#liturgical calendar

[lionofchaeronea]

Entry of Christ into Jerusalem, Pietro Lorenzetti, ca. 1320

[many-sparrows]

I'm thinking about the story of Jesus and Peter walking on the water, which we read this past Sunday (Matthew 14). Growing up I learned it as a cautionary tale. I don't know if I was actually taught this or if it's just how I read it but. Don't be like Peter; don't start wavering once you've made your declaration of faith, or else you will begin to sink. Looking at this story now, it has so much more hope. First of all, he is the only one to get out of the boat. The others can't even move against their fear, and eventually Peter will be rewarded for this boldness. And once he is out on the water, amidst impossible circumstances, he begins to doubt. But Christ pulls him up again. Before he chides Peter, he pulls him to the surface. Then I imagine him chuckling and saying, "Oh Peter. You have no reason to fear, for I am always here." This story does not say "strangle your doubts unless you want to drown." It says that when we find ourselves in situations that we can't believe and naturally begin to doubt, Christ will be there to catch us. It is not your job, or indeed within your ability, to control your faith. Instead, as it changes, know that Christ is there with you, to scoop you back up. Lean not on your own understanding, do not make the sturdiness of your faith an idol. Instead, remember how much a small, mustard sized faith can do, and keep walking.

[stairnaheireann]

St Kevin's Church, Wicklow Gap, Co Wicklow

St Kevin’s life is not well documented, as no contemporaneous material exists. His Latin vita maintains that he was descended from a royal line and was related to the Dál Messin Corb. He was given the name Cóemgen, which means “gentle one”, was baptised by Cronan, and educated by St Petroc during that saint’s sojourn in Ireland. He lived in solitude at Disert-Cóemgen for seven years, sleeping on…

[catholicsaintquotes33ad]

🔥Saint Ignatius, Ora Pro Nobis🔥

[karolosyarakios]

Official Statement: On Nativity / Christmas Fast

16 November 2022

Greetings.

Nativity fast is observed from Nov 15 to Dec 25, it is indeed observed by the Eastern Orthodox Church (and Catholic Church, as well).

To quote Wikipedia, a free source of information that I would encourage people to donate to, "The Nativity fast traditionally entails fasting from red meat, poultry, meat products, eggs, dairy products, fish, oil, and wine". Though; oil, fish, and wine are permitted on feast days that would occur during this period.

Maybe you want to join this fast, but you are not able to. Say; you are a student and you can barely afford to get the cheapest food, not even looking at the ingredients. Kindly do not starve yourself. Please eat, for Lord encourages education and health above wanting to follow food restrictions in fasts.

On top of all that, fasts are not about food. It is more about refraining from detrimental activities and replacing them with better habits. You can work more on helping others. I am not talking about donating excessive amounts like a businessman as a lot of us are not businessmen with a lot of money to spare. Do small things instead.

I understand that it is hard to "be better" because a lot of us don't know where to start. Below are a few suggestions:

A little thing would be to smile at people. Smile at one random person on the street.

Say "I like your shirt" to someone.

Text a random friend "Hey, I care about you, right?".

And, most important of all, exercise self-care. Do not tire yourself to the point of exhaustion, and do not dwell on past mistakes. Every human being indeed can change for the better, forgive yourself and approach yourself with kindness so that you can show others your full potential of love and care.

Remember that you matter. If thinking about yourself in a positive light is hard, then simply say this: "I may not be the best person on this earth, but I am not the worst either." Know that no one can replace you, and know your worth. Treat people with kindness, and treat yourself with the same kindness you show others.

Remember that Christmas time was chosen by people to end the fast on Christmas day. This is not a commandment in the Bible, but the Bible indeed mentions fasting and puts some rules as fasting has been an action carried out by religious people who want to try it out to bring themselves closer to spirituality.

You can choose other ways to feel that sense of spirituality, such as reading the Bible from cover to cover and doing kindness on your own.

Don't worry if you really want to observe a fast but you cannot do it at this time of the year. You can always set up other fast dates for yourself and ask Lord to accept your intentions. Lord is merciful.

Matt 6:16-18 reminds us:

16 “When you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, they have their reward!

17 When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

18 so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

My sincere wishes,

The Archbishop of Nova Justiniana and All Cyprus, His Beatitude,

Karolos Yarakios.

[ocean-in-my-witchy-soul]

Building my Liturgical Calendar 2023-2024

Sat in the sun for solstice yesterday. Didn't have a lot to do for it, but I was able to take a nap on the porch with the sun at my back and warm on my skin.

I think I've decided on some points/activities of my liturgical year. Here's my thoughts for the next calendar year. This is not 100% finished, as I want to incorporate more gods into my worship calendar, but this is a helluva start. My practice is pretty lax, and I want to tighten that up nowadays.

Under a cut for length.

What kind of things do other folks do for your practice? Do any of these match up with your practice? I'm curious!

Super Moon: July 3, 2023

Moon at closest orbit to Earth. Ritual for Mani.

Name Day: July 11, 2023

Day my name change was officially legal. Maybe something to Loki!

Gotcha Day for Saga: August 1, 2023

My baby boy Saga will have been with me for two years! I don't remember if this is specifically the exact day, but after checking my texts about getting him, I've decided on this date. He's such a good kitty cat. Ritual to Freyja. Get him treats and new cat toys.

Super Moon: August 1, 2023

Moon at closest orbit position to Earth. Ritual for Mani.

Perseid Meteor Shower: Mid-July to August, predicted peak August 13, 2023

Do something witchy or just bask in the beauty that is space.

Lokabrenna: August 20th, 2023. I used this In-The-Sky calendar calculator to find when Sirius would first be visible at my latitude. Here's some tips from the Reddit user I got the link from.

Not sure what I'll do, but I'll probably not be able to actually see Sirius in the sky. Maybe some like. fox shaped cookies or otherwise themed food and some cinnamon tea out on the porch? Maybe I'll write something and offer it to Loki. I don't have an altar, so since everyone will be asleep then (it'll be "visible" from 06:14 to 06:17 local time), I can use the table outside for some private time with Him. At any other time: bonfires are good, anything to do with flames.

Blue Super Moon: August 30, 2023

Second full moon in a single month, also super moon. Ritual for Mani.

Gotcha day for Ríma: September 1, 2023

My baby girl Reems will have been with me for two years! Much like with Saga, I don't remember the exact date, but it was approximately a month after he came home. Ritual to Freya. Get her treats and new cat toys.

Dating Anniversary: September 15, 2023

The start of Beloved and I's official relationship. Ritual of thanksgiving to Frigg. Celebration of Beloved. Maybe do something with Loki and/or Sigyn, too? I read about a ritual of 'holding the bowl' for Sigyn that really resonated with me. What an act of devotion.

Birthday: Mid-September

Can I make something witchy here? I'm sure I can.

Autumnal Equinox: September 23, 2023.

Probably something food related? Something sun and moon or fall related. Apples, harvest, wheat, corn. Maybe dedicate a harvest food to Yngvi-Freyr. Hang out in the garden. Ponder the natural balancing/opposing forces: night/dark, summer/winter, spring/fall, etc. Joint ritual for Mani and Sól.

Super Moon: September 29, 2023

Moon at closest orbit position to Earth. Ritual for Mani.

Some Point During Fall: various, unknown

I want to do something with Hel here. Maybe this year once things even out in my personal life I'll start looking at the local cemeteries and see if they need volunteers for grave keeping/tending.

Winter Nights/Disablót: October 28, 2023.

I've read that it's on the first full moon after the first new moon after the fall equinox. Something dedicated to Yngvi-Freyr, as thanks for the last of the harvest. More food. Something disir related? I've just read this article in Patheos's Happily Heathen column about the holiday. Definitely more research to be done. New year? Need more research.

Thanksgiving (USA): November 23, 2023

Secular "holiday", but still important to my family. Participate in prep for celebration, make something for dinner. Quality family time.

Geminids Meteor Shower: Estimated duration: November 19-December 24, predicted peak December 13-14

Do something witchy or just go stargazing and enjoy the beauty that is space.

Winter Solstice/Yule: December 21, 2023.

Ideas: Stay up all night to witness the coming of the dawn, stay up rest of day. Drink cocoa with marshmallows and cinnamon to stay warm through the night, moon/winter themed foods. A ritual to Mani and Odin. In the weeks leading up to Yule, make little gifts for friends and family. I made a handful of these felt goats last year!

Research more heavily into Yule being on the full moon after solstice. If that is the case, Yule will be on the 26th.

Christmas: December 25th, 2023

Not heathen, and basically secular in my family, but important to my people. Gifts, tree, sweets/food, etc. Quality family time. Maybe find a way to go volunteer somewhere. Lord knows my fam makes me crazy.

Vernal Equinox: March 19, 2024.

It's too early for the garden, so I'm not sure what. Maybe go buy some flowers for Grandma? Try to get out in the sun, if it's not too cold. Ponder the natural balancing/opposing forces: night/dark, summer/winter, spring/fall, etc. Joint ritual for Mani and Sól.

April Fool's Day: April 1, 2024.

Trickster and well-meaning pranks day. I'm not really one for pranks, so I'll probably just read some stories of about Loki. The story of Thor's wedding, anyone?

Sigrblót: April 23, 2024

Fourth full moon after the first new moon after the winter solstice, as calculated by using timeanddate.com. Three day-three night festival marking the beginning of summer. Food and celebration, for sure. Source some mead? Probably able to work in the garden.

Mother's Day: May 12, 2024

I kinda want to do some genealogy work with mom. Maybe make a list of my ancestral mothers and reflect on their lives a bit, think about how their lives went to make it possible for me to be born. Celebrate mom. Well. She doesn't much care for celebration, but I'll try to do something more than "here's some money for buying books".

Memorial Day: May 31, 2024.

My grandpa was a vet, so if next year is like this year, I'll go with mom and grandma to the cemetery to visit and clean/beautify the graves of him and grandma's side of the family. Doing this is about as close as I get to ancestor veneration. My family is Mormon, so reciting a prayer to Hel over their graves isn't super appropriate, but I have Her in my thoughts as I spend time amongst the headstones.

Pride: June 2024 (various)

Joint ritual to Fenrir as wrongfully oppressed and Loki as breaker of chains. Volunteer in the community for events and build frith.

Father's Day: June 16, 2024

Similar to Mother's Day. I want to do some genealogy work with mom. Maybe make a list of my ancestral fathers and reflect on their lives a bit, think about how their lives went to make it possible for me to be born. Celebrate dad. Maybe take him out for a movie and dinner. (This year's FD (2023) was pretty meh since I'm broke. I'm going in on a gift with my brother, and hopefully it'll arrive next week-ish.)

Summer Solstice: June 20, 2024.

Stay up all day to witness the coming of the night, stay up rest of night. Eat/drink something seasonal (lemonade of whatever variety?), maybe fruity popsicles to stay cool through the day. Sun/summer-themed foods. A ritual to Sól.

Other non-calendar thoughts:

I want to start a formal reading and reflection of the Hávamál. Like... I don't know. The thing that immediately comes to mind is the practice of reading Bible verses and reflecting in a special journal. Maybe it's my cultural xtianity speaking, but something like that appeals to my desire for structure.

Likewise, do a formal reading of the sagas/eddas.

Do more research into holy days and occasions for Odin, Hel, Fenrir, Loki, Sigyn, Jormungandr, and maybe Bragi.

Dedicated magical creativity sessions, maybe?

Monthly offerings to gods.

Something for landvættr.

Do more space witchery! It's good for the soul!

Build frith through the community using regularly scheduled volunteer activities.

[tinyshe]

Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn is commemorated on November 16 in the Catholic Church and January 8 (December 26 O.S.) and April 27 (April 14 O.S.) in the Orthodox Church.

Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn (Lithuanian: Aušros Vartų Dievo Motina, Polish: Matka Boska Ostrobramska, Belarusian: Маці Божая Вастрабрамская, German: Mutter Gottes vor den Toren der Morgenröte, Ukrainian: Богородиця біля брами світанку, Russian: Остробрамская икона Божией Матери) is the prominent Christian icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated by the faithful in the Chapel of the Gate of Dawn in Vilnius, Lithuania. The painting was historically displayed above the Vilnius city gate; city gates of the time often contained religious artifacts intended to ward off attacks and bless passing travelers.

[indynerdgirl]

[asthecrowcrafts]

We reveal his light, we exhibit his life and we embody his love.” - Bobby Gross, Living the Christian Year

[arcenciel-par-une-larme]

I just had an epiphany that Sonic's favourite season of the liturgical year is, most probably, Lent.

I think I don't need to explain why...

[taken-aurally]

This is your annual reminder that the twelve days of Christmas are not a countdown to Christmas Day — Christmas Day is the first day of Christmas, and the days count up to the Feast of the Epiphany on the sixth of January

[lionofchaeronea]

Golgotha, Anthony van Dyck, 1630

[paulburkhart]

Make Kingdomtide Great Again

For our politically fraught times, dusting off a neglected Christian Church season could save us. #Kingdomtide starts now.

I need structure in my life. I need routines. They help me focus on important things I can easily overlook. That’s one of the reasons why I have connected so deeply with the Christian Church Calendar. I wasn’t raised with it, but these seasonal themes and focuses give more shape to my spiritual life where it would otherwise be amorphous. Today, I want to introduce you all to a lesser-known–but…

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD – In the Liturgical calendar, it is the Feast day of Lorcán Ua Tuathail (St Laurence O'Toole).

Laurence O’Toole was born at Castledermot, Co Kildare in 1128 and died at Eu, Normandy, France, on 14 November 1180; and canonised in 1225 by Pope Honorius III. Born Lorcán Ua Tuathail, his mother was an O’Byrne and his father Murtagh or Maurice O’Tuathail, a Leinster chieftain of the Murrays – both sides were of princely stock. In the 2nd century, the Celt Tuathail was one of the great Irish…

[cor-jesu-sacratissimum]

Liturgical Calendar (From 24/10/2022 to 30/10/2022)

Liturgical Calendar (From 24/10/2022 to 30/10/2022)

liturgical-calendar-from-24_10_2022-to-30_10_2022-Download Twitter Instagram Facebook Sources: 1962ordo.today https://www.divinumofficium.com/

[brostateexam]