Compline (night prayer) - Wednesday, 3 November 2021

As this night we remember the life of one of our who departed this life this day.
We pray: May the light of Christ, the King of all, shine ever brighter in our hearts,
that with all the saints in light we may shine forth as lights in the world.

The images are Richard Hooker and Martin of Porres

Today (3 November) the Church celebrates:

Today the Church celebrates the life and ministry of Richard Hooker who was born in Heavitree in Exeter in about 1554. 

Coming under the influence of John Jewel, Bishop of Salisbury, in his formative years and through that influence went up to Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he became a fellow. He was ordained and then married, becoming a parish priest and, in 1585, Master of the Temple in London. 

Richard became one of the strongest advocates of the position of the Church of England and defended its ‘middle way’ between puritanism and papalism. Perhaps his greatest work was Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity which he wrote as the result of engaging in controversial debates. 

He showed Anglicanism as rooted firmly in Scripture as well as tradition, affirming its continuity with the pre-Reformation Ecclesia Anglicana, but now both catholic and reformed. Richard became a parish priest again near Canterbury and died there on this day in the year 1600. 

AND 

Martin of Porres who was born in Lima in Peru in 1579, the illegitimate son of a Spanish knight and a black Panamanian freewoman. 

 He joined the Third Order of the Dominicans when he was fifteen years old and was later received as a lay brother into the First Order, mainly because of his reputation for caring for the poor and needy. 

As the friary almoner, he was responsible for the daily distribution to the poor and he had a particular care for the many African slaves, whose lives were a dreadful indictment of the Christian conquistadores. Martin became sought after for spiritual counsel, unusual for a lay brother at that time. His care for all God’s creatures led many to love and revere him and his own brothers chose him as their spiritual leader. 

He died of a violent fever on this day in 1639 and, because of his care for all, regardless of class or colour, is seen as the patron saint of race relations. 

Compline (night prayer) - Tuesday, 2 November 2021 (All Souls)

As today we reflect on those we love and see no longer,
waiting for that day when the Christ returns and the dead are raised to eternal life,
we thank God for His mercy and His love. Amen.

Compline (night prayer) Monday, 1 November 2021 (All Saints Day)

Today (All Saints Day) the Church celebrates that great cloud of witness whose life, witness and death is witness, encouragement and inspiration.

As we go to our beds, we ponder the question: Which saint inspires you most?

Compline (night prayer) - Sunday,31 October 2021

We remember our place in the company of saints and go to bed thankful for the price paid for us.

Compline (night prayer) - Friday, 29 October 2021

As we go to our beds may we, enfolded in your love and the peace of Your presence,
sleep and tomorrow wake to a new day of blessings and joy given and received. Amen.

 

 The image is that of James Hannington, martyred in 1885

Today the Church celebrates: James Hannington

Today the Church celebrates the life, ministry and martyrdom of James Hannington and other Christians:

James Hannington was born in 1847 of a Congregationalist family but he became an Anglican before going up to Oxford.

He was ordained and, after serving a curacy for five years, went with the Church Missionary Society to Uganda. He was consecrated bishop for that part of Africa in 1884 and a year later began a safari inland from Mombasa, together with other European and indigenous Christians.

The ruler of the Buganda, Mwanga, who despised Christians because they refused to condone his moral turpitude, seized the whole party, tortured them for several days and then had them butchered to death on this day in 1885.

Compline (night prayer) - Thursday, 28 October 2021

The images of Simon and Jude serve this night to remind us how ordinary people in the company of Christ and filled with God's Holy Spirit can do extraordinary things. Give us rest and tomorrow give us passion to reach the lost we pray.