‘Weekly Post. Anno Domini 2024 August 6

Beloved of the Lord:

Today is Tuesday, 6 August, in the year of our Lord 2024. Of-course, as it is every year, today is the Feast of the Transfiguration. Every Parish should celebrate the Mass on this day; everyone in every Parish should attend. The scheduled Services are as-follows:

• Tuesday (today): 5:30 PM, Mass, Feast of the Transfiguration.
  Immediately following, Rosary & Sung Evensong.
• Wednesday: 12:10 PM, Mass, Holy Name of Jesus.
• Thursday: 8:00 AM, men's Morning Prayer & breakfast.
  6:30 PM, Mass, Bl. John Mason Neale, Confessor, followed by Soup & Study.
• Friday: 9:00 AM, Mass, S. John Vianney, Confessor, with the Gregorian Canon.
  Immediately following, Veneration of the Blessed Sacrament.
• Saturday: 5:00 PM, Mass, S. Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr, followed by a meal of roasted meats with fixin's.
• Sunday: 8:30 & 10:00 AM, Deacon's Liturgy, Trinity XI.

Sunday this-coming I'll be in Glen Allen, with the good folks of Saint Athanasius Parish. Deacon Collins will handle the Sunday services, here at Saint Matthew's. These Deacon's Liturgies will be at the usual Mass times.

On the first of November, at Grace Church, in Kentucky, we will be Consecrating the first Bishop for our Diocese of the Philippines. This will be a joyous event, celebrating not only growth for the CAC, but progress in the life of the Philippine Church. I'll be attending that service, participating as the Master of Ceremonies for the Consecration.

The Transfiguration is a Red Letter day in the Book of Common Prayer, requiring all to attend Church on that day. It is described in the first three Gospels as an historic event. It is also alluded-to in 2 Peter. Tradition locates it on Mount Tabor, but many scholars prefer Mount Hermon, while some have even suggested the Mount of Olives.

In the Kalendar, the Feast occurs on 6 August. It was first celebrated in the East, where it appears to have begun as a local, unofficial Feast, and became widely adopted well before AD 1000. In the West, where the Feast was not introduced 'til a much later date, its general observance goes back to AD 1457, when Callistus III ordered its universal celebration in commemoration of the victory gained over the Turks at Belgrade on 6 August, AD 1456.

The Transfiguration was significant as showing the testimony of the Jewish Law and Prophets to the Messiah-ship of Christ, and furnishing a further Divine proclamation of our Lord's sonship. It also served as a foreshadowing of His future glory. Let us join-together at 5:30 this-evening, as we celebrate His glory, and the grace it provides to us, in the Divine Liturgy. I remain

in His praise,

The Ven. T. L. Crowder

Pastor, Saint Matthew's Parish