Author Archives: Steve Benner

Henry Melchior MuhlenbergHenry Melchior Muhlenberg is the principal organizer of American Lutheranism. He was born in Einbeck, Germany, in 1711, and studied at Goettingen and at Halle. Lutherans in America at that time were found in a few scattered communities, of various national backgrounds, with no central organization, and with a grave danger of factionalism.Continue reading “Oremus for Friday, October 7, 2022”

William TyndaleBorn in Gloucestershire in about the year 1494, William Tyndale studied first at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and then at Cambridge. He became determined to translate the Scriptures from the Greek directly into contemporary English but was thwarted in this by the Bishop of London. So William settled in Hamburg in 1524, never returning to England. WhenContinue reading “Oremus for Thursday, October 6, 2022”

Harry Emerson FosdickHarry Emerson Fosdick, America’s greatest liberal preacher of the 20th century, was at the forefront of theological and social thinking for more than 40 years. He was also a source of controversy as he brought to his country a prophetic voice of reasoned faith and enlightened hope. A man for all seasons, FosdickContinue reading “Oremus for Wednesday, October 5, 2022”

FrancisFrancis was born in Assisi in central Italy either in 1181 or the following year. He was baptised Giovanni but given the name Francesco by his father, a cloth merchant who traded in France and had married a French wife. There was an expectation that he would eventually take over his father’s business but FrancisContinue reading “Oremus for Tuesday, October 4, 2022”

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/3mjx3phc I am the light of the world, says the Lord;whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,but will have the light of life. John 8 Almighty God,to whom all hearts are open,all desires, known,and from whom no secrets are hid:Cleanse the thoughts of our heartsby the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,that we mayContinue reading “Oremus for Monday, October 3, 2022”

Antiphon 1 Ant. All things are submitted to your will, O Lord, *and no one can resist your de-cisions; you have madeall things, heaven and earth, and all that is contained underthe vault of the sky; you are the master of the universe.V. Blessed are those whose way is blameless, *who walk in the lawContinue reading “Oremus for Sunday, October 2, 2022”

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/pdbx9vkb Your merciful love, O God,we have received in the midst of your temple.Your praise, O God, like your name,reaches the ends of the earth;your right hand is filled with saving justice. Psalm 48 Almighty God,to whom all hearts are open,all desires, known,and from whom no secrets are hid:Cleanse the thoughts of our heartsbyContinue reading “Oremus for Saturday, October 1, 2022”

JeromeJerome was born at Strido near Aquileia on the Adriatic coast of Dalmatia, in about the year 342. He studied at Rome, where he was baptised. He tried the life of a monk for a time, but unsuccessfully. Following a dream in which he stood before the judgement seat of God and was condemned forContinue reading “Oremus for Friday, September 30, 2022”

Michael and All AngelsThe scriptural word “angel” (Greek: angelos) means, literally, a messenger. Messengers from God can be visible or invisible, and may assume human or non-human forms. Christians have always felt themselves to be attended by healthful spirits—swift, powerful, and enlightening. Those beneficent spirits are often depicted in Christian art in human form, withContinue reading “Oremus for Thurssday, September 29, 2022”

Margery KempeMargery Kempe, who wrote the book bearing her name, and from which we attain most of our knowledge of her, was a mystic who experienced intense visions followed by a period of emotional disturbance, subsequent to which she went on pilgrimage to Canterbury. She later made pilgrimages to the Holy Land and to SantiagoContinue reading “Oremus for Wednesday, September 28, 2022”