Win, Place, and Show

Post-Gazette -- Res Publica
Win, Place, and Show
by David Trumbull -- December 30, 2011

On the elevator this morning someone asked me who I thought would win in Iowa; I responded that I don't really follow sports. Friend Sharon H. responded: "If it's a race, the handicappers must be beside themselves with the best challenge that they've ever had."

"Horse race" coverage -- who's ahead in the opinion polls, who's trailing in the polls -- is how the media reporting on the Republican presidential nomination contest is disparaged. You can just hear the typical news reporting, "They're off and it's Romney in the lead. And now they're at the first turn and Newt is pulling ahead. And now they're in the straight-away and Mitt is back in the lead again followed by Ron Paul with Perry nagging in the rear."

Actually, it is a nasty slur on the racing industry, handicappers, and the wagering public to compare, to a horse race, the national press coverage of a presidential election. You'll learn a great deal more about the condition of the entries and their history on the track by reading the Daily Racing Form than you'll ever learn about any candidate in the January 3rd Iowa caucus by reading the Boston Globe or the New York Times.

I was thinking more "roller derby" than "horse race," but perhaps friend Kevin R. nailed it when he replied: "Does it matter? The Iowa caucus looks to me like a very formal game of musical chairs." Libertarian friend, Alan C., commented: "It's a real test of endurance, following a sport where it usually seems like all the contenders are losers."

My West Coast liberal friend Dave S. pointed out that "the successful presidencies of Tom Harkin and Mike Huckabee tell us all we need to know about the caucuses." And old high school buddy Carl P. reminded me that "The Iowa caucus, another legacy of Jimmy Carter."

The latest news regarding the Republican contenders is that two entries, Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich have been disqualified from the March 6th meet in Virginia for failure to satisfy rules regarding nomination signature. Virginia voters have their ballot choices limited to Mitt Romney and Ron Paul.

Rick Perry, this past Tuesday, filed suit in U.S. District Court challenging, based on First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Virginia's requirement that nomination petition circulators be eligible to vote in Virginia. The Supreme Court in the past (in a 1999 case relating to Colorado) ruled a similar rule to be in violation of the First Amendment right of free speech. So Virginia voters may yet get another choice on the ballot.

Here in Massachusetts the certifying of candidates' nomination signatures for our March 6th election has not been completed. We'll know in a few days who will be the entries in that race. Given my person history of voting for losing candidates, I'm more interested in the opening of the live racing season at Suffolk Downs in May. At least at the track I win once in a while. And even when I lose I'm down but a few dollars, which better than I can say about the administration of the current President.

Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

From the Daily Offices for the Week of the Fourth Sunday of Advent (Book of Divine Worship):

We beseech thee, Almighty God, to purify our consciences by thy daily visitation, that when thy Son our Lord cometh he may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Occupy Pre-School

Res Publica
Occupy Pre-School
by David Trumbull -- December 16, 2011

I don't know how I missed this when the City of Boston issued it at the end of October, but even now, after the "Occupy Boston" group has vacated Dewey Square, it is still interesting, not to mention, hilarious, to read what the Boston Public Health Commission, Inspectional Services, Police and Fire Departments really thought about the "occupiers."

I quote directly from "Public Health & Safety Tips from the City of Boston" published October 26th and addressed to "those at Dewey Square":

"Cold weather has arrived and nighttime temperatures will soon be below freezing ... Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. If clothing becomes wet, change into dry clothing as soon as possible. Wear mittens over gloves, layering works for you hands too. Wear a hat and cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs."

Now I love to hear Button Up Your Overcoat (1928; music by Ray Henderson; words by B.G. DeSylia and Lew Brown) put over by torch singer Ruth Etting or "boop-boop-a-doop girl" Helen Kane, but, as an adult, when someone suggests that I "get out of these wet clothes" I expect him to follow with "and into a dry martini." I don't expect, at least not after age nine, to need the grown-ups of the city to remind me to wear my hat and mittens. The fact that some person or persons in authority thought it necessary to inform the occupiers that a Boston winter can be cold and damp reflects badly on the intelligence of the occupiers, or the city officials, or maybe both!

Or how about this official City of Boston admonition to Occupy Boston:

"Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing or sneezing."

Now that's good advice. It was when I was taught it in kindergarten and I still stand by it, as I stand by this advice from the City of Boston to the occupiers:

"Do not engage in negative behavior, such as fighting, throwing objects, or destroying property."

Shall we add, "biting," "running with scissors," "eating paste," and "stomping your feet and yelling 'Mine' until you get your way." Actually, strike that one as that is the very essence of the occupy movement.

It's good to see that the City of Boston recognized the "99%" for what they are: spoiled kids – in some cases superannuated kids--, and rather slow ones at that.

…Reserved to the States Respectively, or to the People.

December 15th is Bill of Rights Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, set aside to memorialize the entering into force, following adoption by three-fourths of the states on December 15, 1791, of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, commonly called the Bill of Rights. Incidentally, Massachusetts was not one of the ratifying states and only passed the amendments in a symbolic gesture in 1939 at the 150th anniversary of the Bill of Rights.

At the time it was proposed the concept of a Bill of Rights—not to mention the specifics of what would be in it—was controversial.

Some argued against the Constitution itself as defective due to lack of an enumeration of the rights of the People. Even as English colonists subject to the Crown they had enjoyed, or at least claimed, the traditional rights of Englishmen, including those set forth in the 1689 English Bill of Rights and earlier documents going back to Magna Carta of 1215. Surely as the free citizens of a republic they ought to enjoy such an enumeration of rights.

Others argued that the Constitution was intended to provide only for the arrangement of the national or central government of the States within the Union and that an enumeration of citizens’ rights was unnecessary as it was the People making the Constitution and, therefore the People retained all rights and powers not specifically granted the national government. Alexander Hamilton made this argument in Federalist No. 84.

The compromise, which was finally enacted, satisfied both by setting forth eight sets of specific rights of the people that the national government (and later, by incorporation under the 14th Amendment, the States) is bound to respect. Those amendments are followed by the Ninth clarifying that every American citizen has all the traditional rights of a free person whether or not specifically listed in amendments one through eight. Then the Tenth Amendments makes clear (although somehow not so clear to some of the Democrats and liberals in Washington today) that the national government has only those powers specifically granted by the People through the Constitution, with all other powers reserved to the States or to the People.

6% of Voters Pick Senator in Special Election, Republican and Green Party Voters Disenfranchised.

Yesterday Massachusetts Representative William Brownsberger won the special election for Senator to replace Democrat Stephen Tolman who had vacated the seat to become president of the AFL-CIO of Massachusetts. The district, Second Suffolk and Middlesex is made up of the towns of Belmont and Watertown and parts of the cities of Cambridge and Boston.

Final official results are not yet available, but thanks to two local news outlets (the Watertown TAB and the Boston Herald) which obtained unofficial results from the election officials in the four communities we can do some preliminary analysis.

Representative (soon to be Senator) Brownsberger won with about one-third of the total votes in the four-man race. Since turnout, overall, was about 18 percent, that means that about 6 percent, a little under 5,000 of the approximately 84,000 registered voters in the district voted for the man who will be their senator. Given the history in Massachusetts, where incumbent senators almost never are defeated for re-election, it is safe to say that the man that 6% voted for yesterday will be senator for as long as he wants. Yesterday's election was a Democratic Party primary and under Massachusetts law no one can vote in a party primary if registered as a member of another party. That means yesterday's decision regarding who will represent all voters in the district was restricted to voters who were Democrats or not enrolled in any party.

Republicans were effectively disenfranchised when the Republican Party failed to run any candidate. Green Party voters, likewise, were excluded due to that party's failure to run a candidate. The final election will be in January, but, by law, Mr. Brownsberger's name is the only one permitted on the ballot.

Congratulations to Mr. Brownsberger. You won in a hotly contested race and my analysis is not intended to in any way diminish the significance of your victory.

However, an election in which 5,000 voters decide for 84,000 who will be the senator and in which several thousand registered Republican or Green Party member had, effectively, no vote, points to problems with the system here in Massachusetts.

First SHAME on the Republican Party (and the Green Party) for failing to run any candidate. Why should any voter in this district choose to register in your party when you can't be bothered to run local candidates, leaving your party members with no one to vote for in the primary and the Democratic Party nominee as the only name on the ballot in the general election.

Secondly, this is not an unusual outcome in Massachusetts. The incumbent resigns, there is a special election with multiple candidates in a one party primary resulting in a winner who got a third of the vote in a contest with 20% turnout and voters of the other parties not even having a vote. This is not new in American politics. Back in the days of the "solid South" one party Democratic states of the old confederacy also had multi-candidate Democratic primaries that too frequently yielded winners who got less than half of the vote. In some cases -- I believe Georgia is one of them -- the law was changed so that if the winner got less than 50% there was a mandated run-off election between the top two vote getters. The city of Cambridge, Massachusetts for municipal office uses a system called "single transferable preference voting" which is a mouthful of a phrase that describes a type of automatic run-off. I'm not advocating any particular reform, but, when 6% of the registered voters decide, in a special election, who will likely be the senator for the next decade or more, I think we ought to start at least talking about possible reforms.

Collects for the Ember Days

Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday following St. Lucy's day (December 13th) are the traditional winter Ember Days.
I. For those to be ordained

Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed various orders in thy Church: Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all who are [now] called to any office and ministry for thy people; and so fill them with the truth of thy doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name and for the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

II. For the choice of fit persons for the ministry

O God, who didst lead thy holy apostles to ordain ministers in every place: Grant that thy Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may choose suitable persons for the ministry of Word and Sacrament, and may uphold them in their work for the extension of thy kingdom; through him who is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

III. For all Christians in their vocation

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of thy faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all members of thy holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve thee; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect for the Third Sunday of Advent

Stir up thy power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let thy bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honor and glory, world without end. Amen. -- from the Anglican Use Roman Catholic Book of Divine Worship

Collect for the First Sunday of Advent

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Home for the Holidays

In our home—perhaps in yours too—Thanksgiving Day festivities begin with tuning the television set to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which we half watch and half just have in the background while preparing dinner. Macy’s—at least since the 1947 motion picture Miracle on 34th Street—has come to be more than just another vendor for holiday gifts, but itself a part of America’s Thanksgiving through Christmas holiday season. Yes, for many of us the Macy parade marks the beginning of the holidays.

Nevertheless, I miss the older television practice of showing not just Macy’s but bits of several department store Thanksgiving Day Santa parades. I liked when they would switch to the J.L. Hudson’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit and the Gimbels Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia. Hudson’s Department Store in Detroit is gone, but the parade—which like the Macy’s parade started in 1924—continues as America's Thanksgiving Parade. The Gimbels parade, now called the 6abc IKEA Thanksgiving Day Parade is the oldest of America’s Thankgiving Day Santa parades, having started in 1920.

Locally, from the 1940s until 1972—and again in the early 1990s—a visit to the Enchanted Village in the Jordan Marsh department store in Downtown Crossing was how Bostonians inaugurated the Christmas shopping season. Remember how, up to just a few years ago, Jordan Marsh, and its rival Filene’s put up competing Christmas displays in their windows that faced each other on Summer Street?

I have nothing against R.H. Macy’s Department Store—I wish it a profitable Christmas selling season. If Americans choose for our Thanksgiving Day morning entertainment a televised, extended-length, open-air advertisement for that retailer, who am I to object? But more and more local shops are giving way to national brands and “big-box” retailers. Local events (such as the Enchanted Village) give way to a few huge national spectacles. Likewise, our political discussions are focused much more on what is happening in Washington, rather than Boston.

The problem with looking to the national scene rather than locally is that nationally most of us have little opportunity to be anything more than observers. Locally we have power to change things. As the Democrats and liberals in Washington consolidate more and more power in the hands of a few remote unelected bureaucrats in Washington, let’s be thankful this year that we still have locally elected representatives and senators in the General Court. Next year all 200 members of that body will be up for election. Have you thought of running? Surely no one is so happy with the current crop of state legislators that you can’t think of a few you’d like to see replaced. If you think it’s time for a change and you believe you have what it takes, change can begin with you!

November 9th, Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo

"These moderns, forever prattling about culture and civilization, are undermining the Church's doctrine, laws, and practices. They are not concerned very much about culture and civilization. By using such high-sounding words they think they can conceal the wickedness of their schemes." --Pope Pius X, Encyclical on St. Charles Borromeo, May 26, 1910.

Harvard Latin Mass-Save the Date

Please save the date for the two Extraordinary Form Masses of this semester from the Harvard Latin Mass Society in conjunction with the Harvard Knights of Columbus Council 14188. We would appreciate your help passing this along to anyone who may be interested.

1) Friday, October 21st 7:00pm

2) Wednesday, November 30th 6:00pm

The Masses will be held at the high altar of Saint Paul Parish in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Contact harvardlatinmass [at] gmail.com with any questions.

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

POST-GAZETTE - Res Publica

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

by David Trumbull -- September 16, 2011

“September 17 is designated as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day [to] commemorate the formation and signing on September 17, 1787, of the Constitution and recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens.” —(36 U.S.C.106)

We are accustomed to think of the United States as a relative young nation. It was just a bit over 500 years ago that Christopher Columbus from the Republic of Genoa on the Italian peninsula discovered the New World and even less time since the planting of the thirteen colonies that would become the United States. And yet we operate under the second oldest written constitution in the world. (Quiz, what nation has the oldest written constitution still in force?)

Our Constitution is claimed to be the world’s shortest. I can believe it! Certainly it is much, much shorter than the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. But then, unlike the Massachusetts Constitution, our nation’s fundamental law has not been frequently amended. In 224 years there have been but 27 amendments adopted.

The stability of our Constitution over time is even more evident when we remember that the first ten amendments—the Bill of Rights—were ratified shortly after entry into force of the Constitution. In fact, the promise of prompt passage of such a Bill of Rights was one of the arguments the Federalists made for adopting the Constitution, so much so that those first ten amendments may be thought of as being practically part of the original text. That leaves but 17 changes made in the period 1795 to 1992—nearly 200 years, or, on average, between one and two per decade.

Addressing his fellow Americans on September 17, 1796 George Washington spoke of our national unity and pride as free Americans living under a Constitution at the time not yet a decade old, saying: “Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism...” and he expressed his desire “that the free Constitution... may be sacredly maintained; that its administration in every department may be stamped with wisdom and virtue; that, in fine, the happiness of the people of these States, under the auspices of liberty, may be made complete by so careful a preservation and so prudent a use of this blessing as will acquire to them the glory of recommending it to the applause, the affection, and adoption of every nation which is yet a stranger to it.”

On September 17th, all citizens, by birth or choice (to borrow Washington’s beautiful phrasing) are called on to commemorate the signing of our federal Constitution and the blessings of liberty under our Democratic Republic.

Quiz answer: The Republic of San Marino, an independent state on the Italian peninsula surrounded entirely by the Republic of Italy has the oldest written constitution still in force, dating to 1600.

Thursday is Felt Hat Day

September 15th is Felt Hat Day the end of the season when men may wear their straw boaters and Panamas rather than the fur felt fedoras, porkpies, homburgs, and bowlers that we wear (You do wear a hat, don't you?) the rest of the year. For more information see http://www.thefedoralounge.com/. Straw hats may not be worn again until Straw Hat Day which is May 15th.

Solemn Anglican Evensong

SOLEMN EVENSONG & SERMON
Sunday, September 25, 2011 at 4:00 p.m.

Chapel of Mary, Stonehill College, North Easton, Mass.

This is the joint annual service of the Congregation of St. Athanasius
A Congregation of the Pastoral Provision of Pope John Paul II for the Anglican Usage of the Roman Rite with St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Brockton, observed on the Sunday nearest the memorial of Our Lady of Walsingham. A reception will follow this service

Terrorist Plot Fails

POST-GAZETTE - Res Publica

Terrorist Plot Fails

by David Trumbull -- September 9, 2011

On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, ten terrorists hijacked two airplanes (American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines from 175) that departed Boston with scheduled destination of Los Angeles. The intention of the hijackers – unmercifully brought to completion – was the deliberate destruction of the twin towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan on a day and hour chosen to kill the maximum number of innocent civilians – men, women, and children of every race, religion and nationality.

Five terrorists hijacked the Dulles, Virginia, to Los Angeles American Airlines Flight 77 and crashed it into the Pentagon. Another four terrorists hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 from Newark to San Francisco for similar nefarious ends, but brave passengers regained control and crashed the plane near Shankville, Pennsylvania before the terrorists could reach their target in Washington, D.C.

In all, 19 hijackers and about 3,000 innocent persons were killed, four airplanes were destroyed, and there was substantial loss of property and disruption of economic activity in lower Manhattan. We must never forget or minimize the losses incurred due to the unprovoked and unjustifiable attacks on September 11, 2001. However, even weighing the losses in human life, property, and economic activity, and the inconveniences we now undergo at airport security checkpoints and other places, the conclusion – the only possible conclusion – is that the terrorist attacks failed.

The terrorists thought that such dramatic scenes as airplanes flying into buildings and some of the tallest structures in America collapsing into the earth would shake American resolve to fight. Just the opposite happened. America strengthened her resolve to fight terrorists around the world. While the terrorists may have thought they were bringing the fight to American soil, the result was U.S. invasion, and overthrow of the regimes, of Afghanistan and Iraq. In the past ten years there has been no successful major terrorist attack in America. They failed to effect any substantive change in U.S. policy toward the Near- and Middle-East. They failed to cripple us economically. They failed to unite the Muslim world in a holy war against United States.

It is said that the hijackers believed that would die martyrs to Islam and be received into Heaven (a Heaven which, if popular accounts are to be believed, sounds rather like Hugh Hefner’s “Playboy Mansion”). The notion that an all-merciful God rewards mass murders with the delights of paradise is, on its face, an absurd proposition. Yes, even as regards their expectation for personal “reward” the 9/11 terrorists failed.

God bless the U.S.A. and the free, and freedom-loving, people of America!

John Henry Newman Symposium and Evensong at Cathedral of the Holy Cross

IN OCTOBER SYMPOSIUM & SOLEMN EVENSONG
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Commemoration of Blessed John Henry Newman

A symposium at 3:00 p.m. -- “Newman as preacher, educator, poet, and convert”

followed by refreshments and Evensong, Father Peter M. J. Stravinskas,
preacher.

Cathedral of the Holy Cross
1400 Washington St., Boston

Sponsored jointly by The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and The Congregation of St. Athanasius.

...increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works...

From the Daily Offices for Week of the Sunday closest to August 31 in the Book of Divine Worship -- Collect for the Week of the Sunday closest to August 31 (Proper 17):

Lord of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I'm Going to Jail for Good

I NEED YOUR HELP! I'm going behind bars for "GOOD"
PLEASE HELP BAIL ME OUT!

Your donation is my key to freedom! Be proud of the fact that together we're providing help and hope to kids and adults served by Muscular Dystrophy Association in our community. My lock-up date is Thursday, August 25th. The "jail" is in Morton's Steakhouse-Seaport.

To donate, go to my blog http://readywriters.blogspot.com/ where you’ll find a link to my lockup and have your credit card ready, or donate with a check to "Muscular Dystrophy Association" c/o David Trumbull, National Textile Association, 6 Beacon St., #1125, Boston, Mass. 02108.

“my lockup” which will take you directly to the MDA website where you can donate by credit card.

Boston and New England Companies Named to Made in the USA Hall of Fame

Res Publica
Boston and New England Companies Named to Made in the USA Hall of Fame
by David Trumbull -- July 15, 2011

The Made in the USA Foundation has announced 22 companies that have earned a place in the Made in the USA Hall of Fame. The Foundation held an awards dinner Saturday, July 2nd in Santa Monica, California. Among the companies honored were two Boston companies:

Boston Beer Company -- Brewmeister Jim Koch comes from a long line of brewers. In the mid-1980s, Jim got his great-great grandfather's recipe from his father's attic. After only six weeks on the market it won the award for "The Best Beer in America" in the Consumer Preference Poll at the Great American Beer Festival.

New Balance –- In 1938, New Balance created its first pair of athletic shoes. Today, New Balance is now the largest shoe manufacturer in the United States, making 7 million pairs of athletic shoes a year in six factories in Maine and Massachusetts.

In addition, four other New England companies made it to the Hall of Fame:

Bevin Brothers of Easthampton, Connecticut -- The Bevin family has been crafting quality bells for 176 years. Bevin Brothers is the only remaining company manufacturing bells in the United States.

Colt -- The Colt 1911, official firearm of the U.S. Army from World War I until the Vietnam era, remains in production, virtually unchanged for 100 years. Colt is based in Connecticut.

Ethan Allen -- In 1936, Ethan Allen manufactured its first Early American style furniture in New England. Today, Ethan Allen is the largest U.S. furniture manufacturer in many styles.

Peterboro Basket -- The Peterboro Basket Company has thrived in the heart of historic Peterborough, New Hampshire making high-quality baskets since 1854.

Other Made in the USA Hall of Fame companies are:

3M makers of Scotch brand tapes, Annin Flagmakers, Bed Head Pajamas, Chateau Montelena winery, Dilettante Chocolate, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, H.F. Coors brewery, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, Hart Schaffner & Marx suit-makers, Jack Daniel's Distillery, K'NEX maker of plastic construction toy sets, Milliken & Company textile manufacturer, Nordic Ware kitchenware products, SpaceX rocket-maker, Vitamix maker of high-quality blenders, and Whirlpool Corporation maker of home appliances.

Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God...

Collect for Saint Thomas (July 3):

Everliving God, who didst strengthen thine apostle Thomas with sure and certain faith in thy Son’s resurrection: Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting in thy sight; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Long Struggle for Independence

POST-GAZETTE - Res Publica

The Long Struggle for Independence

by David Trumbull -- July 1, 2011

The American Revolutionary War began April 19, 1775, a date celebrated as a public holiday—Patriots’ Day—in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of Maine. The war became a fight for independence with the July 1776 adoption, by the Americans’ Continental Congress, of the Declaration of Independence.

As you celebrate American freedom this Independence Day weekend—culminating in the free concert and fireworks spectacular at the Charles River Esplanade—remember that independence did not come easily. The war took seven years, with major battles as late as 1781. When, on July 18, 1776, two weeks after the signing, the Declaration of Independence finally completed the long trek on the roads of the day from Philadelphia for the first public reading in Boston, in was not at all inevitable that we Americans should win independence from Great Britain. No one had heard of such a thing as a colony throwing off its mother country. And the idea that untrained volunteer farmer/soldiers would defeat the best professional army and navy in the world was nearly inconceivable.

Coming to aid of the American cause were the Kingdom of France, the Dutch Republic, and the Kingdom of Spain. Provisional Articles of Peace were signed at Paris on November 30, 1782. The final Treaty was signed September 3, 1783. It was ratified by Congress on January 14, 1784, and by the King of Great Britain on April 9, 1784. Ratification documents were exchanged in Paris on May 12, 1784.

The American negotiators, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, secured, from one of the largest and most sophisticated world powers, a treaty which contained not only an unconditional acknowledgment of American independence, but also important provisions establishing the territory of the United States as stretching from Canada to Florida and from the Atlantic to the Mississippi. American commercial interests were protected by a provision for Americans to continue to fish the waters of the Atlantic off Canada.

The Revolution began with noble sentiment—We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. It ended with a legal agreement over boundaries and fishing rights. Such is the unchanging course of human events. Noble sentiments are good, even necessary, but they have to be backed up by practical texts. So, having ended the war with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the next big step for the young nation, in 1787, was to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty—by drafting and adopting our Constitution.

Cor Iesu, flagrans amore nostri, inflamma cor nostrum amore tui.

Collect for Sacred Heart of Jesus:

Father, we rejoice in the gifts of love we have received from the heart of thy Son. Open our hearts to share his life, and continue to bless us with his love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Or this:

O God, who hast suffered the Heart of thy Son to be wounded by our sins, and in that very heart hast bestowed on us the abundant riches of thy love: grant that the devout homage of our hearts, which we render unto Him; may by thy mercy be deemed a recompense, acceptable in thy sight; through the same Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Saint Peter and Saint Paul (June 29)

Collect for Saint Peter and Saint Paul (June 29):

Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified thee by their martyrdom: Grant that thy Church, instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by thy Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made an holy temple acceptable unto thee.

Collect for the Week of the Sunday closest to June 29 (Proper 8):

O Almighty God, who hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made an holy temple acceptable unto thee; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

...grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of his Body and Blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit of his redemption.

Collect for Corpus Christi:

God our Father, whose Son our Lord Jesus Christ in a wonderful Sacrament hath left unto us a memorial of his passion: grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of his Body and Blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit of his redemption; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

June 24th: Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Collect for the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist:

Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth’s sake; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

O Lord, we beseech thee, make us have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name...

From the Daily Offices for Week of the Sunday closest to June 22 in the Book of Divine Worship.
Collect for the Week of the Sunday closest to June 22 (Proper 7):

O Lord, we beseech thee, make us have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name, for thou never failest to help and govern those whom thou hast set upon the sure foundation of thy loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity...

From the Daily Offices for Trinity Sunday in the Book of Divine Worship.

Collect for Trinity Sunday:

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of thy Divine Majesty to worship the Unity: We beseech thee that thou wouldst keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see thee in thy one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Happy Bunker Hill Day!

Bunker Hill Day—June 17—is a doubly dubious observance. First, as every Bostonian can tell you, the battle was on Breed’s Hill, not Bunker Hill. Secondly, we lost! One does not customarily celebrate one’s defeats, but in the case of Breed’s/Bunker Hill, it is understandable, for it marked the first American resistance that put in question British victory in the War. Surveying the heavy Red Coat losses British General Sir Henry Clinton said, “A few more such victories would have shortly put an end to British dominion in America.” General Clinton was paraphrasing the Greek general Pyrrhus who, according to the ancient writer Plutarch, won battles but at such high cost that he nearly ruined himself.

In Boston, America’s passion for Independence is seen, touched, heard, and smelt in our Old State House, the Old South Meeting House, in the steeple of Christ Church in the North End, and in scores of other sites along our Freedom Trail. Laugh and call them “hack holidays,” but don’t forget the individual men and women who struggled for freedom, for that is why we set aside special days of remembrance and observance.

Don't Know Much About History

Songwriters Sam Cooke, Lou Adler and Herb Alpert, in their 1960 hit “Wonderful World,” pled ignorance of history and other academic topics. Today they’d find themselves joined by millions of American high schoolers.

On June 14th the U.S. Department of Education released results of the U.S. History 2010 National Assessment of Educational Progress at Grades 4, 8, and 12. The results, are not good. At 12th grade just 12% were “proficient,” representing solid academic performance. At grade 12 a student is proficient if he can “understand Missouri statehood in the context of sectionalism”—most could not.

At grade 8 the percentage at or above proficiency is 17%. For fourth graders, 20% are proficient. In other words, the longer kids stay in school the worse they do relative to how someone in their grade ought to do!

Not all of the questions are available, as many will continue to be used in tests. From among the grade 12 questions published on the Department of Education website I selected some of the more difficult to see how the pupils did.

From the list (a) Soviet Union, (b) Japan, (c) China, or (d) Vietnam, merely 22% of 12th graders correctly identified (c), China, as an ally of North Korea during the Korean War.

Just one-third of 12th graders correctly identified President George Washington’s foreign policy as “avoiding permanent alliances with other countries.” Two-thirds of the students thought Washington was an interventionist in foreign affairs.

Likewise, just one-third correctly answered that Thomas Jefferson’s election as President is sometimes called the “revolution of 1800” because it was the first “peaceful transition of power from one political party to another.” The rest thought there actually was a popular uprising in 1800, or that the Electoral College was abolished, or that it has something to do with the Louisiana Purchase.

Presented with charts showing gross domestic production increasing, unemployment declining, and wages rising during World War Two, merely 43% correctly answered that “the war caused a major increase in economic production in the United States.”

For more information on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, I suggest you go to the Department of Education website. While there you can take an online sample test and find our whether you are smarter than a 4th, 8th, or 12th grader.

100 Years of Massachusetts House Speakers

by David Trumbull
May 15, 2009

“In Massachusetts the worst men get into the Legislature. Several members of that body have lately been convicted of infamous crimes. Men of indigence, ignorance and baseness, spare no pains, however dirty, to carry their point against men, who are superior to the artifices practiced.” – Elbridge Gerry at the Constitutional Convention, 1787.

Over the fifty years from January 1959 to January 2009, nine men serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives were elevated by their peers to Speaker of the House. Of those nine politicians—every one a Democrat—four, John F. Thompson (Speaker, 1958-1964), Charles Flaherty (1991-1996), Thomas Finneran (1996-2004), and Salvatore DiMasi (2004-2009) resigned the speakership in disgrace, dogged by charges of legal or ethical lapses. One Speaker, Thomas W. McGee (1975–1984), was found so wanting even by the low standards of his fellow Democratic legislators that he was dumped from that leadership position in favor of George Keverian (1985–1991). Keverian left the post, and state politics, in 1991, after losing the Democratic party primary for Treasurer of the Commonwealth.

In the fifty years prior to that, 14 men served as Speaker, 12 Republicans and two Democrats. None, as far as I know, left office in disgrace or disfavor. About half went on, after their speakerships, to run successfully for higher office in state or national government. Among them Republican Christian Herter (Speaker 1939-1942) was later elected U.S. Representative and Massachusetts Governor and served in high positions in the Republican Administration of President Eisenhower and under Democratic Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. (1949-1952) went on, after his leadership in the State House, to serve ten years as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Perversely, as the quality of the men in the office of Speaker declined, the average length of time in the office increased, from around three-and-a-half years for Speakers in the first fifty year period to around five-and-a-half years for those in the more resent fifty-year period. Of course I have my bias, but one has to notice the absence of scandal and the generally high level of personal and professional conduct of the Speakers in the period when Republicans were dominant, supplying 12 of 14 Speakers.

Summer Ember Days

Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of this week are the traditional summer Ember Days.

Collects for the Ember Days

I. For those to be ordained

Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed various orders in thy Church: Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all who are [now] called to any office and ministry for thy people; and so fill them with the truth of thy doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name and for the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

II. For the choice of fit persons for the ministry

O God, who didst lead thy holy apostles to ordain ministers in every place: Grant that thy Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may choose suitable persons for the ministry of Word and Sacrament, and may uphold them in their work for the extension of thy kingdom; through him who is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

III. For all Christians in their vocation

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of thy faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all members of thy holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve thee; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Res Publica: Flying the Colors

Tuesday, June 14th, is Flag Day. Fly your American flag proudly. And be sure to observe these regulations: no disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.

(c) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

(e) The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

(f) The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.

(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

(h) The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

(k) The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

Source: United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 Section 6.

Washington Post Get Right Story of Maryland Episcopal Church's Decision to Embrace Catholic Faith

The Washington Post, in a story that appeared in print Monday, June 13th, and which is available online here, presented a remarkably, for a liberal secular newspaper, account of the decision of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Bladensburg, Maryland, to convert, as a congregation, to the Catholic faith. The newspaper reported that "St. Luke’s congregants see their decision as profound, a choice between fuzzy theology and clear authority." This report is in contrast to many news accounts which have portrayed Episcopalians who convert to the Catholic Church as merely disgruntled conservatives who are leaving the Episcopal Church over ordination of women and openly gay persons. Such conventional thinking is wrong, those Episcopalians who are converting to the Catholic Church do so because they have come to believe that truth of the Catholic Church's claim of authority. Certainly there are former Episcopalians who left in dispute over some change or other in the Episcopal Church, but they end up in one of the many break-away Anglican groups, not the Catholic Church.

The Post article contrasts St. Luke's embrace of the Catholic faith with those who leave the Episcopal Church as a reaction to changes in that body, saying: "The decision by St. Luke’s attracted attention partially because the entire church is converting — including its married pastor. But it also stands out because several conservative Episcopal congregations, angered by the election of an openly gay bishop, voted in recent years to leave for other wings of Anglicanism, mostly in Africa."

The story goes on to reiterate that the decision of St. Lukes is not a reaction against the Episcopal Church but a reaction to the claims of the Catholic Church, stating: "Members are onboard with key ideas such as papal supremacy..."

Mt. Calvary Episcopal Church, Baltimore, in Process of Converting to Catholic Faith

On Sunday, October 24, 2010 the parishioners of Mount Calvary Church approved the following resolutions at a special parish meeting:

Resolution 1

Resolved: In accordance with Article 12 of the amendment to the Charter of Mount Calvary Church, Baltimore, adopted April 10, 1967, the Vestry of Mount Calvary Church, having determined that The Episcopal Church (formerly known as the “Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America”) has clearly, substantially, and fundamentally changed its doctrine, discipline and worship, Mount Calvary Church should become separate from and independent of The Episcopal Church.

Resolution #2

Resolved: That Mount Calvary Church, upon separation from The Episcopal Church, seek to become an Anglican Use parish of the Roman Catholic Church.

Both resolutions were passed by majorities of 85%.

Since that time Mt. Calvary has been in consultation with the Archdiocese of Baltimore on details of Anglicanorum Coetibus and with the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland over a property settlement.

For more information see the church's website www.mountcalvary.com.

Pentecost

From the Daily Offices for Pentecost in the Book of Divine Worship.

Collect for Pentecost.

Almighty God, who on this day didst open the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of thy Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

or this

O God, who on this day didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Savior, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Anglican Parish St. Mary of the Angels, Hollywood, Votes to Join Catholic Church

According to information on the parish's website (www.stmaryoftheangels.org):

After much discussion, discernment, and study, the Parish of Saint Mary of the Angels [Hollywood, California] has voted to enter the Anglican Ordinariate of the United States as soon as it is formed by the Catholic Church. 81% of the voting parish membership decided in favor of joining the historic Ordinariate instituted by Pope Benedict XVI at the special parish meeting on May 1st. The Ordinariate has been formed in the United Kingdom but has yet to be officially formed in the United States.

Episcopal Parish Community in Bladensburg, Maryland to Join Catholic Church

On June 6, 2011 the Roman Catholic Diocese of Washington announced that after a period of deep discernment, the rector and parishioners of St. Luke’s Episcopal parish in Bladensburg, Maryland have decided to seek entry into the Roman Catholic Church through a new structure approved by Pope Benedict XVI called an ordinariate.

According to information on the parish's website, www.stlukesparish-bladensburg.org:

It is with great joy St. Luke's announces its intention to join the Personal Ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. We have been discerning the leading of the Holy Spirit since the Holy Father's announcement of Anglicanorum coetibus in October of 2009. Since that time we have been in close dialogue with both the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and the Archdiocese Washington.

Over the next few months the people of St. Luke's Ordinariate Catholic Community will undergo formal preparation to become Roman Catholics. This formal preparation will take place at St. Luke's primarily on Sunday's at 9:00am, and on Thursday evenings at 7:00pm. If you are interested in joining the people of St. Luke's on this journey you are encouraged and welcomed to attend.

54 Anglican Clergy to Defect to Catholic Church in Pentecost Ordinations

The first of a series of ordinations are set to take place, which will see former Anglican clergy defect from the Church of England and become Roman Catholic priests, on Saturday, according to this news article.

We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless, but send us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us to the same place where our Savior Christ is gone.

From the Daily Offices for Week of the Seventh Sunday of Easter in the Book of Divine Worship.

Collect for the Seventh Sunday of Easter.

O God, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven: We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless, but send us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us to the same place where our Savior Christ is gone before; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

A Important Letter, and Follow-up Note, from the Rev. Mr. Jürgen Liias

April 21, 2011

Dear Friends,

On Saturday, April 3, we concluded our most recent series. The question we were
addressing:

IS GOD RAISING UP AN ANGLICAN USE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AT CTR TO BE PART OF THE NEW ANGLICAN ORDINARIATE THAT POPE BENEDICT HAS ESTABLISHED?

We explored the questions: What is an Anglican use Catholic church? And what is the Ordinariate? We were instructed by Dr. Tal Howard on the ecumenical developments in the Roman Catholic Church which have led to this remarkable gesture. Fr. Sam Keyes led us in some reflections on Anglican Patrimony. We heard some personal stories of ecclesiastical journeys from Dr. Agnes Howard and from myself. Fr. Richard Bradford, an old friend, former Episcopal priest, and now Rector of St. Athanasius Anglican Use Catholic Church, with two of his parishioners, shared the story of their parish. Bishop Bill Murdoch came and addressed his support for such an ecumenical experimental project in his diocese.

Though attendance was not as substantial as in our fall series, the 10-15 participants answered the question with a solid yes and encouraged me to continue the exploration of the idea.

Recently I received some forms from the Rev. Scott Hurd, a former Episcopal priest and now a Roman Catholic who is responsible for the application process for the Anglican Ordinariate.

I would like to begin the process of application.

What I need for the next step in the journey is:

• Twelve individuals who feel called to be part of this application process and to become, God willing, a founding community of an Anglican Ordinariate Catholic Church.
  
  
• To meet regularly with me for prayer, catechetical instruction, and further personal and corporate discernment.
  
  
• To explore the practical and logistical challenges of the application process and the starting of a new church, i.e., staff, location, worship, ministry, mission, finances, etc.

Do pray about this. If it would be helpful to discuss things further with me, do not hesitate to connect with me. If and when I have twelve folk, we will gather again and begin this newest stage in this search for God’s will. I will keep you informed as to the response.

A Blessed Pascha,

Fr. Jürgen Liias
Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church, Danvers, Massachusetts

* * *

May 11, 2011

Dear Anglican Roman Catholic Conversations friends,

In my last letter, I mentioned that I am waiting on the lord for 12 folk to come forward who would like to explore further with me the birthing of an Anglican Ordinariate church at CTR. As of today, May 11, nine folk have stepped forward. Keep praying, God willing, for his spirit to move three more!

Fr. Jürgen Liias

Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abideth with his Church on earth, even unto the end of the ages.

From the Daily Offices for Ascension Day in the Book of Divine Worship.

Collect for Ascension Day.

O Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abideth with his Church on earth, even unto the end of the ages; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Or this:

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God; that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord, Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens, so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

May 31st, Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Collect for the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

Father in heaven, by whose grace the virgin mother of thy incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping thy word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to thy will; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Buy a Poppy for a Disabled Vet

In Flanders fields the poppies grow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The Torch: be yours to hold it high!
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

—John McCrae (1872-1918)

Each year I see fewer and fewer men on the street wearing remembrance poppies on Memorial Day, since 1971 celebrated on the last Monday in May. One year I couldn’t even find anyone selling “Buddy Poppies,” the paper replica flowers that the Veterans of Foreign Wars sell to raise money for disabled veterans.

For more than 75 years, the VFW's Buddy Poppy program has raised millions of dollars in support of veterans’ welfare and the well being of their dependents. According to the VFW, the name “Buddy Poppy” is registered with the U.S. Patent Office. The VFW has made that trademark a guarantee that all poppies bearing that name and the VFW label are genuine products of the work of disabled and needy veterans. No other organization, firm or individual can legally use the name “Buddy” Poppy.

When you buy your Buddy Poppy to wear this Memorial Day you will be giving material aid to a disabled veteran. And when you wear your Buddy Poppy you will remind to everyone who sees you of the meaning of Memorial Day.

The American Legion also sells crepe paper poppies for Memorial Day. That is another fine organization worthy of your support.

Although the United States Department of Veterans Affairs states “The wearing of poppies in honor of America's war dead is traditionally done on Memorial Day, not Veterans Day” many of us do join our friends from the British Commonwealth nations in wearing the red poppy of remembrance on November 11th as well.

This Memorial Day remember those who gave the last full measure of devotion to cause of liberty.

Rogation Days

The Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week are the traditional Rogation Days.

Rogation Day Collect

I. For fruitful seasons

Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth: We humbly pray that thy gracious providence may give and preserve to our use the harvests of the land and of the seas, and may prosper all who labor to gather them, that we, who constantly receive good things from thy hand, may always give thee thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

II. For Commerce and Industry

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ in his earthly life shared our toil and hallowed our labor: Be present with thy people where they work; make those who carry on the industries and commerce of this land responsive to thy will; and give to us all a pride in what we do, and a just return for our labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

III. For stewardship of creation

O merciful Creator, thy hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us, we beseech thee, ever thankful for thy loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of thy good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pour into our hearts such love towards thee, that we, loving thee in all things and above all things, may obtain thy promises...

From the Daily Offices for Week of the Sixth Sunday of Easter in the Book of Divine Worship.

Collect for the Sixth Sunday of Easter.

O God, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man's understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards thee, that we, loving thee in all things and above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Note, the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week are the traditional Rogation Days.

We thank you for thy servant Augustine, whom you called to preach the Gospel to the people of England...

Collect for the Memorial of Saint Augustine of Canterbury (May 27).

Almighty and everlasting God, we thank thee for thy servant Augustine, whom thou didst call to preach the Gospel to the people of England. Raise up, we beseech thee, in this and every land evangelists and heralds of thy kingdom, that thy Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

O Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life...

From the Daily Offices for Week of the Fifth Sunday of Easter in the Book of Divine Worship.Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

O Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leadeth to eternal life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calleth us each by name, and follow where he doth lead.

From the Daily Offices for Week of the Fourth Sunday of Easter in the Book of Divine Worship.

Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter:

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of thy people;
Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calleth us each by name, and follow where he doth lead; who, with thee and the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Sunday is Straw Hat Day

May 15th is Straw Hat Day the beginning of the season when men may wear their straw boaters and Panamas rather than the fur felt fedoras, porkpies, homburgs, and bowlers that we wear (You do wear a hat, don't you?) the rest of the year. For more information see http://www.thefedoralounge.com. Straw hats may be worn until Felt Hat Day which is September 15th.

Prayer to St. Joseph for Help in Selling a House

Remember, most pure spouse of the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, our beloved patron, never was it known that anyone invoked your protection and sought you aid without being comforted. Inspired with this confidence, I come to you and commend myself to you. Do not despise my petition for your help in selling this house, Dear foster father of our redeemer, but accept it graciously and pray for me to your adopted Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Grant that thy Church, being delivered from false apostles, may always be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors.

Collect for the Feast of Saint Matthias (May 14).

O Almighty God, who in the place of Judas didst chose thy faithful servant Matthias to of the number of the Twelve: Grant that thy Church, being delivered from false apostles, may always be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Open, we pray thee, the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work...

From the Daily Offices for Week of the Third Sunday of Easter in the Book of Divine Worship.

Collect for the Third Sunday of Easter:

O God, whose blessed Son did manifest himself to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open, we pray thee, the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Grant that we, being mindful of their victory of faith, may glorify in life and death the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Collect for the Feast of Saint Philip and Saint James (May 3).

Almighty God, who didst give to thine apostles Philip and James grace and strength to bear witness to the truth: Grant that we, being mindful of their victory of faith, may glorify in life and death the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

St. Athanasius Day Anglican Use Celebration in Boston

Congregation of St. Athanasius
Archdiocese of Boston — Anglican Use
All services will be at St. Lawrence Church, 774 Boylston St. (Rt 9), Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Monday, May 2, Saint Athanasius Day, sung Mass at 7.30 p.m.

Bishop of Alexandria; Confessor and Doctor of the Church; born c. 296; died 2 May, 373. Athanasius was the greatest champion of Catholic belief on the subject of the Incarnation that the Church has ever known and in his lifetime earned the characteristic title of "Father of Orthodoxy", by which he has been distinguished every since. -- Clifford, Cornelius. "St. Athanasius." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 1 May 2011 .

...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...

From the Daily Offices for Week of the Second Sunday of Easter in the Book of Divine Worship.

Collect for the Second Sunday in Easter.

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery hast established the new covenant of reconciliation: 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 the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Calendar for This Week

Sunday, May 1. St. Joseph the Worker.

Monday, May 2. Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor [Memorial].

Tuesday, May 3. Use MP and EP for Sts. Philip and James, Apostles [Feast].

Wednesday, May 4.

Friday, May 5.

Saturday, May 6.

...as by his death he hath recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to joys eternal...

From the Daily Offices for Easter Week in the Book of Divine Worship.

Collect for Saturday in Easter Week.

We thank thee, heavenly Father, for that thou hast delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and hast brought us into the kingdom of thy Son; and we pray that, as by his death he hath recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to joys eternal; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Give us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness...

From the Daily Offices for Easter Week in the Book of Divine Worship.

Collect for Friday in Easter Week.

Almighty Father, who hast given thy only Son to die for our sins and to rise again for our justification: Give us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the same Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The New Covenant of Reconciliation

From the Daily Offices for Easter Week in the Book of Divine Worship.

Collect for Thursday in Easter Week.

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery hast established the new covenant of reconciliation: 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 the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

O God, whose blessed Son did manifest himself to his disciples in the breaking of bread...

From the Daily Offices for Easter Week in the Book of Divine Worship.

Collect for Wednesday in Easter Week.

O God, whose blessed Son did manifest himself to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open, we pray thee, the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory...

From the Daily Offices for Easter Week in the Book of Divine Worship.

Collect for Tuesday in Easter Week.

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen.

...we who celebrate with reverence the Paschal feast...

From the Daily Offices for Easter Week in the Book of Divine Worship.

Collect for Easter Monday.

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with reverence the Paschal feast may be found worthy to attain to everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Pascha nostrum

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;*
therefore let us keep the feast,

Not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness,*
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.

Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more;*
death hath no more dominion over him.

For in that he died, he died unto sin once;*
but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin,*
but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.

Christ is risen from the dead,*
and become the first fruits of them that slept.

For since by man came death,*
by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die,*
even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.