Feast of Carl Heinrich von Bogatsky (June 15)

Above:  Map of Silesia, 1700

Image in the Public Domain

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CARL HEINRICH VON BOGATSKY (SEPTEMBER 7, 1690-JUNE 15, 1774)

Hungarian-German Lutheran Hymn Writer

Carl Heinrich von Bogatsky came from a noble Hungarian family.  He entered the world at Jantkawe, near Milisch, Silesia, on September 7, 1690.  Bogatsky’s father, an army officer, was absent much of the time, so the main two people who raised our saint were his mother and grandmother.  He became a page at the ducal court of Sachsen-Weissenfels at age fourteen, before his father sent him away for military training.  The army, contrary to our saint’s father’s wishes, was not Bogtsky’s vocation.  No, our saint had a different calling–theology.  He studied that subject at the University of Halle.  In reaction his father disowned him.  Bogatsky became a Pietist, unfortunately.

Bogatsky could not enter full-time ministry due to bad health, so he wrote a great deal and spoke before groups in private settings.  His writings included 411 hymns, some of which he contributed to Coethen Hymns (1736), were apparently of varying quality.  His books included the following:

1. Little Golden Treasure Chest of God’s Children (1718);
2. True Conversion (1741);
3. Exercises Regarding God’s Blessedness in All Forms of Religious Songs (1750); and
4. Meditations and Prayers on the New Testament (seven volumes, 1756-1761).

In 1740 Bogatsky’s wife of eight years died.  For the next five years he worked in the court of Duke Christian Ernst II of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (reigned 1729-1745) at Saalfeld.  After the Duke died our saint moved into an orphanage a Halle, for his friend who operated that institution offered him housing and a position.  Bogatsky taught Latin, led devotions, an wrote.

Our saint died on June 15, 1774.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

JANUARY 13, 2015 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF SAINT MARGUERITE BOURGEOYS, FOUNDER OF THE SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME

THE FEAST OF SAINT HILARY OF POITIERS, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP

THE FEAST OF HUBERT HUMPHREY, UNITED STATES SENATOR AND VICE PRESIDENT

THE FEAST OF KENTIGERN (MUNGO), ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF GLASGOW

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Dear God of beauty,

you have granted literary ability and spiritual sensitivity to

Carl Heinrich von Bogatsky and others, who have composed hymn texts.

May we, as you guide us,

find worthy hymn texts to be icons,

through which we see you.

In the Name of God:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 44:1-3a, 5-15

Psalm 147

Revelation 5:11-14

Luke 2:8-20

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

APRIL 20, 2013 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF SAINTS AMATOR OF AUXERRE AND GERMANUS OF AUXERRE, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS; SAINT MAMERTINUS OF AUXERRE, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBOT; AND SAINT MARCIAN OF AUXERRE, ROMAN CATHOLIC MONK

THE FEAST OF JOHANNES BUGENHAGEN, GERMAN LUTHERAN PASTOR

THE FEAST OF SAINT MARCELLINUS OF EMBRUN, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP

THE FEAST OF OLAVUS AND LAURENTIUS PETRI, RENEWERS OF THE CHURCH

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