Archive for May 2023
Above: Lawrence Tuttiett
Image in the Public Domain
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LAWRENCE TUTTIETT (BAPTIZED OCTOBER 31, 1825-DIED MAY 21, 1897)
Anglican and Scottish Episcopal Priest and Hymn Writer
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Mr. Tuttiett’s hymns are characterized by smoothness of rhythm, directness of aim, simplicity of language, and deep earnestness. Those for special services and seasons are of great merit.
—John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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Lawrence Tuttiett comes to this, A Great Cloud of Witnesses: An Ecumenical Calendar of Saints’ Days and Holy Days, via The Hymnal (1941), of the old Evangelical and Reformed Church.
Tuttiett, born in Coylton, Devonshire, England, and baptized on October 31, 1825, was a son of a surgeon in the Royal Navy. Our saint initially planned to become a naval surgeon, too. Yet Tuttiett changed course and studied theology instead. After graduating from King’s College, London, he became a deacon (1848) then a priest (1849) in The Church of England.
Tuttiett embarked upon a faithful career. After serving as the Perpetual Curate of Lea Marston, Warwickshire (1854-1870), our saint moved to Scotland and transferred into the Scottish Episcopal Church. He served in St Andrews (1870f) then became the Prebendary of St. Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth (1880). Eventually our saint retired to Pitlochry.
Tuttiett left a written legacy. Published works included:
- Hymns for Churchmen (1854);
- Counsels for a Godfather (1861);
- Hymns for the Children of the Church (1862);
- Gems of Thought on the Sunday Special Services: Being the Harmonized Teaching of the Collect, Epistle, Gospel, and the First Lessons, Easter to the End of Trinity (1864); and
- Through the Clouds: Thoughts in Plain Verse (1866).
As of 1907, thirteen of Tuttiett’s hymns were in common use in England and Scotland. Fewer of these hymns were in common use in the United States of America. The Episcopal, Lutheran, and German Reformed traditions have been most likely to retain any of Tuttiett’s hymns in their authorized hymnals. Two of these hymns have been “Father, Let Me Dedicate” and “O, Grant Us Light, That We May Know.”
Tuttiett, aged 71 years, died in St Andrews, Scotland, on May 21, 1897.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MAY 11, 2023 COMMON ERA
THE THIRTY-THIRD DAY OF EASTER
THE FEAST OF HENRY KNOX SHERRILL, PRESIDING BISHOP OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
THE FEAST OF BARBARA ANDREWS, FIRST FEMALE MINISTER IN THE AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH, 1970
THE FEAST OF SAINT GJON KODA, ALBANIAN ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AND MARTYR, 1947
THE FEAST OF JOHN JAMES MOMENT, U.S. PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER AND HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF SAINT MATTEO RICCI, ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIONARY
THE FEAST OF SAINT MATTHÊÔ LÊ VAN GAM, VIETNAMESE ROMAN CATHOLIC MARTYR, 1847
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Dear God of beauty,
you have granted literary ability and spiritual sensitivity to
Lawrence Tuttiett 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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Above: The Flag of England
Image in the Public Domain
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BLESSED PETER WRIGHT (1603-MAY 19, 1651)
English Roman Catholic Priest and Martyr, 1651
Blessed Peter Wright comes to this, A Great Cloud of Witnesses: An Ecumenical Calendar of Saints’ Days and Holy Days, via the Roman Catholic Church.
Wright, born in Slipton, Northamptonshire, England, in 1603, came from a Roman Catholic family with twelve children. Our saint’s father died when Wright was young. Therefore, our saint had to work in the local solicitor’s office. He did this for a decade. Then our saint enlisted in the English Army in the Low Countries in 1627 or 1628. Wright quickly realized that military life did not suit him. So, he deserted after one month, and traveled to Brabant.
Wright had drifted from his Roman Catholic roots over the years. He returned to those roots at Liège, where some English Jesuits lived. After studying at the Jesuit college in that city, our saint became a Jesuit novitiate at Watten in 1629. Wright, having studied theology and philosophy at Liège, joined the ranks of priests in 1639.
Wright eventually found his proper role within the Society of Jesus. He, assigned to supervise boys at the English College of Saint Omer, proved useless in that assignment. So, the order transferred hour saint to serve as the chaplain to Colonel Sir Henry Gage’s English regiment, based in Ghent. Gage was in the service of the House of Hapsburg. Wright returned to England with Gage’s regiment in the spring of 1644. The English Civil Wars were raging, and Gage’s forces fought under the banner of King Charles I. When Gage died on January 11, 1645, our saint administered the last rites.
Next, Wright served as the chaplain to John Paulet, the Marquess of Winchester. Our saint was about to say Mass in London on Candlemas/the Feast of the Presentation (February 2, 1650), when he became a prisoner. The charge was treason–being a Roman Catholic priest. Thomas Gage, a former Dominican priest and a brother of the late Sir Henry Gage, had betrayed Wright.
By this time, England had become a commonwealth. Parliament had abolished the monarchy and Charles I had gone to his execution in 1649. Roman Catholics, unpopular with the old Anglican establishment (which had martyred its share of Roman Catholic priests), were the targets of more official ire under the new Puritan establishment.
Wright, imprisoned at Newgate, received the sentence of hanging, drawing, and quartering on May 16, 1651. Three days later, before a crowd exceeding 20,000 people, our saint died by hanging. The executioner took relative mercy on Wright by sparing him the drawing and quartering. Then the deputies permitted our saint’s friends to claim the corpse and to bury it in Liège, at the Jesuit college.
Pope Pius XI declared Wright a Venerable then beatified him in 1929.
MAY 10, 2023 COMMON ERA
THE THIRTY-SECOND DAY OF EASTER
THE FEAST OF SAINT ENRICO REBUSCHINI, ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AND SERVANT OF THE SICK; AND HIS MENTOR, SAINT LUIGI GUANELLA, FOUNDER OF THE DAUGHTERS OF SAINT MARY OF PROVIDENCE, THE SERVANTS OF CHARITY, AND THE CONFRATERNITY OF SAINT JOSEPH
THE FEAST OF ANNA LAETITIA WARING, HUMANITARIAN AND HYMN WRITER; AND HER UNCLE, SAMUEL MILLER WARING, HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF SAINT IVAN MERZ, CROATIAN ROMAN CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL
THE FEAST OF SAINT JOHN OF ÁVILA, SPANISH ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST, MYSTIC, AND SPIRITUAL WRITER; THE “APOSTLE OF ANDALUSIA”
THE FEAST OF JOHN GOSS, ANGLICAN CHURCH COMPOSER AND ORGANIST; AND WILLIAM MERCER, ANGLICAN PRIEST AND HYMN TRANSLATOR
THE FEAST OF SAINT VASILE AFTENIE, ROMANIAN ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP AND MARTYR, 1950
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Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Blessed Peter Wright
triumphed over suffering and was faithful even to death:
Grant us, who now remember him in thanksgiving,
to be so faithful in our witness to you in the world,
that we may receive with him the crown of life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 51:1-12
Psalm 116 or 116:1-8
Revelation 7:13-17
Luke 12:2-12
–Adapted from Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints (2010), 714
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Above: Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs
Image in the Public Domain
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SAINT POTAMON OF HERACLEA (DIED CIRCA 340)
Bishop of Heraclea, Egypt, and Martyr, Circa 340
St. Potamon of Heraclea comes to this, A Great Cloud of Witnesses: An Ecumenical Calendar of Saints’ Days and Holy Days, via Roman Catholic Church.
St. Potamon suffered under two persecutions.
The first persecution came at the hands of pagans. The Roman Emperor Diocletian (reigned 284-305) had launched an empire-wide persecution of Christians. Officially, Christians were atheists and existential threats to the future well-being of the Roman Empire. Supposedly, that future well-being depended on the population (with the Jews usually constituting a notable exception) sacrificing to the gods on behalf of the empire. As Christianity grew, the number of people refusing to make such sacrifices increased. Officially, Christians were, therefore, disloyal to the empire and constituted, to use an anachronistic term, a Fifth Column.
When Diocletian retired in 305, the next phase of the Roman Tetrarchy commenced. Diocletian (the Augustus of the East) and his Western counterpart stepped down. Each corresponding Caesar assumed the title of Augustus and appointed a new Caesar. In this reconstitution of the Tetrarchy Maximinus II Daia became the new Caesar of the East in 305. He served in this capacity until he reigned as the Augustus of the East (310-313). The severity of the persecution under Maximinus II Daia varied over time, but it was, at its worst, a strictly enforced policy. Maximinus II Daia’s edict of 306 required every man, woman, and child in his realm to sacrifice to the pagan deities on behalf of the Roman Empire–OR ELSE. The edict of 309 required every man, woman, and child in his realm to make public sacrifices to the gods and to eat the flesh of sacrificial animals–OR ELSE. This edict also mandated the sprinkling of the sacrificial animals’ blood on everything sold in the markets.
St. Potamon survived these difficult years. Then Emperor Constantine I “the Great” (reigned 306-337), as the sole sovereign, issued the Edict of Milan (313). Constantine I legalized Christianity.
St. Potamon, as the Bishop of Heraclea, Egypt, defended orthodox Christology against the Arian heresy, that the Second Person of the Trinity is a created being. Our saint attended the First Council of Nicaea (325), which produced the first draft of the Nicene Creed. St. Potamon also defended his friend, St. Athanasius of Alexandria, at the Council of Tyre (335).
Emperor Constantius II (reigned 337-361) struggled with how to handle the religious-political division and civil strife the Nicene-Arian Christological controversy created. He was also accustomed to people–Christian bishops, even–obeying him. Furthermore, Constantius II leaned toward Arianism. As Constantius II sought to coerce bishops into establishing a Semi-Arian middle ground, he exiled some pro-Nicene bishops, who had defied the imperial will. The sovereign also replaced those bishops with Arian bishops.
St. Potamon did not enter an involuntary state of exile; he did for his faith instead. Circa 340, an Arian mob beat our saint with clubs. They crippled the Bishop of Heraclea and cost him one eye. He eventually died of these injuries, in Alexandria.
The Arian heresy has never died. Neither has the mistaken idea that violence in the name of truth with a capital T, as one understands it, is morally acceptable.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MAY 8, 2023 COMMON ERA
THE THIRTIETH DAY OF EASTER
THE FEAST OF JULIANA OF NORWICH, MYSTIC AND SPIRITUAL WRITER
THE FEAST OF SAINT ACACIUS OF BYZANTIUM, MARTYR, 303
THE FEAST OF HENRI DUMONT, ROMAN CATHOLIC COMPOSER AND ORGANIST
THE FEAST OF SAINT MAGDALENA OF CANOSSA, FOUNDER OF THE DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY AND THE SONS OF CHARITY
THE FEAST OF SAINT MARIE-CATHERINE DE SAINT-AGUSTIN, FRENCH ROMAN CATHOLIC NUN AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CANADA
THE FEAST OF SAINT PETER OF TARENTAISE, ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP
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Almighty God, who gave to your servant Saint Potamon of Heraclea
boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world,
and courage to die for this faith:
Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us,
and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2 Esdras 2:42-48
Psalm 126 or Psalm 121
1 Peter 3;14-18, 22
Matthew 10:16-22
–Adapted from Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints (2010), 713
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Above: Bishop John Armstrong
Image in the Public Domain
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JOHN ARMSTRONG (AUGUST 22, 1813-MAY 16, 1856)
Anglican Bishop of Grahamstown, South Africa, and Hymn Writer
Bishop John Armstrong comes to this, A Great Cloud of Witnesses: An Ecumenical Calendar of Saints’ Days and Holy Days, via The Hymnal (1941), of the old Evangelical and Reformed Church.
Armstrong devoted his life to God and to the people of God. Our saint, born in Bishop-Wearmouth, England, on August 22, 1813, always had fragile health. He, an 1836 graduate of Lincoln College, Oxford, took Anglican Holy Orders in 1837. Armstong served as a curate in Alford, Gloucestershire; Wotten-Fitzpatrick, Dorcetshire; and Clifton until taking his duties in Exeter in 1841. There our saint served simultaneously at the cathedral and as the Rector of St. Paul’s Church through 1845. Armstrong served as the Rector of Tidenham from 1845 to 1853. At Tidenham our saint helped to found the Church Penitentiary Association, to assist prostitutes and unwed mothers. He published appeals for such an institution in 1849 and 1851.
The Church of England created the Diocese of Grahamstown, South Africa, in 1853. The new diocese needed a bishop. So, Armstrong’s consecration as the first Bishop of Grahamstown occurred in Lambeth on November 30, 1853. However, our saint arrived in Grahamstown in October 1854. He worked himself to death as he visited congregations, founded churches, and fulfilled other episcopal duties. Armstrong also founded St. Andrew’s College, Grahamstown, in 1855.
Armstrong wrote at least one hymn and published sermons and lectures. He composed one hymn that I found. The title of it has varied, depending upon the whims of hymnal committees and their choice of the opening stanza. This hymn has appeared as both “O Lord, Thy Benediction Give” and as “O Thou, Who Makest Souls to Shine.”
Armstrong, aged 42 years, died in South Africa on May 16, 1856.
Posthumous volumes rolled off printing presses. These books included Notes in South Africa (1856) and reprints of previously published works. A biography, Memoir of John Armstrong, D.D., Late Lord Bishop of Grahamstown, by Thomas Jefferson Carter, debuted in 1859. And the Fourth Edition of The Pastor in His Closet; or, A Help to the Devotions of the Clergy appeared in 1870.
Grahamstown has become Makhanda, and St. Andrew’s College has continued the good work Armstrong founded it to do.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MAY 3, 2023 COMMON ERA
THE TWENTY-FIFTH DAY OF EASTER
THE FEAST OF CAROLINE CHISHOLM, ENGLISH HUMANITARIAN AND SOCIAL REFORMER
THE FEAST OF ANTONIN DVORÁK, CZECH ROMAN CATHOLIC COMPOSER
THE FEAST OF JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH HODGES, EPISCOPAL PRIEST, LITURGIST, ORGANIST, AND COMPOSER
THE FEAST OF MARIE-LÉONIE PARADIS, FOUNDER OF THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE HOLY FAMILY
THE FEAST OF SAINTS MAURA AND TIMOTHY OF ANTINOE, MARTYRS, 286
THE FEAST OF SAINT TOMASSO ACERBIS, CAPUCHIN FRIAR
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Heavenly Father, Shepherd of your people,
we thank you for your servant John Armstrong,
who was faithful in the care and nurture of your flock;
and we pray that, following his example and the teaching of his holy life,
we may by your grace grow into the statute
of the fullness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Ezekiel 34:11-16
Psalm 23
1 Peter 5:1-4
John 21:15-17
–Adapted from Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints (2010), 718
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Above: Cyril Alington
Image in the Public Domain
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CYRIL ARGENTINE ALINGTON (OCTOBER 22, 1872-MAY 16, 1955)
Anglican Priest and Hymn Writer
Cyril Alington comes to this, A Great Cloud of Witnesses: An Ecumenical Calendar of Saints’ Days and Holy Days, via The Methodist Hymnal/The Book of Hymns (1966).
Alington was a priest in The Church of England, as well as an educator. He, born in Ipswich in on October 22, 1872, was a son of H. G. Alington. Our saint, a graduate of Oxford University (B.A., 1893; M.A., 1895; D.D., 1917), became a Fellow of All Souls’ in 1896. Alington served as the Assistant Master of Marlborough College (1896-1899) then joined the faculty of Eton College in 1899. He joined the ranks of deacons in 1899 then priests in 1901. Alington served as the Headmaster of Shrewesbury School (1908-1916) then the Headmaster of Eton College (1917-1933). During this time our saint was also the Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Lichfield (1914f), the Select Preacher to Oxford (1909-1910, 1928-1929) and the chaplain to King George V (1921f). Alington became the Dean of Durham in 1933.
Alington found much time to write. He composed hymns, histories, essays, novels, and theological works. Our saint also translated Latin texts. His books included the following:
- A Schoolmaster’s Apology (1914);
- Shrewesbury Fables: Being Addresses Given in Shrewesbury School Chapel (1917);
- Eton Fables (1921);
- Twenty Years: Being a Study in the Development of the Party System Between 1815 and 1835 (1921), with John Doyle;
- A translation of Virgil’s Aeneid (1922);
- Through the Shadows (1922);
- Eton Lyrics (1925);
- Elementary Christianity (1927);
- The Fool Hath Said (1933);
- Things Ancient and Modern (1936); and
- Sense and Non-Sense: Being a Study in Elementary Christianity (1949).
Alington also wrote at least eight hymns:
- “Awake, Awake, Put on Thy Strength, Zion;”
- “Come, You People, Rise and Sing;”
- “God, Whose City’s Sure Foundation;”
- “Good Christian Men, Rejoice and Sing;”
- “Lord of All, Thine the Splendor;”
- “Lord of All, to Whom Alone;”
- “Lord, Thou Hast Brought Us to Our Journey’s End;” and
- “Ye Know that the Lord is Gracious.”Durham Cathedral (1949); and
Our saint, aged 82 years, died in St. Weonards, Herefordshire, on May 16, 1955.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MAY 2, 2023 COMMON ERA
THE TWENTY-FOURTH DAY OF EASTER
THE FEAST OF SAINT ALEXANDER OF ALEXANDRIA; PATRIARCH; AND SAINT ATHANASIUS OF ALEXANDRIA, PATRIARCH AND “FATHER OF ORTHODOXY”
THE FEAST OF CHARLES SILVESTER HORNE, ENGLISH CONGREGATIONALIST MINISTER AND HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH HASSE, GERMAN-BRITISH MORAVIAN COMPOSER AND EDUCATOR
THE FEAST OF ELIAS BOUDINOT, IV, U.S. STATESMAN, PHILANTHROPIST, AND WITNESS FOR CIVIL JUSTICE
THE FEAST OF JULIA BULKLEY CADY CORY, U.S. PRESBYTERIAN HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF SAINT SIGISMUND OF BURGUNDY, KING; SAINT CLOTILDA, FRANKISH QUEEN; AND SAINT CLODOALD, FRANKISH PRINCE AND ABBOT
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Dear God of beauty,
you have granted literary ability and spiritual sensitivity to
Cyril Alington 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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SUNDRY THOUGHTS 
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