Jozef Sedmak | Dreamtime.com

Sr. Mark describes the simultaneous presence of all three divine persons of the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (the latter as the dove who speaks (verses 10-12). The same verses are pictured in Illus. No. 24 of a stained glass window by Franz Mayer of Munich in the AIC Bookstore Publication, Paintings on Light: The Stained Glass Windows of St. Joseph’s Villa Chapel, discussed in the post for First Sunday after Epiphany (1/5/26), linked from the Archive column at right.

The focus of this week’s installment of my commentary on the AIC Bookstore Publications is Occasional Services for Anglican Worship. Presented in 198 pages in our 5.5″ x 8.5″ black & white format. The volume includes the text of offices not provided for in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. The include a) Holy Communion in the style of the 1549 Book of Common Prayer, a text I produced at the request of former UECNA Archbishop Stephen C. Reber, at whose direction a text of the Decalogue, harmonization of the offertory text with the 1928 Book of Common Prayer version and two additional Propers were included; b) a Christmas Eve suite in three parts: the Great “O” Antiphons for Dec. 12 to Dec. 24; Midnight Mass for Christmas Eve/Christmas Day with parts of Evening Prayer, and a Midnight Office for Christmas Eve, commonly known as Visits to the Crib; c) Holy Communion for Maundy Thursday using my 1549 version; d) In the Cross of Christ I Glory, prayers and responses for Good Friday, with each section based on the Seven Words from the Cross, 1940 Hymnal & St. Chrysostom Hymnal; e) Easter Morning Office, a Sunrise service for use either outside or inside at dawn on Easter Sunday; f) Ascension Day Office, including music for A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing; g) Holy Communion for Transfiguration Day, using the 1549 BCP); h) Hours Offices for First Hour, Sixth Hour & Compline; i) A Litany for Healing; and, finally, j) an Advent Wreath Ceremony, a four-part verse and response originally composed by the late UECNA Archdeacon George McClellan.

The cover image (see above) is a detail of the stained glass window for the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary at St. Joseph’s Villa Chapel. The full image is Illustration No. 54 in the AIC Bookstore Publication, Paintings on Light: the Stained Glass Windows of St. Joseph’s Villa Chapel. The book was featured in my Blog post for 1/9/26, which is linked from the Archive column at right.

This week, as part of the continuing effort to make this site easier to navigate using the built-in links at the top and bottom of all pages, I have made some corrections. These are: a) fixing broken links on the Podcast Archive and Bible Study pages; b) editorial changes to line spacing and other technical details on the Digital Library and Podcast Archive pages; c) adding the cover image and summary text for Christian Spirituality: An Anglican Perspective (highlighted in my 12/5/25 blog post),which was missing from the AIC Bookstore page. We aim to provide access to teaching and learning materials in all three forms: watch/listen/read.

As always, thank you for your interest and support. Glory be to God for all things.

First Sunday after Epiphany & AIC Bookstore, Part 10

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First Sunday after Epiphany, the first of three Sundays after Epiphany in A.D. 2026, is celebrated this year on January 11th. I discuss the Collect and the Epistle and Gospel readings in Episode Two in our Seasonal Video series, Epiphany: The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The audio version of Episode Two is linked from the Podcast Archive page. There are two podcast homilies for First Sunday after Epiphany. The first Podcast Homily is based on the Holy Communion readings. The second, my Podcast Homily for Morning Prayer, is based on Psalm 72. The video version includes an image related to Psalm 72 from the Stuttgart Psalter, as it was used in the AIC Bookstore Publication, The Prayer Book Psalter: Picture Book Edition (see more below).

The Collect for First Sunday after Epiphany is a composition by Archbishop Cranmer based upon the Gregorian Sacramentary on the theme of mankind’s dependence upon God for His Grace and how it can and should be applied in the daily life of a Christian. The Epistle reading, Romans 12:1-5, is the first of a sequence of four readings from Romans during Epiphany season in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. The subject is Paul’s observations on the Church as “one body in Christ.” As noted earlier, only three of these will be read in A.D. 2026.

Finding in the Temple, 19th C. stained glass window, Werchter, Belgium. Copyright Jorisvo | Dreamtime.com.

The Gospel lesson, Luke 2:41-51, is St. Luke’s unique account of the childhood of Christ, when at age 12 he encounters and teaches the leadership of the Temple in Jerusalem. Another stained glass window depicting this event, designed and made by Franz Mayer of Munich, is Window No. 57, St. Joseph’s Villa Chapel, Richmond, VA.

This gives me an opportunity to resume promotion of the AIC Bookstore Publications which was interrupted in mid-December of last year. One of ten books in our unique large page format, Paintings on Light: the Stained Glass Windows of St. Joseph’s Villa Chapel, is available exclusively at our Virtual Bookstore, which is accessible through my Amazon Author Central page. All book royalties are donated to the AIC. The image of Window 57, Teaching the Doctors in the Temple, was used in my Blog Post for First Sunday after Epiphany, 1/9/2015. The post is linked from the Jan. 2015 entry in the Archive column at right.

Paintings on Light: the Stained Glass Windows of St. Joseph’s Villa Chapel, printed in our square large page (8.5″ x 8.5″) format, offers high-resolution images of all 46 stained glass windows by Franz Mayer of Munich, the three Sanctuary murals and the 14 Stations of the Cross, as well as the story of the restoration of the Chapel by myself and my former parishioners at St. John Chrysostom Anglican Church (now closed), which worshipped at the Chapel. Summary: Details: 84 pages, including Bibliography, General Index and Scriptural cross-reference.

NOTE: Just for readers/viewers who like knowing small details, here are some statistics not included in the Blog post for Epiphany (Day & Season, linked from the Archive column at right): In Epiphany season, there are five readings from the Gospel of Matthew and one each from the Gospel of Mark and Gospel of John. There are five Collects derived from the Gregorian Sacramentary, one from the Gelasian Sacramentary and one original composition by Bishop John Cosin, added for the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.

As always, thank you for your interest and support, which makes possible the maintenance of our unique collection of videos, podcasts and books and making them available 24/7 on demand, and the continued search for royalty-free images of Christian art across the centuries. Over four dozen additional images were acquired in December 2025 and in this first week of A.D. 2026. Many of these images will be used in Blog posts in the first half of this year.

Glory be to God for all things! Amen!