Margaret, Queen of Scotland, Philanthropist, Reformer of the Church, 1093 (ESW)
16 Edmund Rich of Abingdon, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1240 (E)
17 Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, 1200 (ESW)
18 Hilda (W) see 19 November
18 Fergus, Bishop, c.750 (S)
18 Elizabeth of Hungary, Princess of Thuringia, Philanthropist, 1231 (E)
19 Hilda, Abbess of Whitby, 680 (ES)
19 Elizabeth of Hungary (W) see 18 November
19 Mechtild, Béguine of Magdeburg, Mystic, 1280 (E)
20 Edmund, King of the East Angles, Martyr, 870 (E)
20 Priscilla Lydia Sellon, a Restorer of the Religious Life in the Church of England, 1876 (E)
21 Paulinus of Wales, Abbot, 5th century (W)
21 Columban (S) see 23 November
22 Cecilia, Martyr at Rome, c.230 (ES)
23 Clement, Bishop of Rome, Martyr, c.100 (ESW)
23 Columbanus, Bishop, Abbot, 615 (I)
24 Colman of Cloyne, Priest, 601 (I)
24 Lucy Menzies, 1954 (S)
25 Catherine of Alexandria, Martyr, 4th century (E)
25 John Donne (W) see 31 March
25 Isaac Watts, Hymn Writer, 1748 (E)
29 Day of Intercession and Thanksgiving for the Missionary Work of the Church (EW)
30 Andrew the Apostle, Patron of Scotland
December
1 Nicholas Ferrar (W) see 4 December
1 Charles de Foucauld, Hermit in the Sahara, 1916 (ES)
2 Saints, Martyrs and Missionaries of Asia (W)
2 Nicholas Ferrar (S) see 4 December
3 Francis Xavier, Missionary, Apostle of the Indies, 1552 (ESW)
4 Clement of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, c.210 (S)
4 John of Damascus, Monk, Teacher of the Faith, c.749 (E)
4 Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, Founder of the Little Gidding Community, 1637 (E)
6 Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c.326 (ESW)
7 Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Teacher of the Faith, 397 (ESW)
8 The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (ES)
8 Cynidr, Bishop, 6th century (W)
12 Finnian of Clonard, Abbot, c.549 (I)
13 Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, 304 (EW)
13 Samuel Johnson, Moralist, 1784 (E)
14 John of the Cross, Poet, Teacher of the Faith, 1591 (ESW)
17 O Sapientia (O Wisdom!)
17 Eglantyne Jebb, Social Reformer, Founder of ‘Save the Children’, 1928 (E)
18 O Adonai!
18 Flannan, Missionary and Pilgrim, c.640 (I)
19 O Root of Jesse!
20 O Key of David!
21 O Dayspring!
22 O King of the Nations!
23 O Emmanuel!
25 CHRISTMAS DAY
26 Stephen, Deacon, First Martyr
27 John, Apostle and Evangelist
28 The Holy Innocents
29 Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1170 (ESW)
30 Tathan, Abbot, 6th century (W)
30 Josephine Butler (S) see 30 May
31 John Wyclif, Reformer, 1384 (ESW)
Alternative Dates
Thomas the Apostle may be celebrated on 21 December instead of 3 July (ES).
Thomas Becket may be celebrated on 7 July instead of 29 December (E).
The Proper of the Saints
January
1 January
The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus
White
England, Ireland: Festival – Scotland, Wales: I
The celebration of this scriptural festival marks three events: firstly, the naming of the infant Christ as Jesus; secondly, the circumcision as the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham ‘and his children for ever’, thus Christ’s keeping of the Law; and thirdly, traditionally the first shedding of the Christ’s blood. The most significant of these in the gospels is the name itself, which means ‘Yahweh saves’ and so is linked to the question asked by Moses of God: ‘What is your name?’ ‘I am who I am,’ was the reply, hence the significance of Jesus’s words: ‘Before Abraham was, I am.’ This feast has been observed in the Church since at least the sixth century.
Collect
Almighty God,
whose blessed Son was circumcised
in obedience to the law for our sake
and given the Name that is above every name:
give us grace faithfully to bear his Name,
to worship him in the freedom of the Spirit,
and to proclaim him as the Saviour of the world;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
A reading from the book Numbers.
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying,
Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them,
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the
