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Part 1: LSB Calendar of Feasts and Commemorations
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January 2
J. K. Wilhelm Loehe, Pastor
Although he never left Germany, Johann Konrad Wilhelm Loehe, born in Fuerth
in 1808, had a profound impact on the development of Lutheranism in North
America. Serving as pastor in the Bavarian village of Neuendettelsau, he
recognized the need for workers in developing lands and assisted in
training emergency helpers to be sent as missionary pastors to North America,
Brazil, and Australia. A number of the men he sent to the United
States became founders of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. Through his
financial support, a theological school was established in Fort Wayne, Ind., and
a teachers' institute in Saginaw, Mich. Loehe was known for his confessional
integrity and his interest in liturgy and catechetics. His devotion to works of
Christian charity led to the establishment of a deaconess training house and
homes for the aged.
January 10
Basil the Great of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, Gregory of Nyssa
Basil and the two Gregorys, collectively known as the Cappadocian Fathers,
were leaders of Christian orthodoxy in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) in the later
fourth century. Basil and Gregory of Nyssa were brothers; Gregory of Nazianzus
was their friend. All three were influential in shaping the theology ratified by
the Council of Constantinople of 381, which is expressed in the Nicene Creed.
Their defense of the doctrines of the Holy Spirit and Holy Trinity, together
with their contributions to the liturgy of the Eastern Church, make them among
the most influential Christian teachers and theologians of their time.
January 20
Sarah
Sarah was the wife (and half-sister) of the Hebrew patriarch Abraham (Gen.
11:29; 20:12). In obedience to divine command (Gen. 12:1), she made the long and
arduous journey west, along with her husband and his relatives, from Ur of the
Chaldees to Haran and then finally to the land of Canaan. She remained childless
until old age. Then, in keeping with God's long-standing promise, she gave birth
to a son and heir of the covenant (Gen. 21: 1-3). She is remembered and honored
as the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac, the second of the three
patriarchs. She is also favorably noted for her hospitality to strangers (Gen.
18:1-8). Following her death at the age of 127, she was laid to rest in the Cave
of Machpelah (Gen. 49:13), where her husband was later buried.
January 27
John Chrysostom, Preacher
Given the added name of Chrysostom, which means "golden-mouthed" in
Greek, Saint John was a dominant force in the fourth-century Christian church.
Born in Antioch around the year 347, John was instructed in the Christian faith
by his pious mother, Anthusa. After serving in a number of Christian offices,
including acolyte and lector, John was ordained a presbyter and given preaching
responsibilities. His simple but direct messages found an audience well beyond
his home town. In 398, John Chrysostom was made Patriarch of Constantinople. His
determination to reform the church, court, and city there brought him into
conflict with established authorities. Eventually, he was exiled from his
adopted city. Although removed from his parishes and people, he continued
writing and preaching until the time of his death in 407. It is reported that
his final words were: "Glory be to God for all things. Amen."
February 5
Jacob (Israel), Patriarch
Jacob, the third of the three Hebrew patriarchs, was the younger of the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah. After wrestling with the Angel of the Lord, Jacob, whose name means "deceiver," was renamed "Israel," which means "he strives with God" (Gen. 25:26; 32:28). His family life was filled with trouble, caused by his acts of deception toward his father and his brother Esau and his parental favoritism toward his son Joseph (March 31). Much of his adult life was spent grieving over the death of his beloved wife Rachel and the presumed death of Joseph, who had been appointed by the Egyptian Pharaoh to be in charge of food distribution during a time of famine in the land. Prior to Jacob's death during the blessing of his sons, God gave the promise that the Messiah would come through the line of Jacob's fourth son, Judah (Genesis 49).
February 10
Silas, Fellow Worker with Paul
Silas, a leader in the church at Jerusalem, was chosen by Paul (Acts 15:40)
to accompany him on his second missionary journey from Antioch to Asia Minor and
Macedonia. Silas, also known as Silvanus, was imprisoned with Paul in Philippi
and experienced the riots in Thessalonica and Berea. After rejoining Paul in
Corinth, he apparently remained there for an extended time. Beyond that there is
little further mention of Silas and his association with Paul.
February 13
Aquila, Priscilla, Apollos
Aquila and his wife Priscilla (Prisca), Jewish contemporaries of St. Paul,
traveled widely. Because of persecution
in Rome, they went to Corinth where they met the apostle Paul, who joined them
in their trade of tentmaking (Acts 18:1-3). They, in turn, joined him in his
mission of proclaiming the Christian Gospel. The couple later traveled with Paul
from Corinth to Ephesus (Acts 18:18), where the two of them established a home
that served as hospitality headquarters for new converts to Christianity.
Apollos was one of their numerous Jewish pupils in the faith. An eloquent man,
Apollos "spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things
concerning Jesus" (Acts 18:25). He later traveled from Corinth to the
province of Achaia, where he "showed by the Scriptures that the Messiah is
Jesus" (Acts 18:28). Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos are all remembered and
honored for their great missionary zeal.
February 14
Valentine, Martyr
A physician and priest living in Rome during the rule of the Emperor
Claudius, Valentine become one of the noted martyrs of the third century. The
commemoration of his death, which occurred in the year 270, became part of the
calendar of remembrance in the early church of the West. Tradition suggests that
on the day of his execution for his Christian faith, he left a note of
encouragement for a child of his jailer written on an irregularly-shaped piece
of paper. This greeting became a pattern for millions of written expressions of
love and caring that now are the highlight of Valentine's Day in many nations.
February 15
Philemon and Onesimus
Philemon was a prominent first-century Christian who owned a slave named
Onesimus. Although the name "Onesimus" means "useful,"
Onesimus proved himself "useless" when he ran away from his master and
perhaps even stole from him (Philemon 18).
Somehow Onesimus came into contact with the apostle Paul while the latter
was in prison (possibly in Rome), and through Paul's proclamation of the Gospel
he became a Christian. After confessing to the apostle that he was a runaway
slave, he was directed by Paul to return to his master and become
"useful" again. In order to help pave the way for Onesimus' peaceful
return home, Paul sent him on his way with a letter addressed to Philemon, a
letter in which he urged Philemon to forgive his slave for having run away and
"to receive him as you would receive me" (v. 17), "no longer as a
slave, but as a beloved brother" (v. 16). The letter was eventually
included by the church as one of the books of the New Testament.
February 16 (birth date)
Philip Melanchthon, Confessor
Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560) was a brilliant student of the classics and a
humanist scholar. In 1518 he was appointed to teach along with Martin
Luther at the University of Wittenberg. At Luther's urging, Melanchthon began
teaching theology and Scripture in addition to his courses in classical studies.
In April of 1530, Emperor Charles V called an official meeting between the
representative of Lutheranism and Roman Catholicism, hoping to effect a meeting
of minds between two opposing groups. Since Luther was at that time under papal
excommunication and an imperial ban, Melanchthon was assigned the duty of being
the chief Lutheran representative at this meeting. He is especially remembered
and honored as the author of the Augsburg Confession, which was officially
presented by the German princes to the emperor on June 25, 1530, as the defining
document of Lutheranism within Christendom. Melanchthon died on April 19, 1560.
February 18
Martin Luther, Doctor and Reformer
Martin Luther, born on November 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany, initially
began studies leading toward a degree in law. However, after a close encounter
with death, he switched to the study of theology, entered an Augustinian
monastery, was ordained a priest in 1505, and received a doctorate in theology
in 1512. As a professor at the newly-established University of Wittenberg, his
scriptural studies led him to question many of the church's teachings and
practices, especially the selling of indulgences. His refusal to back
down from his convictions resulted in his excommunication in 1521. Following a
period of seclusion at the Wartburg castle, Luther returned to Wittenberg, where
he spent the rest of his life preaching and teaching, translating the
Scriptures, and writing hymns and numerous theological treatises. He is
remembered and honored for his lifelong emphasis on the biblical truth that for
Christ's sake God declares us righteous by grace through faith alone. He died on
February 18, 1546, while visiting the town of his birth.
February 23
Polycarp of Smyrna, Pastor and Martyr
Born c. 69, Polycarp was a central figure in the early church. A disciple of the evangelist John, he linked the first generation of believers to later Christians. After serving for many years as bishop of Smyrna, Polycarp was arrested, tried, and executed for his faith on February 23, c. 156. An eyewitness narrative of his death, The Martyrdom of Polycarp, continues to encourage believers in times of persecution.
March 7
Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs
At the beginning of the third century, the Roman emperor
Septimus Severus forbade conversions to Christianity. Among those disobeying
that edict were Perpetua, a young noblewoman, and her maidservant Felicitas.
Both were jailed at Carthage in North Africa along with three fellow Christians.
During their imprisonment, Perpetua and Felicitas witnessed to their faith with
such conviction that the officer in charge became a follower of Jesus. After
making arrangements for the well-being of their children, Perpetua and Felicitas
were executed on March 7, 203. Tradition holds that Perpetua showed mercy to her captors by falling on a sword because they could not bear to put her to
death. The story of this martyrdom has been told ever since as an encouragement
to persecuted Christians.
March 17
Patrick, Missionary to Ireland
Patrick is one of the best-known of the missionary saints. Born to a
Christian family in Britain around the year 389, he was captured as a teenager
by raiders, taken to Ireland, and forced to serve as a herdsman. After six years
he escaped and found his way to a monastery community in France. Ordained a
bishop in 432, he made his way back to Ireland, where he spent the rest of his
long life spreading the Gospel and organizing Christian communities. He strongly defended the doctrine of the Holy Trinity in a time when it was not
popular to do so. His literary legacy includes his autobiography, Confessio,
and several prayers and hymns still used in the church today. Patrick died
around the year 466.
March 31
Joseph, Patriarch
Joseph was the son of the patriarch Jacob (February 5) and Rachel. The
favorite son of his father, he incurred the jealousy of his older brothers, who
sold him into slavery in Egypt and told their father he was dead (Genesis 37).
In Egypt he became the chief servant in the home of Potiphar, a military
official. Because Joseph
refused to commit adultery with his master's wife, he was unjustly accused of
attempted rape and thrown into jail (Genesis 39). Years later, he interpreted
dreams for Pharoah, who then freed him from prison and placed him in charge of
the entire country. When his brothers came from Canaan to Egypt in search of
food, they did not recognize him. He eventually revealed his identity to them,
forgave them, and invited both them and his father to live in Egypt. He is
especially remembered and honored for his moral uprightness (Genesis 39) and for
his willingness to forgive his brothers (Genesis 45 and 50).
April 6
Lucas Cranach, Albrecht Duerer, (and Michelangelo), Artists
Lucas Cranach (1472-1557), a close friend of
Martin Luther, was a celebrated painter of portraits and altar pieces and a
producer of woodcuts of religious subjects. Albrecht Duerer (1471-1528), a
native of Nuernberg, Germany, was one of the most learned of Renaissance artists
and also an ardent admirer of Martin Luther. His paintings and woodcuts include
examples of the splendor of creation and skilled portrayals of biblical
narratives. Both Cranach and Duerer are remembered and honored for the grandeur
of their works of art that depict the glory and majesty and the grace and mercy
of the triune God.
April 20
Johannes Bugenhagen
Johannes Bugenhagen (1485-1558), from
Pomerania in northern Germany, was appointed pastor of Wittenberg in 1523
through the efforts of Martin Luther and thus served as Luther's own pastor and
confessor. One of the greatest scholars of the Reformation era, he helped
translate the New Testament into Low German and wrote a commentary on the
Psalms. He also worked to organize the Lutheran Church in northern Germany and
Denmark, journeying to Copenhagen where he crowned both King and Queen and
consecrated seven men to the offices of superintendent and bishop.
April 21
Anselm of Canterbury
Born in Italy in 1033, Anselm is most closely
associated with England, where he served as Archbishop of Canterbury for many
years. A brilliant scholar and writer, Anselm used his political skills with the
British kings on behalf of the established Christian church, affirming that it
is the leadership of the church and not the state which has the responsibility
of establishing structure and maintaining order among the clergy. Anselm is
especially remembered for his classic book, Why God Became Man, which
taught that the reason for the incarnation was that Jesus, the Son of God, would
suffer and die in place of sinners.
April 24
Johann Walter, Kantor
Johann Walter (1496-1570) began service at the
age of 21 as a composer and bass singer in the court chapel of Frederick the
Wise. In 1524, he published a collection of hymns arranged according to the
church year. It was well received and served as the model for numerous
subsequent hymnals. In addition to serving for 30 years as kantor (church
musician) in the cities of Torgau and Dresden, he also assisted Martin Luther in
the preparation of the Deutsche Messe (1526). Walter is remembered as the
first Lutheran kantor and composer of church music.
May 2
Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius was born in Alexandria in Egypt in
A.D. 295. He served as a church leader in a time of great controversy and
ecclesiastical disagreements. At the Council of Nicaea in 325, he defended Christian
orthodoxy against the proponents of the Arian heresy, which denied the full
divinity of Jesus Christ. During his 45-year tenure as bishop of Alexandria,
Athanasius wrote numerous works that defended the orthodox teaching. His enemies
had him exiled five times; on two occasions he was almost murdered. Yet
Athanasius remained steadfast and ended his days restored fully to
his church responsibilities. The Athanasian Creed, though not composed by
Athanasius, is named in his honor because it confesses the doctrinal orthodoxy
he championed throughout his life.
May 4
Friedrich Wyneken, Pastor and Missionary
Friedrich Wyneken is one of the founding
fathers of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, along with C.F.W. Walther and
Wilhelm Sihler. Born in 1810 in Germany, he came to Baltimore in 1838 and
shortly thereafter accepted a call to be the pastor of congregations in
Friedheim and Fort Wayne, Indiana. Supported by Wilhelm Loehe's mission society,
Wyneken served as an itinerant missionary in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan,
particularly among Native Americans. Together with Loehe and Sihler, he founded
Concordia Theological Seminary in 1846 in Fort Wayne, Ind. He later served as
the second president of the LCMS during a period of significant growth
(1850-64). His leadership strongly influenced the confessional character of the
LCMS and its commitment to an authentic Lutheran witness.
May 5
Frederick the Wise
Frederick the Wise, elector of Saxony from
1486 to 1525, was Martin Luther's sovereign in the early years of the
Reformation. Were it not for Frederick, there might not have been a Lutheran
Reformation. Born in Torgau in 1463, he became so well known for his skill in
political diplomacy and his sense of justice and fairness that he was called
"the Wise" by his subjects. Though he never met Luther, Frederick
repeatedly protected and provided for him. In all likelihood he saved the
reformer from a martyr's fate. Frederick refused the pope's demand to extradite
Luther to Rome for a heresy trial in 1518. When Emperor Charles V declared
Luther an outlaw in 1521 at the Diet of Worms, Frederick provided sanctuary for
Luther at the Wartburg castle. On his deathbed, Frederick received the Lord's
Supper in both kinds--a clear confession of the evangelical faith.
May 7
C.F.W. Walther
Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther (1811-87), the
father of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, served as its first president
from 1847 to 1850 and then again from 1864 to 1878. In 1839 he emigrated from
Saxony, Germany, with other Lutherans, who settled in Missouri. He served as
pastor of several congregations in St. Louis, founded Concordia Seminary, and in
1847 was instrumental in the formation of the LCMS (then called the Evangelical
Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States). Walther worked tirelessly
to promote confessional Lutheran teaching and doctrinal agreement among all
Lutherans in the United States. He was a prolific writer and speaker. Among his
most influential works are Church and Ministry and The Proper
Distinction between Law and Gospel.
May 9
Job, Patriarch
Job was a blameless and upright man who came
from Uz (Job 1:1), a land northeast of Canaan. The Book of Job examines the
depths of his faith, which was severely tested through the sufferings God
permitted. Despite the sudden death of his ten children and the loss of all his
wealth and his health, Job refused to curse God: "Naked I came from my
mother's womb, and naked shall I return; the Lord
gave, and the Lord has taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord"
(1:21). Still, in the midst of his tribulations Job questioned the meaning and
purpose of suffering to the point of asserting his own righteousness (34:5-6).
Finally, the Lord revealed that a man cannot know the mysteries of God (chapters
38-41). Job's faith in his Redeemer and the resurrection prevailed (19:25-27).
In the end the Lord restored his wealth and blessed him with another seven sons
and three daughters.
May 11
Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs
Cyril (826-69) and Methodius (c. 815-85) were
brothers who came from a Greek family in Thessalonica. The younger brother took
the name "Cyril" when he became a monk in 868. After ordination, Cyril
became librarian at the church of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) in Constantinople.
In 862 the brothers were sent by the emperor as missionaries to what is now the
Czech republic, where they taught in the native Slavic tongue. Cyril invented
the alphabet today know today as "Cyrillic," which provided a written
language for the liturgy and Scriptures for the Slavic peoples. This use of the
vernacular established an important principle for evangelical missions.
May 21
Constantine, Emperor, and Helena, his mother
Constantine I served as Roman Emperor from A.D. 306 to 337. During his reign the persecution of Christians was forbidden by the Edict of Milan in 312, and ultimately the faith gained full imperial support. Constantine took an active interest in the life and teachings of the church and called the Council of Nicaea in 325 at which orthodox Christianity was defined and defended. His mother, Helena (ca. 255-329), strongly influenced Constantine. Her great interest in locating the holy sites of the Christian faith led her to become one of the first Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. Her research led to the identification of Biblical locations in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and beyond, which are still maintained as places of worship today.
May 24
Esther
Esther is the heroine of the biblical book
that bears her name. Her Jewish name was Hadassah, which means
"myrtle." Her beauty, charm, and courage served her well as queen to
King Ahasuerus. In that role she was able to save her people from the mass
extermination that Haman, the king's chief advisor, had planned (2:19--4:17).
Esther's efforts to uncover the plot resulted in the hanging of Haman on the
very same gallows that he had built for Mordecai, her uncle and guardian. Then
the king named Mordecai minister of state in Haman's place. This story is an
example of how God intervenes on behalf of his people to deliver them from evil,
as here through Esther he preserved the Old Testament people through whom the
Messiah would come.
May 25
The Venerable Bede
Bede (673-735) was the last of the early
church fathers and the first to compile the history of the English church. Born
in Northumbria, Bede was given by his parents to a monastery in Northern England
at the age of seven. He rarely left the monastery and devoted the rest of his
life to teaching and writing. The most learned man of his time, he was a
prolific writer of history, whose careful use of sources provided a model for
historians in the Middle Ages. Known best for his book, The Ecclesiastical
History of the English People, he was also a profound interpreter of
Scripture; his commentaries are still fresh today. His most famous disciple,
Cuthbert, reported that Bede was working on a translation of John's Gospel into
English when death came, and that he died with the words of the Gloria Patri on
his lips. He received the title "Venerable" within two generations of
his death and is buried in Durham Cathedral as one of England's greatest saints.
June 1
Justin, Martyr
Born at the beginning of the second century, Justin was raised in a pagan family. He was student of philosophy who converted to the Christian faith and became a teacher in Ephesus and Rome. After refusing to make pagan sacrifices, he was arrested, tried and executed, along with six other believers. The official Roman court proceedings of his trial before Rusticius, a Roman prelate, document his confession of faith. The account of his martyrdom became a source of great encouragement to the early Christian community. Much of what we know of early liturgical practice comes from Justin.
June 5
Boniface of Mainz
Boniface was born in the late seventh century in England. Though he was educated, became a monk, and was ordained as a presbyter in England, he was inspired by the example of others to become a missionary. Upon receiving a papal commission in 719 to work in Germany, Boniface devoted himself to planting, organizing, and reforming churches and monasteries in Hesse, Thuringia, and Bavaria. After becoming an archbishop, Boniface was assigned to the See of Mainz in 743. Ten years later he resigned his position to engage in mission work in the Netherlands. On June 5, 754, while awaiting a group of converts for confirmation, Boniface and his companions were murdered by a band of pagans. Boniface is known as the apostle and missionary to the Germans.
June 12
The Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, A.D. 325
The first Council of Nicaea was convened in the early summer of 325 by the Roman Emperor Constantine at what is today Isnuk, Turkey. The emperor presided at the opening of the council. The council ruled against the Arians, who taught that Jesus was not the eternal Son of God but was created by the Father and was called Son of God because of his righteousness. The chief opponents of the Arians were Alexander, bishop of Alexandria, and his deacon, Athanasius. The council confessed the eternal divinity of Jesus and adopted the earliest version of the Nicene Creed, which in its entirety was adopted at the Council of Constantinople in 381.
June 14
Elisha
Elisha, son of Shaphat of the tribe of
Issachar, was the prophet of God to the northern kingdom of Israel ca.
849-786 B.C. Upon seeing his mentor Elijah taken up into heaven, Elisha
assumed the prophetic office and took up the mantle of his predecessor. Like
Elijah, Elisha played an active role in political affairs. He also performed
many miracles, such as curing the Syrian army commander Naaman of his leprosy (2
Kings 5:1-27) and restoring life to the son of a Shunammite woman (2 Kings
4:8-37). A vocal opponent of Baal worship, Elisha lived up to his name, which
means "my God is salvation."
June 25
The Presentation of the Augsburg Confession
The Augsburg Confession, the principal
doctrinal statement of the theology of Martin Luther and the Lutheran reformers,
was written largely by Phillip Melanchthon. At its heart it confesses the
justification of sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, for the sake of
Christ alone. Signed by leaders of many German cities and regions, the
confession was formally presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at
Augsburg, Germany, on June 25, 1530. A few weeks later Roman Catholic
authorities rejected the Confession, which Melanchthon defended in the Apology
of the Augsburg Confession (1531). In 1580 the Unaltered Augsburg Confession was
included in the Book of Concord.
June 26
Jeremiah
The prophet Jeremiah was active as God's prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah ca. 627 to 582 B.C. As a prophet he predicted, witnessed, and lived through the Babylonian siege and eventual destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. In his preaching he often used symbols, such as an almond rod (Jer. 1:11-14), wine jars (13:12-14), and a potter at work (18:1-17). His entire prophetic ministry was a sermon, communicating through word and deed God's anger toward his rebellious people. He suffered repeated rejection and persecution by his countrymen. As far as can be known, he died in Egypt, having been taken there forcibly. He is remembered and honored for fearlessly calling God's people to repentance.
June 27
Cyril of Alexandria, Pastor and Confessor
Cyril (ca. A.D. 376-444) became archbishop of
Alexandria, Egypt, in 412. Throughout his career he defended a number of
orthodox doctrines, among them the teaching that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is
"rightly called and truly is the Mother of God"--Theotokos,
"the God-bearer" (Formula of Concord, VIII, Ep VIII, 12). In 431 the
Council of Ephesus affirmed this teaching that the Son of Mary is also true God.
The writings of Cyril on the doctrines of the Trinity and the person of Christ
reveal him to be one of the most able theologians of his time. Cyril's
Christology influenced subsequent church councils and was a primary source for
Lutheran confessional writings.
June 28
Irenaeus of Lyons, Pastor
Irenaeus (ca. A.D. 130-200), believed to be a native of Smyrna (modern Izmir, Turkey), studied in Rome and later became pastor in Lyons, France. Around 177, while Irenaeus was away from Lyons, a fierce persecution of Christians led to the martyrdom of his bishop. Upon Irenaeus' return, he became bishop of Lyons. Among his most famous writings is a work condemning heresies, especially Gnosticism, which denied the goodness of creation. In opposition, Irenaeus confessed that God has redeemed his creation through the incarnation of the Son. Irenaeus also affirmed the teachings of the Scriptures handed down to and through him as being normative for the Church.
July 6
Isaiah
Isaiah son of Amoz is considered to be the greatest of the writing prophets and is quoted in the New Testament more than any other Old Testament prophet. His name means “Yahweh [the Lord] saves.” Isaiah prophesied to the people of Jerusalem and Judah from about 740 B.C. to 700 B.C. and was a contemporary of the prophets Amos, Hosea, and Micah. Isaiah was a fierce preacher of God’s Law, condemning the sin of idolatry. He was also a comforting proclaimer of the Gospel, repeatedly emphasizing God’s grace and forgiveness. For this he is sometimes called the “Evangelist of the Old Testament.” No prophet more clearly prophesied about the coming Messiah and his saving kingdom. He foretold the Messiah’s miraculous birth (Is 7:14; 9:6), his endless reign (Is 2:1–5; 11:1–16), and his public ministry (Is 61:1–3), but most notably his “Suffering Servant” role and atoning death (52:13—53:12). The apostle John’s description of Isaiah, that Isaiah saw Jesus’ glory and spoke of him (John 12:41), is an apt summary of Isaiah’s prophetic ministry.
July 16
Ruth
Ruth of Moab, the subject of the biblical book that bears her name, is an inspiring example of God’s grace. Although she was a Gentile, God made her the great grandmother of King David (Ruth 4:17), and an ancestress of Jesus himself (Mt 1:5). A famine in Israel led Elimelech and Naomi of Bethlehem to emigrate to the neighboring nation of Moab with their two sons. The sons marriend Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth, but after about ten years, Elimelech and his sons died (Ruth 1:1–5). Naomi then decided to return to Bethlehem and urged her daughters-in-law to return to their families. Orpah listened to Naomi’s but Ruth refused, replying with the stirring words: “Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). After Ruth arrived in Bethlehem, Boaz, a close relative of Elimelech, agreed to be Ruth’s “redeemer” (Ruth 3:7–13; 4:9–12). He took her as his wife, and Ruth gave birth to Obed, the grandfather of David (Ruth 4:13–17), thus preserving the Messianic seed. Ruth’s kindness and selfless loyalty toward Naomi, and her faith in Naomi’s God, have long endeared her to the faithful and redounded to God’s praise for his merciful choice of one so unexpected.
July 20
Elijah
The prophet Elijah, whose name means, “My God is Yahweh [the Lord],” prophesied in the northern kingdom of Israel, mostly during the reign of Ahab (874–853 B.C.). Ahab, under the influence of his pagan wife Jezebel, had encouraged the worship of Baal throughout his kingdom, even as Jezebel sought to get rid of the worship of Yahweh. Elijah was called by God to denounce this idolatry and to call the people of Israel back to the worship Yahweh as the only true God (as he did in 1 Kgs 18:20–40). Elijah was a rugged and imposing figure, living in the wilderness and dressing in a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt (2 Kgs 1:8). He was a prophet mighty in word and deed. Many miracles were done through Elijah, including the raising of the dead (1 Kgs 17:17–24), and the effecting of a long drought in Israel (1 Kgs 17:1). At the end of his ministry, he was taken up into heaven as Elisha, his successor, looked on (2 Kgs 2:11). Later on the prophet Malachi proclaimed that Elijah would return before the coming of the Messiah (Mal 4:5–6), a prophecy that was fulfilled in the prophetic ministry of John the Baptist (Mt 11:14).
July 21
Ezekiel
Ezekiel, son of Buzi, was a priest, called by God to be a prophet to the exiles during the Babylonian captivity (Ez. 1:3). In 597 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army brought the king of Judah and thousands of the best citizens of Jerusalem—including Ezekiel—to Babylon (2 Kgs 24:8–16). Ezekiel’s priestly background profoundly stamped his prophecy, as the holiness of God and the Temple figure prominently in his messages (for example, Ezekiel 9–10 and 40–48). From 593 B.C. to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 B.C., Ezekiel prophesied the inevitability of divine judgment on Jerusalem, on the exiles in Babylon, and on seven nations that surrounded Israel (Ezekiel 1–32). Jerusalem would fall, and the exiles would not quickly return, as a just consequence of their sin. Once word reached Ezekiel that Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed, his message became one of comfort and hope. Through him God promised that his people would experience future restoration, renewal and revival in the coming Messianic kingdom (Ezekiel 33–48). Much of the strange symbolism of Ezekiel’s prophecies was later employed in the Revelation to St. John.
July 28
Johann Sebastian Bach, Kantor
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) is acknowledged as one of the most famous and gifted of all composers past and present in the entire western world. Orphaned at the age of ten, Bach was mostly self-taught in music. His professional life as conductor, performer, composer, teacher, and organ consultant began at the age of 19 in the town of Arnstadt and ended in Leipzig, where for the last 27 years of his life he was responsible for all the music in the city’s four Lutheran churches. In addition to his being a superb keyboard artist, the genius and bulk of Bach’s vocal and instrumental compositions remain overwhelming. A devout and devoted Lutheran, he is especially honored in Christendom for his lifelong insistence that his music was written primarily for the liturgical life of the church to glorify God and edify his people.
July 29
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany were disciples with whom Jesus had a special bond of love and friendship. John’s Gospel records that “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (John 11:15). On one occasion Martha welcomed Jesus into their home for a meal. While she did all the work, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to his Word and was commended by Jesus for choosing the “good portion which will not be taken away from her” (Lk 10:38–42). When their brother Lazarus died, Jesus spoke to Martha this beautiful Gospel promise: “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he life? (John 11:25–27). Ironically, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the death, the Jews became more determined than ever to kill Jesus (John 11:39–54). made Jesus’ enemies more determined than ever to kill him (John 11:39–54). Six days before Jesus was crucified, Mary anointed his feet with a very expensive fragrant oil and wiped them with her hair, not knowing at the time that she was doing it in preparation for Jesus’ burial (John 12:1–8; Mt 26:6-13).
July 31
Joseph of Arimathea
This Joseph, mentioned in all four Gospels, come from a small village called Arimathea in the hill country of Judea. He was a respected member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious council in Jerusalem. He was presumably wealthy, since he owned his own unused tomb in a garden not far from the site of Jesus’ crucifixion (Mt 27:60). Joseph, a man waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went to Pontius Pilate after the death of Jesus and asked for Jesus’ body (Mk 15:43). Along with Nicodemus, Joseph removed the body and placed it in the tomb (John 19:39). Their public devotion contrasted greatly to the fearfulness of the disciples who had abandoned Jesus.
August 3
Joanna, Mary the Mother of James, and Salome
Known in some traditions as “the faithful women,” the visit of these three persons and other women to the tomb of Jesus on the first Easter morning is noted in the Gospel records of Matthew (28:1), Mark (16:1), and Luke (24:10). Joanna was the wife of Cuza, a steward in Herod’s household (Lk. 8:3). Mary, the mother of James (the son of Alphaeus), was another of the women who faithfully provided care for Jesus and His disciples from the time of His Galilean ministry through His burial after the crucifixion. Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee (Mt. 27:56), joined with the women both at the cross and in the bringing of the spices to the garden tomb. These “faithful women” have been honored in the church through the centuries as examples of humble and devoted service to the Lord.
August 10
Laurence, Deacon and Martyr
Early in the third century A.D., Laurence, most likely born in Spain, made his way to Rome. There he was appointed chief of the seven deacons and was given the responsibility to manage church property and finances. The emperor at the time, who thought that the church had valuable things worth confiscating, ordered Laurence to produce the “treasures of the church.” Laurence brought before the emperor the poor whose lives had been touched by Christian charity. He was then jailed and eventually executed in the year 258 by being roasted on a gridiron. His martyrdom left a deep impression on the young church. Almost immediately, the date of His death, August 10, became a permanent fixture on the early commemorative calendar of the Church.
August 16
Isaac
Isaac, the long promised and awaited son of Abraham and Sarah, was born when his father was 100 and his mother 91. The announcement of his birth brought both joy and laughter to his aged parents (so the name “Isaac,” which means “laughter”). As a young man, Isaac accompanied his father to Mount Moriah, where Abraham, in obedience to God’s command, prepared to sacrifice him as a burnt offering. But God intervened, sparing Isaac’s life and providing a ram as a substitute offering (Gen. 22:1–14), and thus pointing to the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ for the sins of the world. Isaac was given in marriage to Rebekah (24:15), and they had twin sons, Esau and Jacob (25:19–26). In his old age Isaac, blind and feeble, wanted to give his blessing and chief inheritance to his favorite—and eldest—son, Esau. But through deception Rebekah had Jacob receive them instead, resulting in years of family enmity. Isaac died at the age of 180 and was buried by his sons, who by then had become reconciled, in the family burial cave of Machpelah (35:28–29).
August 17
Johann Gerhard, Theologian
Johann Gerhard (1582–1637) was a great Lutheran theologian in the tradition of Martin Luther (1483–1546) and Martin Chemnitz (1522–86) and the most influential of the 17th-century dogmaticians. His monumental Loci Theologici (23 large volumes) is still considered by many to be a definitive statement of Lutheran orthodoxy. Gerhard was born in Quedlinburg, Germany. At the age of 15 he was stricken with a life-threatening illness. This experience, along with guidance from his pastor, Johann Arndt, marked a turning point in his life. He devoted the rest of his life to theology. He became a professor at the University of Jena and served many years as the Superintendent of Heldberg. Gerhard was a man of deep evangelical piety and love for Jesus. He wrote numerous books on exegesis, theology, devotional literature, history, and polemics. His sermons continue to be widely published and read.
August 19
Bernard of Clairvaux, Hymnwriter and Theologian
A leader in Christian Europe in the first half of the 11th century A.D., Bernard is honored in his native France and around the world. Born into a noble family in Burgundy in 1090, Bernard left the affluence of his heritage and entered the monastery of Citeaux at the age of 22. After two years he was sent to start a new monastic house at Clairvaux. His work there was blessed in many ways. The monastery at Clairvaux grew in mission and service, eventually establishing some 68 daughter houses. Bernard is remembered for his charity and political abilities, but especially for his preaching and hymn composition. The hymn texts “O Jesus, King Most Wonderful” and “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” are part of the heritage of the faith left by Saint Bernard.
August 20
Samuel
Samuel, last of the Old Testament judges and first of the prophets (after Moses), lived during the 111th century B.C. The child of Elkanah, an Ephraimite, and his wife Hannah, Samuel was from early on consecrated by his parents for sacred service and trained in the house of the Lord at Shiloh by Eli the priest. Samuel’s authority as a prophet was established by God (1 Sam. 3:20). He anointed Saul to be Israel’s first king (10:1). Later, as a result of Saul’s disobedience to God, Samuel repudiated Saul’s leadership and then anointed David to be king in place of Saul (16:13). Samuel’s loyalty to God, his spiritual insight, and his ability to inspire others made him one of Israel’s great leaders.
August 27
Monica, Faithful Mother
A native of North Africa, Monica (A.D. 333–387) was the devoted mother of Saint Augustine. Throughout her life she sought the spiritual welfare of her children, especially that of her brilliant son, Augustine. Widowed at a young age, she devoted herself to her family, praying many years for Augustine’s conversion. When Augustine left North Africa to go to Italy, she followed him to Rome and then to Milan. There she had the joy of witnessing her son’s conversion to the Christian faith. Weakened by her travels, Monica died at Ostia, Italy on the journey she had hoped would take her back to her native Africa. On some church year calendars, Monica is remembered on May 4.
August 28
Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church
Augustine was one of the greatest of the Latin church fathers and a significant influence in the formation of Western Christianity, including Lutheranism. Born in A.D. 354 in North Africa, Augustine’s early life was distinguished by exceptional advancement as a teacher of rhetoric. In his book Confessions he describes his life before his conversion to Christianity, when he was drawn into the moral laxity of the day and fathered an illegitimate son. Through the devotion of his sainted mother Monica and the preaching of Ambrose, Bishop of Milan (339–97), Augustine was converted to the Christian faith. During the great Pelagian controversies of the 5th century, Augustine emphasized the unilateral grace of God in the salvation of mankind. Bishop and theologian at Hippo in North Africa from A.D. 395 until his death in 430, Augustine was a man of great intelligence, a fierce defender of the orthodox faith, and a prolific writer. In addition to the book Confessions, Augustine’s book City of God had a great impact upon the church throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
September
1
Joshua
Hannah
Gregory
the Great, Pastor
Moses
Moses
was born in Egypt several generations after Joseph brought his father Jacob and
his brothers there to escape a famine in the land of Canaan. The descendants of
Jacob had been enslaved by the Egyptians and were ordered to kill all their male
children. When Moses was born his mother put him in a basket and set it afloat
in the Nile River. He was found by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised by her as her
own son (Exod 2:1–10). At age 40 Moses killed an Egyptian taskmaster and fled
to the land of Midian, where he worked as a shepherd for forty years. Then the
Lord called him to go back to Egypt and tell Pharaoh, “Let My people go, that
they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness” (5:1). Eventually Pharaoh gave
in and, after the Israelites celebrated the first Passover, Moses led them out.
At the Red Sea the Egyptian army was destroyed and the Israelites passed to
safety on dry land (Exodus 12-15). At Mount Sinai they were given the Law and
erected the Tabernacle (Exodus 19-40). But because of disobedience they had to
wander in the wilderness for forty years. Moses himself was not allowed to enter
the Promised Land, although God allowed him to view it (Deuteronomy 34). In the
New Testament Moses is referred to as lawgiver and prophet. The first five books
of the Bible are attributed to him.
Zechariah
and Elizabeth
Cyprian
of Carthage, Pastor and Martyr
Jonah
Jerome,
Translator of Holy Scripture
October
7
Henry
Melchior Muhlenberg, Pastor
Moving from the
Old World to the New, Muhlenberg established the shape of Lutheran parishes for
America during a 45-year ministry in Pennsylvania. Born at Einbeck, Germany, in
1711, he came to the American colonies in 1742. A tireless traveler, Muhlenberg
helped to found many Lutheran congregations and was the guiding force behind the
first American Lutheran synod, the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, founded in 1748.
He valued the role of music in Lutheran worship (often serving as his own
organist) and was also the guiding force in preparing the first American
Lutheran liturgy (also in 1748). Muhlenberg is remembered as a church leader, a
journalist, a liturgist, and—above all—a pastor to the congregation in his
charge. He died in 1787, leaving behind a large extended family and a lasting
heritage: American Lutheranism.
October
9
Abraham,
Patriarch
Abraham (known
early in his life as Abram) was called by God to become the father of a great
nation (Genesis 12). At the age of 75 and in obedience to God’s command, he,
his wife Sarah, and his nephew Lot moved southwest from the town of Haran to the
land of Canaan. There God established a covenant with Abraham (15:18), promising
the land of Canaan to his descendants. At the age of 100 Abraham and Sarah were
finally blessed with Isaac, the son long promised to them by God. Abraham
demonstrated supreme obedience when God commanded him to offer Isaac as a burnt
offering. God spared the young man’s life only at the last moment and provided
a ram as a substitute offering (22:1–19). Abraham died at the age of 175 and
was buried in the Cave of Machpelah, which he had purchased earlier as a burial
site for Sarah. He is especially honored as the first of the three great Old
Testament Patriarchs—and for his “righteousness before God through faith”
(Romans 4:1–12).
Philip,
Deacon
Philip, also
called the Evangelist (Acts 21:8), was one of the seven men appointed to assist
in the work of the twelve Apostles and of the rapidly growing early church by
overseeing the distribution of food to the poor (6:1–6). Following the
martyrdom of Stephen, Philip proclaimed the Gospel in Samaria and led Simon the
Sorcerer to become a believer in Christ (8:4–13). He was also instrumental in
bringing about the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch (8:26–39), through whom
Philip became indirectly responsible for bringing the Good News of Jesus to the
people on the continent of Africa. In the town of Caesarea he was host for
several days to the Apostle Paul, who stopped there on his last journey to
Jerusalem (21:8–15).
October
17
Ignatius
of Antioch, Pastor and Martyr
Ignatius was the
bishop of Antioch in Syria at the beginning of the second century A.D. and an
early Christian martyr. Near the end of the reign of the Roman emperor Trajan
(98–117), Ignatius was arrested, taken in chains to Rome, and eventually
thrown to the wild beasts in the arena. On the way to Rome, he wrote letters to
the Christians at Ephesus, Magnesia, Tralles, Rome, Philadelphia, and Smyrna,
and also to Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna. In the letters, which are beautifully
pastoral in tone, Ignatius warned against certain heresies (false teachings). He
also repeatedly stressed the full humanity and deity of Christ, the reality of
Christ’s bodily presence in the Lord’s Supper, the supreme authority of the
bishop, and the unity of the Church found in her bishops. Ignatius was the first
to use the word catholic to describe
the universality of the Church. His Christ-centeredness, his courage in the face
of martyrdom, and his zeal for the truth over against false doctrine are a
lasting legacy to the Church.
October
25
Dorcas,
Lydia, and Phoebe, Faithful Women
These women were
exemplary Christians who demonstrated their faith by their material support of
the Church. Dorcas (also known as Tabitha) was well-known and much loved for her
acts of charity in the city of Joppa, especially for her making clothes for the
poor. When Dorcas died suddenly, the members of her congregation sent to the
neighboring city of Lydda for the Apostle Peter, who came and raised her from
the dead (Acts 9:36–41). Lydia was a woman of Thyatira, who worked at Philippi
selling a famous purple dye that was so much in demand in the ancient world. She
was also a “worshiper of God” at the local synagogue. When the Apostle Paul
encountered her in prayer among other proselyte women, his preaching of the Word
brought Lydia to faith in Christ. She and her friends thus became the nucleus of
the Christian community in Philippi (16:13–15, 40). Phoebe was another
faithful woman associated with the Apostle Paul. She was a deaconess from
Cenchrae (the port of Corinth) whom Paul sent to the church in Rome with his
Epistle to the Romans. In it he writes of her support for the work of the early
Church (Rom 16:1).
October
26
Philipp
Nicolai, Johann Heermann, and Paul Gerhardt, Hymnwriters
Philipp Nicolai
(1556–1608) was a pastor in Germany during the Great Plague, which took the
lives of 1,300 of his parishioners during a sixth-month period. In addition to
his heroic pastoral ministry during that time of stress and sorrow, he wrote the
texts for “Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying” and “O Morning Star, How Fair
and Bright,” known, respectively, as the king and queen of the Lutheran
chorales. Johann Heermann (1585–1647), also a German pastor, suffered from
poor health as well as from the ravages of the Thirty Years’ War
(1618–1648). His hymn texts are noted for their tenderness and depth of
feeling. Paul Gerhardt (1607–1676) was another Lutheran pastor who endured the
horrors of the Thirty Years’ War. By 1668 he lost his pastoral position in
Berlin (for refusing to compromise his Lutheran convictions), and endured the
death of four of his five children and his wife. He nevertheless managed to
write 133 hymns, all of which reflect his firm faith. Along with Martin Luther
he is regarded as one of Lutheranism’s finest hymn writers.
November
8
Johann
von Staupitz, Luther’s Father Confessor
Johann von
Staupitz (ca. 1469–1524), vicar-general of the Augustinian Order in Germany
and friend of Martin Luther, was born in Saxony. He studied at the universities
in Leipzig and Cologne and served on the faculty at Cologne. In 1503 he was
called by Frederick the Wise to serve as dean of the theological faculty at the
newly founded University of Wittenberg. There he encouraged Luther to attain a
doctorate in theology and appointed Luther as his successor to professor of
Bible. During Luther’s early struggles to understand God’s grace, it was
Staupitz who counseled Luther to focus on Christ and not on himself.
November
9
Martin
Chemnitz, Pastor and Confessor
Martin Chemnitz
(1522–1586) is regarded after Martin Luther as the most important theologian
in the history of the Lutheran Church. Chemnitz combined a penetrating intellect
and an almost encyclopedic knowledge of Scripture and the church fathers with a
genuine love for the church. When various doctrinal disagreements broke out
after Luther’s death in 1546, Chemnitz determined to give himself fully to the
restoration of unity in the Lutheran Church. He became the leading spirit and
principal author of the 1577 Formula of Concord, which settled the doctrinal disputes on the
basis of the Scriptures and largely succeeded in restoring unity among
Lutherans. Chemnitz also authored the four volume Examination
of the Council of Trent (1565–1573), in which he rigorously subjected the
teachings of this Roman Catholic Council to the judgment of Scripture and the
ancient church fathers. The Examination
became the definitive Lutheran answer to the Council of Trent, as well as a
thorough exposition of the faith of the Augsburg Confession. A theologian and a
churchman, Chemnitz was truly a gift of God to the Church.
November
11
Martin
of Tours, Pastor
Born into a pagan
family in what is now Hungary around the year A.D. 316, Martin grew up in
Lombardy (Italy). Coming to the Christian faith as a young person, he began a
career in the Roman army. But sensing a call to a church vocation, Martin left
the military and became a monk, affirming that he was “Christ’s soldier.”
Eventually, Martin was named bishop of Tours in western Gaul (France). He is
remembered for his simple lifestyle and his determination to share the Gospel
throughout rural Gaul. Incidentally, on St. Martin’s Day in 1483, the
one-day-old son of Hans and Margarette Luther was baptized and given the name
“Martin” Luther.
November
14
Justinian,
Christian Ruler and Confessor of Christ
Justinian was
emperor of the East from A.D. 527 to 565 when the Roman Empire was in decline.
With his beautiful and capable wife, Theodora, he restored splendor and majesty
to the Byzantine court. During his reign the Empire experienced a renaissance,
due in large part to his ambition, intelligence, and strong religious
convictions. Justinian also attempted to bring unity to a divided church. He was
a champion of orthodox Christianity and sought agreement among the parties in
the Christological controversies of the day who were disputing the relation
between the divine and human natures in the Person of Christ. The Fifth
Ecumenical Council in Constantinople in A.D. 533 was held during his reign and
addressed this dispute. Justinian died in his eighties, not accomplishing his
desire for an empire that was firmly Christian and orthodox.
November
19
Elizabeth
of Hungary
Born in Pressburg,
Hungary, in 1207, Elizabeth was the daughter of King Andrew II and his wife
Gertrude. Given as a bride in an arranged political marriage, Elizabeth became
the wife of Louis of Thuringia in Germany at the age of 14. She had a spirit of
Christian generosity and charity, and the home she established for her husband
and three children in the Wartburg Castle at Eisenach was known for its
hospitality and family love. Elizabeth often supervised the care of the sick and
needy and even gave up her bed to a leper at one time. Widowed at the age of 20,
she made provisions for her children and entered into an austere life as a nun
in the Order of Saint Francis. Her self-denial led to failing health and an
early death in 1231 at the age of 24. Remembered for her self-sacrificing ways,
Elizabeth is commemorated through the many hospitals named for her around the
world.
November
23
Clement
of Rome, Pastor
Clement (ca. A.D.
35–100) is remembered for having established the pattern of apostolic
authority that governed the Christian Church during the first and second
centuries. He also insisted on keeping Christ at the center of the Church’s
worship and outreach. In a letter to the Christians at Corinth, he emphasized
the centrality of Jesus’ death and resurrection: “Let us fix our eyes on the
blood of Christ, realizing how precious it is to His Father, since it was poured
out for our salvation and brought the grace of repentance to the whole world”
(1 Clement 6:31). Prior to suffering a martyr’s death by drowning, he
displayed a steadfast, Christ-like love for God’s redeemed people, serving as
an inspiration to future generations to continue to build the Church on the
foundation of the prophets and apostles, with Christ as the one and only
cornerstone.
November
29
Noah
Noah, the son of Lamech (Gen 5:30), was instructed by God to build an ark, in which his family would find security from the destructive waters of a devastating flood that God warned would come. Noah built the ark, and the rains descended. The entire earth was flooded destroying “every living thing that was on the face of the ground, both man and beast” (7:23). After the flood waters subsided, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. When Noah determined it was safe, and God confirmed it, he and his family and all the animals disembarked. Then Noah built an altar and offered a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God for having saved his family from destruction. A rainbow in the sky was declared by God to be a sign of His promise that never again would a similar flood destroy the entire earth (8;20). Noah is remembered and honored for his obedience, believing that God would do what He said He would.
December
4
John
of Damascus
John (ca.
675–749) is known as the great compiler and summarizer of the orthodox faith
and the last great Greek theologian. Born in Damascus, John gave up an
influential position in the Islamic court to devote himself to the Christian
faith. Around 716 he entered a monastery outside of Jerusalem and was ordained a
priest. When the Byzantine emperor Leo the Isaurian in 726 issued a decree
forbidding images (icons), John forcefully resisted. In his Apostolic
Discourses he argued for the legitimacy of the veneration of images, which
earned him the condemnation of the Iconoclast Council in 754. John also wrote
defenses of the orthodox faith against contemporary heresies. In addition, he
was a gifted hymnwriter (“Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain”) and
contributed to the liturgy of the Byzantine churches. His greatest work was the Fount of Wisdom which was a massive compendium of truth from
previous Christian theologians, covering practically every conceivable doctrinal
topic. John’s summary of the orthodox faith left a lasting stamp on both the
Eastern and Western churches.
December
6
Nicholas
of Myra, Pastor
Of the many
saints commemorated by the Christian Church, Nicholas (d. A.D. 342) is one of
the best known. Very little is known historically of him, although there was a
church of Saint Nicholas in Constantinople as early as the sixth century.
Research has affirmed that there was a bishop by the name of Nicholas in the
city of Myra in Lycia (part of Turkey today) in the fourth century. From that
coastal location, legends about Nicholas have traveled throughout time and
space. He is associated with charitable giving in many countries around the
world and is portrayed as the rescuer of sailors, the protector of children, and
the friend of people in distress or need. In commemoration of “Sinte Klaas”
(Dutch for Saint Nicholas, in English “Santa Claus”), December 6 is a day
for giving and receiving gifts in many parts of Europe.
December
7
Ambrose
of Milan, Pastor and Hymnwriter
Born in Trier in
A.D. 340, Ambrose was one of the four great Latin Doctors of the Church (with
Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great). He was a prolific author of hymns,
the most common of which is Veni, Redemptor gentium (“Savior of the Nations, Come”). His
name is also associated with Ambrosian Chant, the style of chanting the ancient
liturgy that took hold in the province of Milan. While serving as a civil
governor, Ambrose sought to bring peace among Christians in Milan who were
divided into quarreling factions. When a new bishop was to be elected in 374,
Ambrose addressed the crowd, and someone cried out, “Ambrose, bishop!” The
entire gathering gave their support. This acclaim of Ambrose, a 34-year-old
catechumen, led to his baptism on December 7, after which he was consecrated
bishop of Milan. A strong defender of the faith, Ambrose convinced the Roman
emperor Gratian in 379 to forbid the Arian heresy in the West. At Ambrose’s
urging, Gratian’s successor, Theodosius, also publicly opposed Arianism.
Ambrose died on Good Friday, April 4, 397. As a courageous doctor and musician
he upheld the truth of God’s Word.
December
13
Lucia,
Martyr
One of the
victims of the great persecution under the Roman emperor Diocletian, Lucia met
her death at Syracuse on the island of Sicily in the year A.D. 304, because of
her Christian faith. Known for her charity, “Santa Lucia” (as she is called
in Italy) gave away her dowry and remained a virgin until her execution by the
sword. The name Lucia means “light,” and, because of that, festivals of
light commemorating her became popular throughout Europe, especially in the
Scandinavian countries. There her feast day corresponds with the time of year
when there is the least amount of daylight. In artistic expression she is often
portrayed in a white baptismal gown, wearing a wreath of candles on her head.
December
17
Daniel
and the Three Young Men
Daniel the
prophet and the Three Young Men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—were among
the leaders of the people of Judah who were taken into captivity in Babylon.
Even in that foreign land they remained faithful to the one true God in their
piety, prayer, and life. On account of such steadfast faithfulness in the face
of pagan idolatry, the Three Young Men were thrown into a fiery furnace, from
which they were saved by the Lord and emerged unharmed (Daniel 3). Similarly,
Daniel was thrown into a pit of lions, from which he also was saved (Daniel 6).
Blessed in all their endeavors by the Lord—and in spite of the hostility of
some—Daniel and the Three Young Men were promoted to positions of leadership
among the Babylonians (Dan 2:48–49; 3:30; 6:28). To Daniel in particular the
Lord revealed the interpretation of dreams and signs that were given to King
Nebuchadnezzar and King Belshazzar (Daniel 2, 4, 5). To Daniel himself the Lord
gave visions of the end times.
December
19
Adam
and Eve
Adam was the
first man, made in the image of God and given dominion over all the earth (Gen
1:26). Eve was the first woman, formed from one of Adam’s ribs to be his
companion and helper (2:18–24). God placed them in the Garden of Eden to take
care of the creation as his representatives. But they forsook God’s Word and
plunged the world into sin (3:1–7). For this disobedience God drove them from
the Garden. Eve had to suffer the pain of childbirth and be subject to Adam;
Adam had to toil amid thorns and thistles and return to the dust of the ground.
Yet God promised that the woman’s Seed would crush the serpent’s head
(3:8–24). Sin had entered God’s perfect creation and changed it until God
would restore it again through Christ. Eve is the mother of the human race,
while Adam is representative of all humanity and the Fall, as St. Paul writes,
“For in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor.
15:22).
December
20
Katharina
von Bora Luther
Katharina von
Bora (1499–1552) was placed in a convent when still a child and became a nun
in 1515. In April 1523 she and eight other nuns were rescued from the convent
and brought to Wittenberg. There Martin Luther helped return some to their
former homes and placed the rest in good families. Katharina and Martin were
married on June 13, 1525. Their marriage was a happy one and blessed with six
children. Katharina skillfully managed the Luther household, which always seemed
to grow because of his generous hospitality. After Luther’s death in 1546,
Katharina remained in Wittenberg but lived much of the time in poverty. She died
in an accident while traveling with her children to Torgau
in order to escape the plague.
December
29
David
David, the
greatest of Israel’s kings, ruled from about 1010 to 970 B.C. The events of
his life are found in 1 Samuel 16 through 1 Kings 2 and in 1 Chronicles 10—29.
David was also gifted musically. He was skilled in playing the lyre and the
author of no less than 73 psalms, including the beloved Psalm 23. His public and
private character displayed a mixture of good (for example, his defeat of the
giant Goliath, 1 Samuel 17) and evil (as in his adultery with Uriah’s wife,
followed by his murder of Uriah, 2 Samuel 11). David’s greatness lay in his
fierce loyalty to God as Israel’s military and political leader, coupled with
his willingness to acknowledge his sins and ask for God’s forgiveness (2
Samuel 12; see also Psalm 51). It was under David’s leadership that the people
of Israel were united into a single nation with Jerusalem as its capital city.
© 2003 LCMS Commission on Worship
Page Modified: September 05, 2003
Page Adapted for personal use: August 17, 2008
Updated: August 20, 2008