The Calendar for this Week

The Church remembers three important Christians this week:

April 19

Alphege, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1012

Alphege (Elphege, AElfheah) was born about 953, during the second major period of Viking raids against England. He became first a monk and then a hermit, and then was appointed Abbot of Bath. In 984 he became Bishop of Westminster. In 994 King Ethelred the Unready sent him to parley with the Danish invaders Anlaf and Swein. The Anglo-Saxons paid tribute, but Anlaf became a Christian and swore never to invade England again. He never did. In that same year Alphege brought the newly baptized King Olaf Tryggvason of Norway to a peaceful meeting with King Ethelred, and to his confirmation at Andover. (Remark: "Unready" does not mean that the king was often unprepared; it means that he was headstrong and stubborn, and would not accept "rede," meaning counsel or advice.)

Prayer: O loving God, whose martyr bishop Alphege of Canterbury suffered violent death because he refused to permit a ransom to be extorted from his people: Grant, we pray thee, that all pastors of thy flock may pattern themselves on the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for the sheep; through him who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever.

Olavus Petri, Priest, 1552; Laurentius Petri, Archbishop of Uppsala, 1573, Renewers of the Church

Olavus Petri (born 1493) and his brother Laurentius (born 1499) were the principal leaders of the Lutheran movement in Sweden. Both studied at Wittenberg, where they were influenced by Martin Luther. Gustavus Vasa, first king of newly independent Sweden (formerly ruled from Denmark) brought the brothers to Stockholm and made Olavus a pastor and city councilman, and Laurentius his chancellor.

Prayer: Almighty God, who by the hands of Olavus and Laurentius Petri gave to the people of Sweden the Scriptures and the services of the Church in their own tongue: mercifully grant that all men everywhere may be enabled to hear and read the Good News of salvation preached to them in terms that they understand, that so they may be drawn to the kingdom of your Blessed Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

April 21: Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, Theologian, 1109

We give thanks for Anselm [1033-1109], Archbishop of Canterbury, Doctor of the Church and Father of Scholasticism, because he formed a link between St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. He had a stormy career. He was exiled twice for championing the Church's rights with two kings. He was a champion of Human Freedom: he forbade the sale of human beings. He is shown with a child and a ship, symbolizing the Church.

Prayer: Almighty God, who raised up your servant Anselm to teach the Church of his day to understand its faith in your eternal Being, perfect justice, and saving mercy: Provide your Church in every age with devout and learned scholars and teachers, that we may be able to give a reason for the hope that is in us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.