Bring back to the right way of salvation all those who are living steeped in sin, Comfort the afflicted, provide the needy. Strengthen the fearful, defend the oppressed, give health to the infirm. Grant eternal rest to those departed, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. We ask all these things with the intercessions of our mother Mary and through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

The motion was defeated. Wilberforce brought it up again every year for eighteen years, until the slave trade was finally abolished on 25 March 1806. He continued the campaign against slavery itself, and the bill for the abolition of all slavery in British territories passed its crucial vote just four days before his death on 29 July 1833. A year later, on 31 July 1834, 800,000 slaves, chiefly in the British West Indies, were set free. – written by James Kiefer

Prayer

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, enkindle in your Church the never-failing gift of love, that, following the example of your servant William Wilberforce, we may have grace to defend the children of the poor, and maintain the cause of those who have no helper; for the sake of him who gave his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

There are various types of Religious. The Holy Spirit gives each Order a specific charism so that the church may be served and strengthened. For some time I have felt a call to monasticism. You might be curious as to what exactly monasticism is or Monastic Life. In a monastic vocation an individual feels called to renounce worldly pursuits and to devote ones self to spiritual work. The craft of the monastic can vary from Science to crafting beer. Yet, for Benedictines their core work is prayer. Following a moderate rule of life monastic’s pray the Liturgy of the hours, sometimes called the Work of God.

The Church for centuries has recognized the importance of monastic prayer and have called their work the “prayer engine of the church.” While many people attention is directed to things of this world, the monastic’s offer up prayers for the world. They are the beacons of light that shine in an often dark world. Monasteries are set like a city on the hill; offering refuge, healing, and direction to a sick and dying world. Through the centuries many have forgotten about Religious life, this is especially true in the Anglican/Episcopal Church. Religious life disappeared after King Henry VIII banished Religious life from England when he broke away from Rome to secure an another wife. Benedictine life did not return to England until 1904 and in the United States until about 65 years ago.

The Church says only about 4% of Christians are called to Religious life. Through spiritual discernment I was drawn to a Benedictine community. I have been in relationship with the Abbot for about 2 and a half years. The Abbot and I believe that the Holy Spirit is calling me to be part of that 4%. It is a path to salvation that is built on structure, discipline, and prayer; of dying to self and becoming the man God called me to be at my baptism. Like all of us conversion is a work in progress. Mine will just be a bit more visible.

This past May I entered the religious community of The House of Initia Nova (New Beginnings). It is a Benedictine Community whose Mother House is in Houston Texas. They have lay members and religious all over the world. They also have a few who live in community at the Genesis Abbey.

I am currently in my postulancy. In this time I get to try on this life, and see if it fits. At the Abbey I was figuratively stripped of my garments, and clothed in the tunic of a monk. My name was changed to signify a new life in Christ. My new name and the black clothing is a continuing symbol of the renunciation to the world, and a new continuation in my life with Christ. For many my name change has been somewhat a struggle. To many I will always be Kirk, to other Kirkus, and that is ok.

After my postulancy I will enter the novitiate and from there into Professed life. Each step requires commitment and inward change. Some of the steps will be represented by some exterior change, an external symbol of an internal grace. It is my prayer and hope that over time my life and the symbol of my monastic life will become a blessing for me and for you. It is something that will be a slow progression in our life together. I do not want to be a distraction from our worship life together. Praying the daily office, and serving at the altar of our Lord I will continue as I always have.

If you have any questions regarding religious life, lay orders, or my call please feel free to ask. Thank you all for your continued support, love, and prayer.

Pax

Br. John-Paul, p/OSB (Kirk Broyles)

These martyrdoms totally changed the dynamic of Christian growth in Uganda. Introduced by a handful of Anglican and Roman missionaries after 1877, the Christian faith had been preached only to the immediate members of the court, by order of King Mutesa. His successor, Mwanga, became increasingly angry as he realized that the first converts put loyalty to Christ above the traditional loyalty to the king. Martyrdoms began in 1885. Mwanga first forbade anyone to go near a Christian mission on pain of death, but finding himself unable to cool the ardor of the converts, resolved to wipe out Christianity.

The Namugongo martyrdoms produced a result entirely opposite to Mwanga’s intentions. The example of these martyrs, who walked to their deaths singing hymns and praying for their enemies, so inspired many of the bystanders that they began to seek instruction from the remaining Christians. Within a few years the original handful of converts had multiplied many times and spread far beyond the court. The martyrs had left the indelible impression that Christianity was truly African, not simply a white man’s religion. Most of the missionary work was carried out by Africans rather than by white missionaries, and Christianity spread steadily. Uganda now has the largest percentage of professed Christians of any nation in Africa.

Several years ago I heard an African clergyman, born of pagan parents, tell of his conversion. He said:

One afternoon I was bicycling along a road and met a young man about my own age bicycling in the opposite direction. He promptly turned about and began to ride beside me and to talk. He spoke with great enthusiasm about Jesus, whom I had never heard of before, and how He had destroyed the power of death and evil by dying and rising again, and how He was God become man to reconcile man with God. I heard what my companion had to say, and before we parted I had accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Now, the young man who preached the Good News of Jesus Christ to me that afternoon had himself heard of Jesus for the first time that morning.

Renewed persecution of Christians in the 1970′s by the military dictatorship of Idi Amin proved the vitality of the example of the Namugongo martyrs. Among the thousands of new martyrs, both Anglican and Roman, was Janani Luwum, Archbishop of the (Anglican) Church of Uganda.

Prayer

O God, by whose providence the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church: Grant that we who remember before you the blessed martyrs of Uganda, may, like them, be steadfast in our faith in Jesus Christ, to whom they gave obedience, even unto death, and by their sacrifice brought forth a plentiful harvest; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Click here to go to the Novena to Our Lady Undoer of Knots.

Below is the history of the devotion that I pulled from http://www.maryundoerofknots.com/

How this devotion started?

To show us the mission granted to the Virgin Mary by Her Son, an unknown artist painted Mary Undoer of Knots with great grace. Since 1700, his painting has been venerated in the Church of St. Peter in Perlack, Germany. It was originally inspired by a meditation of Saint Irenaeus (Bishop of Lyon and martyred in 177) based on the parallel made by Saint Paul between Adam and Christ. Saint Irenaeus, in turn, made a comparison between Eve and Mary, saying:

“Eve, by her disobedience, tied the knot of disgrace for the human race; whereas Mary, by her obedience, undid it”.

But what are these knots?

They are the problems and struggles we face for which we do not see any solution.
Knots of discord in your family, lack of understanding between parents and children, disrespect, violence, the knots of deep hurts between husband and wife, the absence of peace and joy at home. They are also the knots of anguish and despair of separated couples, the dissolution of the family, the knots of a drug addict son or daughter, sick or separated from home or God, depression, unemployment, fear, solitude…Ah, the knots of our life! How they suffocate the soul, beat us down and betray the heart’s joy and separate us from God.

The devotion to Mary Undoer of Knots is not new. The devotion is more than 300 years old. However, it is not based on an apparition of the Virgin Mary to a person, or persons, as in Lourdes or Fatima, but rather it is a revered devotion
The devotion to Mary Undoer of Knots is becoming more and more known in many different countries, and the Novena has been printed in 19 languages, as well as in Braille. In the last 4 years, the Sanctuary of Mary Undoer of Knots has welcomed more than 600,000 pilgrims from all over the world.

Then, free from our knots – filled with happiness, we can be a testimony of the Divine Power in this world, like pieces of God’s heart or small bottles of perfume exhaling mercy and love to our neighbor. Like ambassador of Jesus Christ and the Virgin of the fair love, we can rescue those who cry without any consolation, those who are lonely, tied with knots, who have no God, no Father nor Mother.

Mother of the Rising Sun, Immaculate, our Advocate, Helper in moments of affliction, Mother of God and made by Him our Mother, this is how Mary, Undoer of Knots is presented. Above all, She comes as the Queen of Mercy, the one who knows all about us, who has compassion for us and hurries to rescue us, praying for each one of us to Her beloved Jesus.
Is it possible that the Lord does not answer Her?

Today is the day the church celibates the birth of Mary the mother of Jesus. Much debate surrounds the time and origins of this feast day. Some of the most early of writings come from the 6th century by St.Romanus, the great ecclesiastical lyrist of the Greek Church. Later in time was this feast adopted into the Roman Churches calendar. Some debate still exists on the origins of choosing Sept. 8th as the actual date of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s birth.

In my humble opinion it really does not matter what date is chosen. What is important is for us to take time to stop and reflect. For by the birth of Blessed Mary was the start of a series of events that would change the world forever. In her birth God began to move in, among, and around his people. I have added the traditional teachings for this great and holy feast day.

The Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary: The Most Holy Virgin Mary was born at a time when people had reached such a degree of moral decay that it seemed altogether impossible to restore them. People often said that God must come into the world to restore faith and not permit the ruin of mankind.

The Son of God chose to take on human nature for the salvation of mankind, and chose as His Mother the All-Pure Virgin Mary, who alone was worthy to give birth to the Source of purity and holiness.

The Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary is celebrated by the Church as a day of universal joy. Within the context of the Old and the New Testaments, the Most Blessed Virgin Mary was born on this radiant day, having been chosen before the ages by Divine Providence to bring about the Mystery of the Incarnation of the Word of God. She is revealed as the Mother of the Savior of the World, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Most Holy Virgin Mary was born in the small city of Galilee, Nazareth. Her parents were Righteous Joachim of the tribe of the Prophet-King David, and Anna from the tribe of the First Priest Aaron. The couple was without child, since St Anna was barren.

Having reached old age, Joachim and Anna did not lose hope in God’s mercy. They had strong faith that for God everything is possible, and that He would be able to overcome the barrenness of Anna even in her old age, as He had once overcame the barrenness of Sarah, spouse of the Patriarch Abraham. Sts Joachim and Anna vowed to dedicate the child which the Lord might give them, to the service of God in the Temple.

Childlessness was considered among the Hebrew nation as a Divine punishment for sin, and therefore the righteous Sts Joachim and Anna had to endure abuse from their own countrymen. On one of the feastdays at the Temple in Jerusalem the elderly Joachim brought his sacrifice to offer to God, but the High Priest would not accept it, considering him to be unworthy since he was childless.

St Joachim in deep grief went into the wilderness, and there he prayed with tears to the Lord for a child. St Anna wept bitterly when she learned what had happened at the Jerusalem Temple. Never once did she complain against the Lord, but rather she prayed to ask God’s mercy on her family.

The Lord fulfilled her petitions when the pious couple had attained to extreme old age and prepared themselves by virtuous life for a sublime calling: to be the parents of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, the future Mother of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Archangel Gabriel brought Joachim and Anna the joyous message that their prayers were heard by God, and of them would be born a most blessed daughter Mary, through Whom would come the Salvation of all the World.

The Most Holy Virgin Mary surpassed in purity and virtue not only all mankind, but also the angels. She was manifest as the living Temple of God, so the Church sings in its festal hymns: “the East Gate… bringing Christ into the world for the salvation of our souls” (2nd Stikhera on “Lord, I Have Cried”, Tone 6).

The Nativity of the Theotokos marks the change of the times when the great and comforting promises of God for the salvation of the human race from slavery to the devil are about to be fulfilled. This event has brought to earth the grace of the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom of Truth, piety, virtue and everlasting life. The Theotokos is revealed to all of us by grace as a merciful Intercessor and Mother, to Whom we have recourse with filial devotion.

Prayer
Father of mercy, give your people help and strength from heaven. The birth of the Virgin Mary’s Son was the dawn of our salvation. May this celebration of her birthday
bring us closer to lasting peace. Grant this though our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Troparion (Tone 4) –

Your Nativity, O Virgin,
Has proclaimed joy to the whole universe!
The Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,
Has shone from You, O Theotokos!
By annulling the curse,
He bestowed a blessing.
By destroying death, He has granted us eternal Life.

Kontakion (Tone 4) –

By Your Nativity, O Most Pure Virgin,
Joachim and Anna are freed from barrenness;
Adam and Eve, from the corruption of death.
And we, your people, freed from the guilt of sin, celebrate and sing to you:
The barren woman gives birth to the Theotokos, the nourisher of our life!

For me tomorrow is a special day. It is a day that for so long was elusive. It will be a day that I find some sort of belonging. I will be on the receiving end of a sacrament that has been given to so many for centuries. Public declarations of my faith will be heard. Then the Bishop will lay hands on me. Filling me with the Holy Spirit. I will be transformed. Forever will I be a child of God. A servant to his Church.

Although externally nothing really is going to change. My duties at the parish will continue as they are. Most likely the Monday after will be very much like the Saturday before. Yet they will be different. Only because I will be different. My journey to find Christ does not end at this point. I have not attained holiness or some form of perfection.

I will continue on a path that so many have traveled before me, and will continue when I am dead and gone. This “yes” on my part will publicly unite me to a faith that I have so desperately sought after for many years. Uniting me to Christs church.

I have no idea what the future holds for me. Maybe I will discern to be a priest. Look into various forms of mission work. Kari and I have a strong passion and desire to work in missions either in the US or abroad. Or to be part of the faithful doing the work of the Lord in my parish. In time all things in this life are revealed. I joyfully welcome the pursuit.

All that being said I never truly understood the whole infant child of Jesus. Why would anyone honor, worship, or venerate Jesus as a infant? I heard some explanations in the past, but honestly they really did not aid in my understanding of things. Finally I chalked it all up to cultural differences and things like that.

Well interesting enough this morning on the radio a Roman Catholic priest who was a one time Episcopalian shared his experience at a shrine to the Infant Child of Prague. He mentioned how he has been a priest on the Roman church for 13 years, and that he himself from a Protestant background never really understood the infant Jesus venerations.

His trip to the shrine was not planned. It was the result of failed travels to a new Benedictine Monastery in Oklahoma. Reluctantly he went to the shrine and talked to the pastor who is over the parish and shrine. The history of the shrine in Prague was explained. Greater was the understanding, but still there was a disconnect. He saw the importance of the statue. How it was a gift from St. Teresa of Avila. Who had a strong devotion to the infant child.

Having great respect to St. Teresa of Avila. He opened his heart and eyes to the statue when he went into the shrine. To his surprise as he prayed a deep understanding of the Christ Child became a reality. He understood the relation between Jesus not only being a child but a King. The struggles with the notion of a statue in the image of Jesus dressed to lavishly in robes, and a crown didn’t seem so odd. For it is a testament of the Kingship of Jesus from his birth. It is not something he came into later in life.

Next the deeper truths came to him. He saw that not only was this a symbol of the Kingship of Christ, but also a symbol of innocents and purity. Looking at Jesus as a child is a reminder to us that we must have faith like a child to enter the kingdom of heaven. He is a symbol of all that is right and good in the church. For many this infant child of Jesus can be a symbol of strength to them when they think back on their childhoods. Maybe they themselves were robbed of innocents, Maybe when they look at the church or God they see corruption, violence, and power mongers. Looking on Christ and a innocent child is a side of God, that we seldom think on.

For me this is what fell of my like a ton of bricks. It is the innocents of the the Child that is important. This child of Jesus is a reminder of the pure child like love, and desires that Christ has for us. That we ourselves need to take on this same nature if we want to live with Jesus and his father for all eternity.

So that’s my desire. I desire after that innocents. In a world where we are bombarded with images of so many unholy things. Numb to violence, and injustice. Desensitized, and full of cynicism. I want to be restored to a mind like I had when I was a child. Not naive, but pure. Full of hope and faith. I want to lose the apathy, and cynicism. I want that child like view of God. He want’s it for me, and he want’s it for you.

History and story of The Infant Child of Prague

Reflection
Our blessed Savior, Jesus Christ, instructed us, “Unless you become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Our divine Master not only taught us by word, but gave us His Life as an example. He came among us as a helpless infant the better to gain our affection, and win our love. As a little child, He was still our God and already by right the king of the Universe He had created and now had come to recreate.

Devotion to our Savior, the Infant of Prague, honors the great mystery of His incarnation. We acknowledge His divinity and His humanity, and rejoice in His great love that led Him to give His life for us.

The narrative of John’s life is beautifully laid out in the gospels. We find a man who is separated from society. Feasting on locust and honey. dressing oddly, and could be found at a river proclaiming the coming of the messiah. Calling people to repentance.

According to Josephus (who wrote after 70 AD), “John the Baptist was a Jewish preacher in the time of Pontius Pilate (AD 26-36). He called the people to repentance and to a renewal of their covenant relation with God. He was imprisoned and eventually put to death by Herod Antipas (son of Herod the Great, who was king when Jesus was born) for denouncing Herod’s marriage to Herodias, the wife of his still-living brother Philip. In order to marry Herodias, Herod divorced his first wife, the daughter of King Aretas of Damascus, who subsequently made war on Herod, a war which, Josephus tells us, was regarded by devout Jews as a punishment for Herod’s murder of the prophet John.”

John the Baptists words are timeless. The relevance of repentance and making a way for the coming (or returning in our case) of the Lord has never been greater. We are a wicked generation. For many God is a concept for the weak, uneducated, and archaic. Those who still call upon his name are misguided by new age theology, moral relativism, and apathy.

How many Christians first thing in the morning instead of prayer they reach for their iPhone or Black Berry? Before their feet hit the floor they are already scheduling their day. I know I am guilty. Many days prayer for me is scheduled 3 or 4 hours after I am up and at work. How often do we let God in? I know many who God is the subject of life for 1 day a week. They get their obligation in, and they are good to go.

We have grown stagnant with life. Complacent with the status quo. Seeking after worldly riches all the while Christ is their wanting in. Let us not take for granted the words of John the Baptist. “Someone is following me, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. (Mark 1:7-8)”

“I baptize you in water for repentance, but the one who follows me is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to carry his sandals; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand; he will clear his threshing-floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out. (Matthew 3:11-12/Luke 3:16-17)”

Let us repent of our wicked ways. Go to confession if you must. Move forward with a fire and passion for the one who has saved us from death and the fires of hell. Let us like John the Baptist proclaim the coming of the Lord.

Prayer

Almighty God, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his teaching and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and, following his example, constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth’s sake; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Gauls were not fond of these new Christians. In the beginning Christians were excluded from public places. They could not go to public baths, markets, and basically any form of public life. It was common for them to be attacked in public. At some time during all of this the government involved themselves in the matter of dealing with these Christians.

They began taking Christians into custody and questioning them. Many slaves and servants of Christian houses were tortured for information. The government got the these slaves to confess that the Christians were cannibals, and frequently partook in incestuous relations.

Word of such behavior turned the whole city against the Christians. Particularly against St. Pothinus Bishop of Lyons, St. Sanctus a Deacon, St Attalus, St. Maturus, and St Blandina a slave. Bishop Pothinus who was old in age was beaten and then released. Days later he obtained martyrdom from his blessed wounds and gained a red crown. Deacon Sanctus was beaten severely, but kept alive so he could be tormented with red-hot irons. Saint Blandina was tortured all day long. In spite of the fierce pain he would exclaim nothing except, “I am a Christian, and nothing vile is done among us.” Both of these men triumphantly accepted their red crowns of martyrdom. At some time later many Christians were put to death in the public arena.

Letters and accounts from those who were martyred, and witnesses.

The Letter of the Churchs of Vienna and Lyons to the Churches of Asia and Phrygia
Letter from the Martyrs of Lyons

Prayer

Grant, O Lord, we pray, that we who keep the feast of the holy martyrs Blandina and her companions may be rooted and grounded in love of you, and may endure the sufferings of this life for the glory that shall be revealed in us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.