Author Archives: Steve Benner

Hildegard of BingenHildegard was born in 1098 at Böckelheim in Germany. From her earliest years she had a powerful, visionary life, becoming a nun at the age of eighteen, much influenced by her foster-mother, Jutta, who had set up the community and whom she succeeded as Abbess in 1136. Her visions of light, which sheContinue reading “Oremus for Thursday, September 17, 2020”

St NinianNinian was born in about the year 360 and was the son of a Cumbrian chieftain who had himself converted to Christianity. It seems he visited Rome in his youth, where he received training in the faith. He was consecrated bishop in the year 394 and returned to Britain, where he set up aContinue reading “Oremus for Wednesday, September 16, 2020”

Cyprian, Bishop of CarthageBorn in Carthage in about the year 200, Cyprian was a teacher of rhetoric and a lawyer in the city before his conversion to Christianity. He gave away his pagan library and set his mind to study the sacred Scriptures and the commentaries that were beginning to proliferate. He became a priestContinue reading “Oremus for Tuesday, September 15, 2020”

Holy Cross DayThe cross on which our Lord was crucified has become the universal symbol for Christianity, replacing the fish symbol of the early church, though the latter has been revived in recent times. After the end of the persecution era, early in the fourth century, pilgrims began to travel to Jerusalem to visit andContinue reading “Oremus for Monday, September 14, 2020”

For another form of worship in the home based on today’s lessons in the Revised Common Lectionary, go to https://blogs.elca.org/worship/2771/ Antiphon1 Ant. Bring up your sacrifices and come in-to his courts;adore the Lord in his holy temple.V. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, *whose sin is remitted.Blessed the man to whom the Lord imputesContinue reading “Oremus for Sunday, September 13, 2020”

Antiphon1 Ant. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see the salvation which comes from our God.V. The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, *the world, and those who dwell in it.It is he who set it on the seas; *on the rivers he made it firm. Isaiah 40;Continue reading “Oremus for Saturday, September 12, 2020”

Antiphon1 Ant. You will turn toward us, O God, * and restore our life again, and your people will rejoice in you.Show us, Lord, your mercy and grant us your salvation.V. O Lord, you have favored your land, *and brought back the captives of Jacob.You forgave the guilt of your people, *and covered all theirContinue reading “Oremus for Friday, September 11, 2020”

Antiphon1 Ant. People of Zion behold, * the Lord is coming to save all nations; and the Lord shall cause you to hear his majestic voice for the joy of your heart.V. O shepherd of Israel, hear us, *you who lead Joseph like a flock:enthroned on the cherubim, shine forth †upon Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh. *RouseContinue reading “Oremus for Thursday, September 10, 2020”

Constance and Her Companions, the Martyrs of MemphisIn 1873 a group of sisters of the Sisterhood of St. Mary went to Memphis, Tennessee, at the request of Bishop Charles T. Quintard, to establish a school for girls adjacent to the Cathedral of St. Mary. They were confronted by an epidemic of yellow fever and beganContinue reading “Oremus for Wednesday, September 9, 2020”

The Birth of the Virgin MaryThis festival in honour of the birth of the mother of our Lord is celebrated on this day in both the eastern and the western Churches. Falling just nine months after the feast of the Conception of Mary, this feast acknowledges the preparation by God of his people to receiveContinue reading “Oremus for Tuesday, September 8, 2020”