Ignatius of Loyola

Today the Episcopal Church remembers Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits.  Ignatius was born in 1491, 1 of 13 children of a family of minor nobility in northern Spain. As a young man Ignatius was inflamed by the ideals of courtly love and knighthood and dreamed of doing great deeds.

 

In 1521, Ignatius was seriously wounded in a battle with the French when a cannonball shattered his leg. His leg was not the only thing that had been shattered. His image of himself as a handsome, dashing courtier - everything that he had ever lived for - was shattered, too.

 

While recuperating, Ignatius experienced a conversion. He read about the lives of Jesus and the saints. Ignatius had his heart turned toward God. 

 

As soon as Ignatius had healed enough to walk, he began a journey to Jerusalem so that he could “kiss the earth where our Lord had walked.” He traveled through the town of Montserrat, Spain where he gave away his fine clothes to a poor man. Then, in an all-night vigil before at the Benedictine abbey, Ignatius hung up his sword and dagger. His old life was over and his new life had begun.

 

On his return, Ignatius spent the next 11 years in various European universities, studying with great difficulty, beginning almost as a child. Like many others, his orthodoxy was questioned; Ignatius was twice jailed for brief periods.

 

In 1534, at the age of 43, he and 6 others vowed to live in poverty and chastity and to go to the Holy Land. If this became impossible, they vowed to offer themselves to the apostolic service of the bishop of Rome. The latter became the only choice. Four years later Ignatius made the association permanent. The new Society of Jesus was approved by Paul III, and Ignatius was elected to serve as the first general.

 

When companions were sent on various missions, Ignatius remained in Rome, consolidating the new venture, but still finding time to found homes for orphans, catechumens and penitents. He founded the Roman College, intended to be the model of all other colleges of the Society.

 

Ignatius was a true mystic. He centered his spiritual life on the essential foundations of Christianity—the Trinity, Christ, the Eucharist. His spirituality is expressed in the Jesuit motto, ad majorem Dei gloriam—“for the greater glory of God.” In his concept, obedience was to be the prominent virtue, to assure the effectiveness and mobility of his men.

 

His most famous work is the Spiritual Exercises, a manual of Christian prayer and meditation, where he directs the reader to begin with an event in the life of Christ, and to imagine the scene in detail, to replay the episode in his mind like a movie script, and to try to feel as if he had himself witnessed the event, and then to use this experience as a motive for love, gratitude, and dedication to the service of God. It has been much used by Christians of all varieties--John Wesley was enthusiastic about it.

 

Let us pray:  O God, by whose grace your servant Ignatius, enkindled with the fire of your love, became a burning and a shining light in your Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, and may ever walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

William Wilberforce

Today the Episcopal Church remembers the life and ministry of William Wilberforce (24 August 1759 – 29 July 1833) who lead the cause of the abolition of slavery in the United Kingdom.  James Kiefer writes:

 

A turning point in his religious life was a tour of Europe. In the luggage of a travelling companion he saw a copy of William Law's book, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. He asked his friend, "What is this?" and received the answer, "One of the best books ever written." The two of them agreed to read it together on the journey, and Wilberforce embarked on a lifelong program of setting aside Sundays and an interval each morning on arising for prayer and religious reading. He considered his options, including the clergy, and was persuaded by Christian friends that his calling was to serve God through politics. He was a major supporter of programs for popular education, overseas missions, parliamentary reform, and religious liberty. He is best known, however, for his untiring commitment to the abolition of slavery and the slave trade.

 

By the late 1700s, the economics of slavery were so entrenched that only a handful of people thought anything could be done about it. That handful included William Wilberforce.  He began to see his life’s purpose: “My walk is a public one,” he wrote in his diary. “My business is in the world, and I must mix in the assemblies of men or quit the post which Providence seems to have assigned me.”

 

Under the influence of Thomas Clarkson, he became absorbed with the issue of slavery. Wilberforce wrote, ‘So enormous, so dreadful, so irremediable did the trade’s wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up for abolition. Let the consequences be what they would: I from this time determined that I would never rest until I had effected its abolition.”

He wrote: "I am disturbed when I see the majority of so-called Christians having such little understanding of the real nature of the faith they profess. Faith is a subject of such importance that we should not ignore it because of the distractions or the hectic pace of our lives. ... Surely the principles of Christianity lead to action as well as meditation."

 

He introduced his first anti-slavery motion in the House of Commons in 1788, in a 3 1/2 hour oration that concluded: “Sir, when we think of eternity and the future consequence of all human conduct, what is there in this life that shall make any man contradict the dictates of his conscience, the principles of justice and the law of God!” 

 

The motion was defeated. Wilberforce brought it up again every year for 18 years, until the slave trade was finally abolished on 25 March 1806. He continued the campaign against slavery itself, and the bill for the abolition of all slavery in British territories passed its crucial vote just four days before his death on the 29th of July in 1833.

 

Let us pray: Let your continual mercy, O Lord, kindle in your Church the never-failing gift of love, that we, following the example of your servant William Wilberforce, may have grace to defend the poor and maintain the cause of those who have no helper; for the sake of him who gave his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Sts. Martha, Mary & Lazarus

Today the Church remembers 3 people who are well known to us in the New Testament: Martha, Mary and Lazarus.  James Kiefer writes:

 

Mary and Martha lived with their brother Lazarus at Bethany, a village not far from Jerusalem. They are mentioned in several episodes in the Gospels. 

 

On one occasion, when Jesus and His disciples were their guests (Luke 10:38-42), Mary sat at Jesus' feet and listened to Him while her sister Martha busied herself with preparing food and waiting on the guests, and when Martha complained, Jesus said that Mary had chosen the better part. 

 

When Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, had died, Jesus came to Bethany. Martha, upon being told that He was approaching, went out to meet Him, while Mary sat still in the house until He sent for her.  It was to Martha that Jesus said:  "I am the Resurrection and the Life."  (John 11:1-44) 

 

Again, about a week before the crucifixion, as Jesus reclined at table, Mary poured a flask of expensive perfume over Jesus' feet. Mary was criticized for wasting what might have been sold to raise money for the poor, and again Jesus spoke on her behalf.  (John 12:1-8) 

 

On the basis of these incidents, many Christian writers have seen Mary as representing Contemplation (prayer and devotion), and Martha as representing Action (good works, helping others); or love of God and love of neighbor respectively. 

 

They see the same symbolism also in Leah and Rachel, the daughters of Laban (Genesis 29 and 35). Leah was dim of sight, but had many children. Rachel had few children, but one of them saved the whole family from destruction. Leah represents Action, which is near-sighted and cannot penetrate very far into the mysteries of God, but produces many worth-while results. Contemplation has fewer results, but one of those results is Faith, without which it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6) Yet, there is a sense in which Action comes first -- "If a man love not his brother, whom he hath seen, how shall he love God, whom he hath not seen?" (1 John 4:20) So it is that Leah must be wed before Rachel. 

 

On some calendars, Lazarus is commemorated together with his sisters, on others his resurrection is remembered separately on 17 December. 

 

Let us pray: Generous God, whose Son Jesus Christ enjoyed the friendship and hospitality of Mary, Martha and Lazarus of Bethany: Open our hearts to love you, our ears to hear you, and our hands to welcome and serve you in others, through Jesus Christ our risen Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

REMINDERS

 

The discretionary fund is running low this summer because we have many people who are in need.  Please remember the words of our Lord Jesus as told to us by St. Paul that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.”  (Acts 20:35).  If you are able to help, please do by writing a check to St. Augustine Discretionary Fund.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

"Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord." (Ps. 100)

Today the Episcopal Church remembers those who made a joyful noise unto the Lord (Ps. 100): Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March 1685–28 July 1750), George Frederick Handel (23 February 1685–14 April 1759), and Henry Purcell (10 September 1659–21 November 1695).

 

Music is an integral part of worship.  We express our love through the beauty of sound.  These three men have added to the beauty of worship, much of which we use today.  Bach wrote many hymns.  Handel wrote the famous “Messiah” which captures the entire life of Jesus.  Purcell wrote many musically settings including the “Te Deum.”  

 

Music was originally an integral part of the Christian liturgy, which evolved from the Jewish worship tradition. In the synagogue, it is likely that scriptural readings were sung, by invitation to particular members, without accompaniment and that a prayer leader chanted part of the prayer to which all the people responded in chant and song. A characteristic of early Christian liturgy was full and active participation, including musical. 

 

Liturgical music is central to liturgy. It is an essential part of the public prayer of the Christian community.  We need to sing the liturgy. Music has a ministerial role. It must not dominate the ritual but serve, helping the faithful express and share their faith and strengthen commitment to their faith. Music unifies, uniting the gathered faithful to Christ and each other. It draws the faithful into the center of worship, into full, conscious and active participation in a communal ritual action.

We are blessed to have a good music ministry at St. Augustine with Sherman Boyer, Manna who play on the second Sunday of the month and Earthen Vessel our Jazz group which plays on the fourth Sunday of the month.  Our carillon bells also grace our neighborhood letting everyone know that God dwells in our midst as they hear each hour rung out. They all certainly make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

 

Let us pray:  Almighty God, beautiful in majesty and majestic in holiness: You gave to your musicians Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frederick Handel, and Henry Purcell grace to show forth your glory in their music. May we be also moved to sound out your praises as a foretaste of your eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

REMINDERS

 

The discretionary fund is running low this summer because we have many people who are in need.  Please remember the words of our Lord Jesus as told to us by St. Paul that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.”  (Acts 20:35).  If you are able to help, please do by writing a check to St. Augustine Discretionary Fund.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Thomas a Kempis

Today the Church remembers Thomas a Kempis who was born in 1380 and died in 1471.  Thomas, whose family name was Hammercken (“little hammer”), was born in Kempen near Düsseldorf, Germany. He attended a school that was started by Gerard Groote, the founder of the Brothers of the Common Life. These were men devoted to prayer, simplicity, and union with God. Thomas of Kempen, as he was known at school, was so impressed by his teachers that he decided to live his own life according to their ideals. When he was 19 he entered the monastery of Mount St. Agnes.  He was ordained a priest and eventually became sub-prior.  Thomas spent the rest of his life behind the walls of that monastery.

 

Thomas is most known for his book on the spiritual life, The Imitation of Christ, in which he urges the reader to seek to follow the example of Jesus Christ and to be conformed in all things to His will.  Here is an excerpt from Chapter 4 of the book which is entitled “Prudence in Action”:

 

Do not yield to every impulse and suggestion but consider things carefully and patiently in the light of God's will. For very often, sad to say, we are so weak that we believe and speak evil of others rather than good. Perfect men, however, do not readily believe every talebearer, because they know that human frailty is prone to evil and is likely to appear in speech.

 

Not to act rashly or to cling obstinately to one's opinion, not to believe everything people say or to spread abroad the gossip one has heard, is great wisdom.

 

Take counsel with a wise and conscientious man. Seek the advice of your betters in preference to following your own inclinations.

 

A good life makes a man wise according to God and gives him experience in many things, for the more humble he is and the more subject to God, the wiser and the more at peace he will be in all things.

 

Let us pray: Holy Father, who have nourished and strengthened your Church by the writings of your servant Thomas a Kempis: Grant that we may learn from him to know what we ought to know, to love what we ought to love, to praise what highly pleases you, and always to seek to know and follow your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

THANK YOU TO LEE RUNION WHO SPEARHEADED A FUN FILLED WEEK OF ART FOR CHILDREN.  THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED HIM MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A LIVING GLIMPSE OF GOD’S KINGDOM WHERE HEART, BODY AND MIND ARE FED.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Shalea who is recovering from surgery, for Pat, Annette, Lee, Liz, Marilyn and Audry.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

St. Mary Magdalene

Today the Church remembers Mary Magdalene, and we hear how she was the first to see the Risen Christ:

 

Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, `I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her. (Jn. 20:11-18).

 

Mary Magdalene is known as the “Apostle to the Apostles” because she carried the good news of Jesus’ resurrection.  We do not know that much about her. We know that she was the first witness to the resurrection. Luke 8 refers to Mary, called Magdalene, as one of several women who travelled with Jesus and the disciples in Galilee. What we do know is that her life was transformed; she turned around 180 degrees and left her old ways and followed Jesus.

 

Let us pray:  Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and of mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by your grace we may be healed from all our infirmities and know you in the power of his unending life; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

THE KIDS ARE HAVING FUN AT THE SUMMER ART CAMP. 

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550