‘Weekly Post. Anno Domini 2023 August 23

Beloved of the Lord:

Today is Wednesday, 23 August, in the year of our Lord 2023. The scheduled services are as-follows:

• Wednesday (today): 12:10 PM, Mass, Vigil of S, Bartholomew.
• Thursday: 6:30 PM, Mass, Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle & Martyr, followed by Soup & Study.
• Friday: 9:00 AM, Mass, S. Louis IX, King & Confessor.
  Immediately following, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
• Saturday: 5:00 PM, Mass, Feria.
• Sunday: 8:30 & 10:00 AM, Mass, Trinity XII; Parish Brunch following the 10:00 Mass.

As-noted above, this-coming Sunday will be the occasion of our monthly Parish Brunch. After the 10:00 Mass, we will go to Kismet, just two blocks away from the Parish, on Main Street across Warwick Blvd. I've never been, so it will be an adventure, perhaps for several of us.

ARCHBISHOP GORDON will be visiting us next month, on Sunday, 24 September. The custom of the Regiment will be maintained, in that we will transfer our Patronal Feast, that of Saint Matthew, Apostle and Martyr, to the nearest Sunday (in this case, the 'Twenty-fourth). Thusly will we celebrate our Parish home, and the Archbishop's visit to us.

There will be one Mass on that day, at 10:00 AM. As-per-usual, there will be a potluck afterwards. Let us eat heartily, and celebrate merrily!

The cult of relics is ancient in the Christian church, and is known in some religious traditions, especially popular Buddhism. Traces of it may be found in the OT miracles worked through the mantle of Elijah, and the bones of Elisha. In the NT, we see it in the healing power of handkerchiefs that had been touched to the body of S. Paul. In post-NT times, the martyr's bodies were venerated from an early date, the first certain evidence occurring in the 'Martyrium Polycarpi" (c. AD 156-7) where the relics of S. Polycarp are described as 'more valuable than precious stones and finer than refined gold', to be carefully collected and honoured by a memorial service for the saint at the place where they were laid.

Relics are found in three classes. A First-class relic is a piece (often a tiny chip of bone, or bit of hair) of the actual body of the saint. A Second-class relic is (either a small bit of-, or in its entirety) an object, frequently clothing, which belonged to the saint ~ one of their possessions in life. Third-class relics are items (often bits of cloth, or specially-minted coins or medals) that have been touched to the body of the saint.

Material objects can be relics as-well, perhaps the most famous being the True Cross. The Shroud of Turin or S. Veronica's Veil would be included in this grouping. In these instances, inanimate objects being unable to have possessions, only First- and Third-class relics would be available. As-such, one could hold a piece of the True Cross, or something that had been touched to a piece of the True Cross.

We are profoundly blessed in the Orthodox Anglican Church to count among our Parishes S. Martin's Anglican Church, in Ocala, Florida. Archbishop Gordon anointed them as The National Shrine of the True Cross of Jesus Christ, for they hold there a piece of the True Cross, and have issued bronze coins emblazoned with a Jerusalem Cross, which have been touched to that ancient relic. Their relic was obtained directly from the Vatican.

In my capacity as the last Prior General of Saint Dominic's Priory (Monastery) on the Oregon Coast, I gathered-together the collection of relics that had been assembled by those holy Fathers. After having lain in dark storage for many years, they are now (generally on applicable days to the lives of those saints) being displayed for veneration in our Parish. For those of you with sharp eyes, you have lately seen a reliquary (a decorative case) appear on the Altar. Among others, it contains a First-class relic of S. Francis, Patron Saint of Animals. I placed it there on the day that Pepper died. Since then, you may've seen a small silver case at the foot of the Altar Cross. This contains a First-class relic of S. John Vianny, Patron Saint of Priests, and was put on-display on his Feast-day.

Through these powerful items, we see the paths of God on this Earth. He has left behind Him traces of His power, grace, love, and truth. Where His blessings anciently fell, they remain still, I remain

in His praise,

The Rev'd Canon. T. L. Crowder

Pastor, Saint Matthew's Parish