Let us pray (in silence) [that God enables us to live in God’s love]
Pause
O God,
you promise to abide with those who are just and pure in heart;
give us your grace to live in such a way
that we are a dwelling pleasing to you;
through Jesus Christ
who is alive with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
This is part of my reworking collects, in my Book of Prayers in Common, with history and commentary.
Here is my commentary for this collect for Ordinary 6 or read below.
Prior to Vatican II, and still so in some communities, this Sunday would have been/will be Septuagesima Sunday.
Confusion in NZ Anglicanism
In NZ Anglicanism Holy Innocents can be celebrated this coming Sunday, instead of Ordinary 6.
I think this is absolute nonsense. Firstly, I do not think that Holy Innocents should EVER take precedence over the Sunday – even when 28 December falls on a Sunday. Secondly, yes – apparently there was a pre-Vatican II commemoration of “The Flight into Egypt” on 17 February (I understand that, although there’s no reference in A Prayer Book for Australia, the Australian Anglican lectionary booklet for this year has 17 February as an alternative Holy Innocents commemoration). I can find no reference to such a commemoration on 16 February. If you have a reason for moving Holy Innocents to 16 February and then giving it precedence over the Sunday – please let us know in the comments. Further, from the typography in A New Zealand Prayer Book He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa (NZPBHKMA 2020 & 2024 editions), it seems that Holy Innocents can take precedence over the Sunday when commemorated on 16 February, but NOT when commemorated on its traditional date of 28 December. Further, as it is now impossible to tell what in NZPBHKMA is agreed formularies and what is not – I have no idea if this is simply a whim or if we, as a Church, have agreed to all this.
More on Ordinary Time: here and here.
Resources beyond this site:
Textweek
Preaching Resources Down Under
Girardian Reflection on the Lectionary
Do add your reflections and resources in the comments area below.
Commentary on the Collect
From the Gelasian Sacramentary for the Sunday after Ascension Thursday. This explains the stress on God’s dwelling with us:
Deus, qui te in rectis et sinceris manere pectoribus asseris, da nobis tua gratia tales exsistere, in quibus habitare digneris.
manere: to remain, stay, dwell, abide
pectoribus: literally the breast-bone, chest, stomach; can be understood as the soul, spirit, mind, character, heart
rectis: morally just, virtuous, upright, righteous
sinceris: pure, sound, whole; genuine
exsistere: to become, turned into, to step out, emerge, to manifest
ICEL 1973 had it as:
God our Father, you have promised to remain for ever with those who do what is just and right. Help us to live in your presence.
Failed 1998 English Missal translation:
O God,
you promise to remain with those
whose hearts are faithful and just.
By the gift of your grace
make our lives worthy of your abiding presence.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
ICEL 2011:
O God, who teach us that you abide in hearts that are just and true, grant that we may be so fashioned by your grace as to become a dwelling pleasing to you.
I am unaware of an Anglican usage of this collect.
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