First Sunday in Lent

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This week marks the start of the season of Lent, the penitential season leading up to Easter. The Collect, Epistle & Gospel readings for Ash Wednesday and First Sunday in Lent, respectively, are discussed and illustrated in Episode One and Episode Two of the AIC Seasonal Video Series, Lent: The Season of Penitence. The audio-only versions of Episode One and Episode Two are linked from the Podcast Archive page. The Podcast Homily for Ash Wednesday and the Podcast Homily for First Sunday in Lent are linked from the Podcast Homilies page. A separate Podcast Homily, based upon the Psalm reading for Morning Prayer on First Sunday in Lent, Psalm 3 and Psalm 62, is linked from the Podcast Homilies-Morning Prayer page. Ash Wednesday, the day for the Imposition of Ashes, has marked the start of Lent in the Western Church since the end of the 6th/start of 7th C. Pope Gregory the Great created Ash Wednesday as his answer to the strong Eastern Christian criticism from the Byzantine Patriarch and others that Lent did not actually last forty days in Western Church worship.

The Collect for First Sunday in Lent is an original composition by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer for the 1549 Book of Common Prayer, based upon Ephesians 4:22-24, focused on three topics: fasting, righteousness & holiness. These adaptations of the writings of St. Paul reflect the strong influence of the Pauline canon upon the worship, study and prayer practices of the Anglican Church. The choice of 2 Corinthians 6 as the Epistle reading also reflects Archbishop Cranmer’s emphasis on the Christian virtues as understood and aggressively taught by St. Paul. The Gospel reading for First Sunday in Lent, Matthew 4:1-11, is the first of four readings from the Gospel of Matthew in Lent, being an account of the Temptations of Christ. The image I have chosen is a mosaic from the ceiling in the north end of the Outer Narthex (or Exonarthex) at Chora Church, formerly Constantinople, now Istanbul, Turkey, depicting John the Baptist as witness to the Temptations. The partially-viewed segment at left is the supper edge of the mosaic of the Nativity of Christ on the east wall of the Exonarthex. The partial image at upper right depicts the Dream of Joseph and the Return of the Holy Family. The mosaics were created between 1315 and 1321 during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Isaac Comnenus using funds contributed by Theodore Metocrites, who is depicted adjacent to a Christ Pantokrator image near the door into the Inner Narthex (or Esonarthex). The image is one of about four dozen images from Chora Church downloaded earlier this year, bringing our archive of images to almost 3,000. The Church is located on the European side of the Straits of the Bosporus. It is now a museum/mosaic in which Christian worship is no longer conducted.

The Temptations of Christ, 1st Qtr., 14th C., Chora Church. © Serban Enache|Dreamstime.com.

Next week I will pick up with another Bookstore Preview, in this case featuring The Gospel of John: Annotated & Illustrated. 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!

Third Sunday after Epiphany, the Conversion of St. Paul and AIC Bookstore-Part 12

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Welcome to my Blog post for Third Sunday after Epiphany, the last of three Sundays following Epiphany Day in A.D. 2026. Sunday, Feb. 1, will mark the beginning of the three “Gesima” Sundays (or Pre-Lent season). The “Gesima” Sundays offer a transition in tone and content before the start of Lent on Sunday, February 22nd.

In A.D. 2026, Sunday, January 25th, is also the appointed fixed day honoring the Conversion of St. Paul, a pivotal event in the history of the Church Universal. Below is a remarkable mosaic depicting the event (left) and its immediate consequences (right), of the blinded St. Paul led away, with Christ in a semi-circle at top right. The Collect for the Conversion of St. Paul refers to Saul/Paul as one who “caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world.” The event and the unique legacy of one of Christianity’s most fervent defenders, is discussed and illustrated in more detail in Episode Five in our Christian Education Video series, The Lives of the Saints, Volume 1 – the 1928 B.C.P. Saints. All sixteen episodes in the series are linked from the Digital Library page. The audio track of Episode Five is linked from the Podcast Archive page.

The Conversion of St. Paul, mosaic, Capella Palatina, Palermo, Sicily, commissioned by the first Norman king of Sicily, Roger II, in 1132 A.D. The mosaics were completed between 1140 and 1170 A.D. Public Domain, World Gallery of Art.

I discuss and illustrate the readings for Third Sunday after Epiphany in Episode Three on our video series, Epiphany: The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The audio version of the Episode Three is linked from the Podcast Archive page. My Podcast Homily for Epiphany 3 is linked from the Podcast Homilies page. Another Podcast Homily, this one derived from the Psalm readings in Morning Prayer for the day, Psalms 42 and 43, attributed to the Sons of Torah, is linked from the Podcast Homilies-Morning Prayer page. In the Hebrew worship tradition, Psalm 43 was spoken aloud by the priest upon approach to the altar.

The Miracle at Cana, Byzantine mosaic, Outer Narthex, Chora Church, Constantinople/Istanbul, early 14th C. The image is positioned in a pendentive above the Christ Pantokrator image (visible at lower right) over the door to the passage between the Outer and Inner Narthex. © Evren Kalinbacak|Dreamstime.com

For the occasion, Archbishop Cranmer prepared a Collect based upon the Gelasian Sacramentary in a version strongly influenced by the late 8th-early 9th C. translation of the Vulgate Bible by the Blessed Alcuin of York. Alcuin was the author of the Collect for Purity in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, spiritual advisor to Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne and teacher of Christianity to the Emperor’s family, and Abbot of the Abbey of St. Martin of Tours in France. The Epistle reading, Romans 12:16-21 is the third of four teachings of St. Paul on the Christian Virtues. The reading ends with the advice to “overcome evil with good.” The Gospel reading, John 2:1-11, is St. John’s account of the Wedding at Cana, or, in St. John’s words, “the beginning of the miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee.”

This important symbolic event is honored in the Galilee by several churches claiming to be on the site of, or near the historic location of, the Wedding, including a Greek Orthodox “Wedding” Church in Kfar Kana, which claims to possess two of the jars used in the wedding. The Greek church features an image of the event over its front door. It is near a similar “Wedding Church” owned by the Franciscans. © Gelia|Dreamstime.com.

This week’s focus among the AIC Bookstore Publications is Fr. Ron’s Kitchen Companion. The book evolved out of several sources over several decades, beginning with the first version (produced in the early 1980s for a former employee off to college and, later, for my daughter in her first apartment at college). It emerged in a greatly-expanded form for use by my former parishioners, most of whom were living on limited incomes. The current edition, the 9th, dates to 2024, when all the Bookstore publications were updated. The books was given a new cover and expanded content as part of the celebration of the start of the AIC’s second decade on the web.

The book’s sub-title, is self-explanatory. Inside the volume is a list of essential seasonings, some easily available, some which must be ordered from Amazon or other vendors. It is what I label as a backwards cookbook, with the recipes, grouped by protein source, organized to help decide what to do with a particular ingredient; examples: Beef: steak? stewed? ground? skewered? The book is worth the purchase price based on just a few key recipes, including my time-tested recipes for Classic Southern Pot Roast, Hawaiian “Mochi” Chicken and Byzantine Eggplant Moussaka. I hope to produce an updated version of the ingredients list and some new recipes later in A.D. 2026. The revised version also would add sources for some of the Hawaiian-sourced seasonings discovered during or after the trip my wife and I took to Maui at mid-year A.D. 2025. The cover image was arranged and photographed by Corinne (Corkie) Shibley.

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

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 Christmas & Feast of the Holy Innocents

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The First Dream of Joseph, stained glass window, 19th C., Basilica of St. Clotilde, Paris, France. Copyright Zatletic|Dreamstime.com

In A.D. 2025, the First Sunday after Christmas falls on the same day at the observance of the Feast of the Holy Innocents, Dec. 28th. The Collect for the day is the same as the First Collect appointed for Christmas Day, a composition by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer for the 1549 Book of Common Prayer based on John 1:9 and 1 John 1:5. The Gospel lesson, Matthew 1:18-25, is St. Matthew’s account of the first dream of Joseph, for this post illustrated by a 19th C. stained glass window in Paris, France. Another interpretation in a different artistic medium, a fresco at St. Martin’s Chapel, Brezenza, Austria is Illustration No. 23 the AIC Bookstore Publication, The Gospel of Matthew: Annotated & Illustrated, available through my Amazon Author Central page, with author royalties donated to the AIC online ministry.

My Podcast Homily for First Sunday after Christmas is available on the Podcast Homilies page. First Sunday after Christmas is also discussed in Episode Two of the AIC Christian Education Video series, Christmas: The Nativity of Our Lord. The audio version of Episode Two is linked from the Podcast Archive page. The Feast of the Holy Innocents is discussed and illustrated on the Fourth Day of Christmas in our video series, The Twelve Days of Christmas with the key word for the day being COMPASSION. All the other episodes in the series, covering the days from Dec. 25th to Jan. 5th, are linked from the Digital Library page.

I have been busy searching my image sources for historic Christian art to be used in the first half of A.D. 2026. I’ve added almost a hundred images. I will be loading the Epiphany graphics and appropriate links to the Welcome page during the Week of 1/5. As always, thank you for your interest and support. Glory be to God for all things! Amen!

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & The Twelve Days of Christmas

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Several years ago my wife and I encountered all manner of problems trying to watch a live broadcast of a Christman Eve concert in Cambridge, England. The unreliability of the connection led me to create our own video, Lessons & Carols for Christmas Eve. I linked it from what was then our new web site at WordPress.com. It remains available, on demand, all year long from the Digital Library page, for the video version and the Podcast Homilies page for the audio-only version.

lessonscarols-title-clear

December 24th

My Podcast Homily for Christmas Day is linked from the Podcast Homilies page. Additionally, commentary and illustrations for Christmas Day are included in the first episode of our Seasonal Video series, Christmas: The Nativity of Our Lord. Access it using the links below.

Episode One
Episode Two

Another unique seasonal resource, this time from the AIC Bookstore, Christmas: The Nativity of Our Lord in Scripture, Art & Christian Tradition, is available through my Amazon Author Central page. I commented upon the book and included a copy of the cover in my Blog post for Trinity 22, posted on November 15, 2025. The post is linked from the Archive column under the November 2025 heading.

Yet another unique AIC online resource is The Twelve Days of Christmas, featuring readings, music and images with key words for each of the twelve days from Christmas Day to Epiphany Eve. Note, please, that the series bears absolutely no relationship whatsoever to the famous seasonal song of the same name. The series is focused on important theological words and concepts associated with important events in the life of the Church. It is illustrated with examples of Christian art from the 6th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries from both the Western and Eastern Church traditions. These include mosaics, frescoes, icons, oil paintings, etchings, engravings, parchment friezes, watercolors and photographs, plus one enamel medallion from the Basilica of St. Mark, Venice, Italy.

Fresco, unidentified cave church, Cappodocia region, Turkey, 12th C. Public Domain.
TwelveDays-Master Slides-2015.indd

First Day – December 25th – Love
Second Day – December 26th – Forgiveness
Third Day – December 27th – Peace
Fourth Day – December 28th – Compassion
Fifth Day – December 29th – Obedience
Sixth Day – December 30th – Joy
Seventh Day – December 31st – Family
Eighth Day – January 1st – Church
Ninth Day – January 2nd – Angels
Tenth Day – January 3rd – Commandments
Eleventh Day – January 4th – Glorifying God
Twelfth Day – January 5th – Grace and Faith

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

Second Sunday in Advent & AIC Bookstore Preview, Part 8

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Advent, the season of both penitence and preparation, continues on Sunday, Dec. 7. As with other Sundays in Advent, I continue with a theme word or phrase. For Second Sunday in Advent my Podcast Homily is focused on the “Fire of Judgment.” For those who prefer visual imagery, the commentary for Second Sunday in Advent is available (paired with First Sunday in Advent) on the Digital Library page. The commentary comes from our Seasonal Video series: Advent: the Season of Penitence & Preparation. The Digital Library pages offers access to the Seasonal Video series not only for Advent but also Christmas, Twelve Days of Christmas, Epiphany, “Gesima,” Lent, Easter, Good Friday, and Trinitytide (including Trinity Sunday).

For Second Sunday in the newly-created season of Advent, Archbishop Cranmer wrote an original Collect, first published with the 1549 Book of Common Prayer. The Collect includes the only reference to God in the Book of Common Prayer collects as “Blessed Lord.” As in previous years, I offered an image of Christ-in-Majesty which was produced circa 700 A.D. at a Benedictine monastery in Wearmouth-Barrow, Northumbria, England. The volume containing the image has been at the Laurentian Library, Florence, Italy, since 1786 A.D. For this post, the size is small because I have not found a higher resolution version that would not “pixilate” when enlarged.. The term “Christ-in-Majesty” is a Western Church name that is comparable to the Eastern Church’s use of Christ Pantokrator, which is roughly translated as Ruler of the Universe, but can also be interpreted as “He who does whatever He wishes.”

Christ-in-Majesty with angels and evangelists, frontispiece, Codex Amiatinus, folio 796v, early 8th C.. Laurentian Library, Florence, Italy. Public Domain.

Continuing the preview of important volumes among the AIC Bookstore Publications, the focus for Second Sunday in Advent A.D. 2025 is Christian Spirituality: An Anglican Perspective. This volume is the first in this series of previews which is printed in black & white only in the traditional 5.5″ x 8.5″ format. All the earlier books are full color printed in the 8.5″ x 8.5″ format, which enhances the color illustrations, allowing for larger, full page images.

I wrote this volume during my service at St. John Chrysostom Anglican (now closed) to answer commonly-asked questions from both parishioners and those inquiring about membership. List the parts here. 144 pages with 18 illustrations (including the cover image of Christ as the Lamb of God, St. Paul’s Church, Halifax, Nova Scotia (copyright Can Stock Photo, Inc./onepony).

The subject of “spirituality” can be confusing. In this book I explain it in the context of Anglican worship using the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, which descends from the first prayer book in English published in 1549 in time for Trinity Sunday. The volume is divided into five parts. In Part One, I explain the “first premise” of Christian Spirituality: which is the reality of evil in the world, and, second, its corollary: God’s eternal truth as the only antidote and place it in the context of the writings of two Anglican clergymen: Archbishop Thomas Cranmer and the Blessed Lancelot Andrewes, Chaplain to Elizabeth I and James I and a member of the supervisory team which prepared the King James Bible.

In Part Two, the explore the many ways which mankind can “see” the face of the Almighty God. In Part Three, I explore the true meaning of the phrase: “Blessed is the man…Blessed are….” and their many variations in the Book of Psalms. In Part Four, I explore another phrase, also based on the Psalter: “Put not your trust in princes….” through study of three stages of prayer: of words; of the mind; and of the heart; and offer ideas on developing one’s own catanae, or prayers based on Scripture; offering apostolic wisdom based on the words of two pair of saints: Peter and Paul; James and John. In Part Five, “A Primer on Using our Resources,” I explain how to use the resources available through links on the AIC web site including media based on the written word, the spoken word or, in a combination of the two, in visual media. All book royalties are contributed to the AIC. Learn more about Christian Spirituality: an Anglican Perspective, available through my Amazon Author Central page, and about all our publications on the AIC Bookstore page.

Next time, I will explore both Third Sunday in Advent and another 5.5″ x 8:5″ volume. As always, thank you for your interest and support. Glory be to God for all things! Amen!

First Sunday in Advent & AIC Bookstore Preview – Part 7

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Sunday, Nov. 30th, A.D. 2025, marks the start of the penitential season of Advent. My Podcast Homily for First Sunday in Advent is linked from the Digital Library page. The theme is “The Coming of the Light” and in it I discuss Archbishop Cranmer’s new Collect for the occasion, the Epistle reading (Romans 13:8-14) and the Gospel lesson (Matthew 21:10-13). Another Podcast Homily for First Sunday in Advent, this time based on the Morning Prayer readings for the same occasion, is also available. Should you be visual-minded you can watch Episode One (focused on First and Second Sunday in Advent) in our Seasonal Video series, Advent: a Season of Penitence & Preparation. In this video series I also explain other traditions associated with Advent, including the “Greening of the Altar,” the use of Chrismons rather than Christmas ornaments, and the practice of avoiding Christmas carols until Christmas Eve.

For this post for First Sunday in Advent, the highlighted AIC Bookstore Publication is a very special book, Angels: In Scripture, Art & Christian Tradition, which was published in A.D. 2023.

The cover art is an 11th C. Byzantine-influenced mosaic in the upper registry, Baptistery of Saint John, located opposite the Basilica of Santa Maria dei Fiori, Florence, Italy. A full view of the mosaic is printed on page 4.

In the Preface to Angels: In Scripture, Art & Christian Tradition I offered this: “The purpose of this book is to educate Christians in the rich literary, artistic and liturgical traditions concerning angels in both the Western and Eastern Church understanding.” In the book I explore every mention of angels in the Old and New Testament, plus the second canon Old Testament and a non-canonical Old Testament book in the Eastern Church tradition. There are 153 illustrations including frescoes, icons, mosaics, stained glass windows, watercolors, paintings and engravings. I pay special tribute to the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne and his spiritual advisor, the Blessed Alcuin of York; and to the Ottonian and other successors to the title Holy Roman Emperor in the Western Church; to St. John of Damascus, author of the Exact Exposition on the Orthodox Faith, the earliest known explanation of the origin, nature and purpose of angels; and, finally, to St. Clement of Alexandria and St. Thomas Aquinas, the former from the Eastern Church tradition and the latter from the Western Church tradition.

The book is divided into five parts: Part One is a primer on angels); Part Two is focused on every reference to angels in the Old Testament; Part Three includes discussion of each mention of angels in the New Testament; Part Four is focused on references to angels in Christian worship; and Part Five includes discussion and illustrations of angels traditions around the world, including foods and festivities.

The publication of Angels: In Scripture, Art & Christian Tradition completes the planned catalogue of AIC Bookstore Publications. Corkie Shibley suggested the concept of a book on angels. As a special bonus for readers, I have included her recipe for the remarkably light biscuits, which she calls “Angel Biscuits.” The recipe is placed at the end of Part Five.

Royalties on this and the other AIC Bookstore Publications are donated to the AIC. The book is available online through my Amazon Author Central page. Additional information about the catalogue is available on the AIC Bookstore page.

I offer a special thanks to our contributors — and also those who assisted in the production of the book, each of whom is named in the Preface. Contributions and book royalties provide the funds necessary to obtain the high-resolution images and licenses for the use of the same. Through reader support, we have been able to collect and catalogue over 3,000 such images, most of them rarely seen by the general public.

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