Happy St. Anselm day…well, kind of.
Today (April 21st) is the commemoration of St. Anselm of Canterbury. Despite all of the turmoil in his life - including multiple exiles - Anselm died in peace in Canterbury on April 21st in 1109 (Holy Tuesday that year). He was around 75 years old. Today keeps with the tradition of saints’ commemoration days being on the date of their death and entrance into the Church Triumphant.
Why is it only kind of his day today? Technically, the Week of Easter preempts all saint commemorations in the prayer book (because the Easter feast is more important). I am certain that the humble St. Anselm would be fine with the Thursday of Easter Week taking his day this year. Nevertheless, since this is our first year as St. Anselm Anglican Church I am posting his readings and his Collect along with the Collect for the Thursday in Easter and wish you all, “Happy St. Anselm Day and Easter Thursday!!"
Readings for the Commemoration of St. Anselm of Canterbury
Psalm 139:1-9 or 37:3-6,32-33
Romans 5:1-11
Matthew 11:25-30
Collect for St. Anselm of Canterbury
Almighty God, who raised up your servant Anselm to teach the Church of his day to understand its faith in your eternal Being, perfect justice, and saving mercy: Provide your Church in every age with devout and learned scholars and teachers, that we may be able to give a reason for the hope that is in us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Collect for the Thursday of Easter
Almighty God, you show those in error the light of your truth so that they may return to the path of righteousness: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
A Song of Anselm
Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you:
You are gentle with us as a mother with her children;
Often you weep over our sins and our pride:
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgement.
You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds:
in sickness you nurse us,
and with pure milk you feed us.
Jesus, by your dying we are born to new life:
by your anguish and labour we come forth in joy.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness:
through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead:
your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us:
in your love and tenderness remake us.
In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness:
for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us.
(From James’ E. Kiefer’s short bio http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/141.html)