FROM FATHER SAMMY WOOD: SAINT DOMINIC’S ROSARY GUILD

Last weekend, Sister Michelle Heyne, O.A., led a group of Saint Marians in our annual Parish Retreat, that focused this year on Benedictine Spirituality. As part of her presentation, Sister Michelle introduced the concept of the “Threefold Rule of Prayer” — (1) the Daily Office (Morning, Noonday, and Evening Prayer, and Compline), (2) regular reception of the Holy Eucharist, and (3) what she calls “personal devotion.” Father Martin Thornton describes this third element of the threefold rule as “that prayer done physically alone, according to one’s unique gifts, personality, and temperament.” If the Eucharist is the living heart of the Body of Christ, and the Daily Office its continual pulse, “personal devotions are the circulation of the blood which gives life and strength to all its members.” And as one example of the myriad expressions of personal devotion, Sister Michelle mentioned praying the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Praying the Rosary is a simple practice combining vocal prayer and mental prayer (meditation), focusing on the chief mysteries of the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and glory of Jesus, as one prays a circuit comprising a Crucifix, small and large beads, fifty of which are divided into ten “decades.” The practice of praying with beads predates Christianity itself. In fact, our word “bead” relates to the Saxon “bid,” meaning “to pray.” No one is entirely sure where the Rosary comes from, but the classical arrangement we have today dates to the 13th century, and tradition says Saint Dominic received the Rosary (a word meaning “crown of roses”) from the Blessed Virgin Mary herself. Indeed, there is a painting of Saint Dominic, a beaded Rosary at his waist, in the lower right corner of the Valentine Francis d’Ogries mural behind the high altar at Saint Mary’s, and the five panels below the mural depict the five “joyful mysteries” of the Rosary! Anglo-Catholics have long prayed the Rosary, and the classic devotional manual The Practice of Religion commends the practice:

Probably no devotion has ever done more to teach the Mysteries of our Religion. The Rosary appeals alike to the most scholarly and to the most simple minded. Faithfully used it is the greatest help to holiness, at once a Confession of Faith, an Intercession and a Devotion.

On Sunday, January 19, we will hold the inaugural meeting of the Saint Dominic’s Rosary Guild at Saint Mary’s. This Guild is conceived as a group that gathers to learn about the Rosary, pray it together, and perhaps even make some simple Rosaries to give away to visitors of Saint Mary’s. After the 11:00 AM Mass, we plan to spend a few minutes at Coffee Hour, and then gather in Saint Benedict’s Study to discuss what we would like this group to be.

At a parish devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, praying the Rosary should certainly be in our repertoire, seeing as how it is a quintessentially Marian devotion. This is a chance for us to grow in our understanding of Scripture, our love of Jesus and his mother, and, in turn, our own personal holiness. Back in 2016, Father Jonathan Mitchican wrote in The Living Church’s “Covenant” weblog:

Some Christians will undoubtedly see the Rosary and any similar Marian devotion as superstitions nonsense. They will object that such devotions are not scriptural and that they have the potential of turning our attention away from Jesus . . . . But in point of fact, the Rosary does the opposite. The prayers of the Rosary are faithfully grounded in Scripture. (In fact, the least “scriptural” prayer in the Rosary is arguably the Apostles’ Creed.) The prayers of the Rosary are designed, not to give us a way of bypassing Jesus, but to take us right to him. It is the blessedness of the “fruit of [her] womb” that gives Mary her power. It is Christ’s kingship that makes her the queen of heaven. Jesus is all that we need, he is all-sufficient, yet he chooses to offer himself to us through his mother, making her a channel of his grace, and in so doing gives us an example of how he works through all Christians to share his love and his light with the world.

If you are interested, please join us on Sunday in Saint Benedict’s as we learn about and practice this centuries-old prayer together.
— SW

PARISH PRAYERS FOR THE CHURCH & FOR THE WORLD

We pray for the people of the Diocese of Los Angeles, and all the people of southern California, in this time of devastation, displacement, and destruction. We pray for the people and clergy of our sister parish, the Church of All Saints, Margaret Street, London, UK. We pray for Father Jay Smith as he begins his retirement.

We pray for those who have asked us for our prayers, for Grace, Glenna, Henry, Caroline, Giovanna, Jorge, Aston, Lexi, Vicki, Carl, Georgia, Desarae, Jane, Ruth Ann, David, Michele, Barbara, Steve, Shalim, Beverly, Claudia, James, Leroy, Jose, Renee, Maddie, Nettie, Chrissy, Molly, Tony, Robert, Duncan, Justin, Audy, Russell, Sharon, Rick, Susanna, Rolf, Adair, Jan, June, Carlos, Pat, Marjorie, Liduvina, Quincy, Margaret, Gypsy, Robert, and Leroy; for Eleanor, Barbara Jean, Curtis, Laura Katherine, and Keith, religious; for Lind, deacon; and for Robby, Jay, Julie, and Stephen, priests.

We pray also for the repose of the souls of those whose year’s mind is on January 19, for Anna Kraus (1917), David William Loeber (1919), David Lewis Coles (1924), Archibald Venn (1931), and Mary Isabelle Reynolds (1953).

FROM FATHER JAY SMITH: THANK YOU, PEOPLE OF SAINT MARY'S

When we talk about growing older or about retirement, we often talk about loss, limitations, diminishment, or downsizing. This makes a certain sense. In our seventies, we almost never need what we needed—or thought we needed—in our forties. Figuring out finances in retirement means dealing with unfamiliar bureaucracies and budgetary changes—welcome to Medicare Form No. 0938-1230. Still, I'm learning that it's a mistake to think of the changes that retirement brings solely in terms of loss. There is also so much gain, so much grace. You, the people and clergy of Saint Mary's, both near and far, showed us that on Sunday. There were sad moments in the day, of course. Change isn't easy. But there was so much celebration and so much joy in everything that we did together and in everything that you gave us. It was an immense privilege to be the celebrant and preacher at both Masses. It was so lovely that during my last Mass as associate rector I was able to baptize Dax, Tilly, and Andrew. And the day was filled with so many graces—the gorgeous music, the icon of the Blessed Virgin, the beautiful reception, the photographs, the laughter, the visitors from afar, the cake with fireworks, the letter from the bishop, the memory box filled with so much affection, the care with which all of this was planned and executed, the camaraderie and support I felt in the sacristy and at the altar, and the presence of all of you. It was so good to worship and pray with you. It was so wonderful to be able to celebrate our ministry together. It was good to be hopeful for Saint Mary's future along with you. It made me so happy to see all of you in the church and in the hall. You gave me and José such an unforgettable gift, and we will never forget it. — JRS

On Thursday, Father Matt asked José how Father Jay’s first week of retirement was going and José responded that he would give him a B+. Father Matt took this as a good sign and didn't ask where Father Jay lost points.

AROUND THE PARISH

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day . . . Monday, January 20, is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and we will follow our federal holiday schedule at the parish. The church will be open from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Mass will be said in the Lady Chapel at 10:00 AM. The parish clergy will pray the Daily Office privately, and the parish office is closed.

Newcomers Reception . . . Father Sammy and Renee Wood will host a reception in the rectory for newcomers on Sunday, January 26, after Solemn Mass. This is an opportunity for those who are new to the parish to get to know us better and to learn more about Saint Mary’s. Please let Father Wood know if you plan on attending.

Pilgrimage to Assisi . . . Brother Thomas Steffensen, SSF, will be leading a pilgrimage to Assisi for brothers in his community who are nearing the end of their novitiate and he would like some Saint Marians to join them. The dates have not yet been finalized. If you might be interested, please join Brother Thomas and Father Matt after Solemn Mass on Sunday, February 2, for an information session. We will meet in Saint Benedict’s Study.

Candlemas . . . This year, the Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple, also known as Candlemas, falls on Sunday, February 2. The Presentation is one of the feast days that takes precedence when it falls on a Sunday (BCP p. 16). Our guest preacher at both Masses will be Mother Rita Powell, chaplain for the Harvard Episcopal Community. We will also offer a choral Evensong & Benediction at 4:00 PM.

Adult Formation . . . On January 19, Father Sammy Wood will conclude the two-part series on “The Catholic Imagination of Flannery O’Connor” begun last Sunday by parishioner Allen Reddick. This week, we will reflect on O'Connor's writing from a theological perspective, consider the writer and race, and explore a connection to evangelism, drawing from O'Connor's famous quote from Mystery & Manners:

When you can assume that your audience holds the same beliefs you do, you can relax and use more normal means of talking to it; when you have to assume that it does not, then you have to make your vision apparent by shock -- to the hard of hearing you shout, and for the almost-blind you draw large and startling figures.

To prepare for Sunday's class, read through the short stories we discussed last week (“Greenleaf” and “Revelation”), if you haven't already, as well as “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” all of which should be readily available online for free.

Next up in Adult Formation . . . Embracing Evangelism (January 26, February 2, 9, 16, 23, and March 2). This second part of this year’s foundation course will be based on the Episcopal Church’s “Embracing Evangelism” video series. We will watch the videos together and discuss them. Specifically, we will examine a particularly Anglican definition of evangelism, assess the need for it, and introduce various methods for sharing the gospel. Led by Father Sammy Wood.

Neighbors in Need . . . A drop-by day was held on January 17. Donations of coats of all sizes for both men and women are especially needed for the winter months. There is also a need for sensible shoes and men’s pants, especially sizes 34-38. Please speak to MaryJane Boland or Marie Rosseels for more information. The next drop-by will be held on Friday, February 21.

Would you like to donate the altar flowers on a Sunday? . . . The customary donation requested is $250. Please call the Parish Office (212-869-5830) or email Chris Howatt for more information.

The New York Repertory Orchestra . . . NYRO, Saint Mary’s resident orchestra, will have their next concert on February 15 at 8:00 PM. The program features: David Diamond: The Enormous Room; Vitezslava Kaprálová: Rustic Suite; and Paul Hindemith: Der Schwanendreher (Masumi Per Rostad, viola). Admission is free but a donation of $15.00 (or more) is gratefully accepted.

THE DIOCESE AND WIDER CHURCH

Absalom Jones Celebration . . . This year’s diocesan celebration of Absalom Jones will be Saturday, February 8, at 10:30 AM, at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. From the Cathedral: “This meaningful service will honor the legacy of Rev. Absalom Jones, the first Black priest ordained in the Episcopal Church, whose groundbreaking ministry paved the way for a more diverse and inclusive priesthood. Join us for this inspiring celebration of faith, perseverance, unity, and the richness of our shared diversity.” While registration isn’t required, RSVPing here will help the Cathedral to prepare. Absalom Jones’s feast day is on Thursday, February 13, and Saint Mary’s will commemorate him that day at Mass in the Lady Chapel.

Christian Unity . . . The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins on Saturday, January 18, the Confession of Saint Peter the Apostle, and concludes the following Saturday on the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle. The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine will commemorate it on January 19 at their Evensong, which begins at 4:00 PM.

Helping the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles . . . If you would like to make a donation to assist the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, please visit their website.

ABOUT THE MUSIC AT THE SOLEMN MASS ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2025, THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

The organ prelude and postlude on Sunday are three of Four Spiritual Preludes by David Hurd, organist and music director at Saint Mary’s. Four Spiritual Preludes is a suite of pieces modeled broadly on chorale preludes of the baroque era. Each prelude presents a well-known spiritual melody in a unified texture and individual harmonic context. The first prelude of the set, Oh! What a beautiful City, was composed in February 2001 and was the last of the set to be written. It states the spiritual melody above accompaniment in the left hand and pedal. The accompaniment patterns feature triplets and other groups of threes, representing the four sets of three gates referred to in the words of the spiritual. This prelude is intended to have a busy urban flavor with impressions of start-and-stop traffic, and more than a few taxi horns. Go down, Moses is structured over the gradual chromatic descent of the pedal voice for the equivalent of more than two octaves. The spiritual melody is in the uppermost voice, and two additional accompanying voices converse with one another to provide a fluid if not anguished harmonization. Deep River, the postlude, is the last of the set. The spiritual melody is conveyed largely by augmented triads and thirds in triplet figures. This suite of preludes was inspired by and is dedicated to distinguished Washington DC-based organist and historian Dr. Mickey Thomas Terry.

Calvin Hampton (1938–1984) was a vibrant member of the New York music community his entire adult life. A brilliant organist and imaginative composer, Hampton was music director at Calvary Church, Gramercy Park, from the early 1960s until shortly before his death. His dynamic musical voice was generously expressed in music for the organ as well as in varied concert and liturgical applications. The weekly Friday midnight organ recitals which he played at Calvary Church for several seasons are legendary. His distinctive art-song styled hymn settings and liturgical service music brought a bright spark to congregational singing in the years after the Second Vatican Council and the ecumenical wave of liturgical renewal which followed. Hampton’s Mass for the New Rite was composed especially for the Episcopal and Roman Catholic Eucharistic common texts which took hold in the early 1970s. It was published in 1976. The Creed from this setting, revised for the text of the present Book of Common Prayer and included in The Hymnal 1982, has become a staple for singing congregations far and wide, including the congregation of Saint Mary the Virgin, New York City. The other portions of Hampton’s Mass are less well known, perhaps because they appeared too challenging for regular congregational singing and did not significantly penetrate the repertoire of choral settings for which there has been little demand. At Solemn Mass this week, the choir will sing the Gloria, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei of Hampton’s Mass for the New Rite, and we shall all sing the Creed together as is customary at Saint Mary’s.

The motet at communion is also by Calvin Hampton. It is one of the yet unpublished choral pieces which he shared with the Mississippi Liturgy and Music conference in 1983. This was the first sign reflects upon Saint John’s account of the wedding at Cana where Jesus performed his first public miracle in changing water to wine (John 2:1–11), a bible passage which we hear at Eucharist only in lectionary year C. — David Hurd

We need your help to keep holding our services. Click below, where you can make one-time or recurring donations to support Saint Mary’s. We are very grateful to all those who make such donations and continue to support Saint Mary’s so generously.

Saint Mary’s is a vibrant Anglo-Catholic witness in the heart of NYC. With our identity in Christ and a preference for the poor, we are an inclusive, diverse community called to love God and each other for the life of the world.

This edition of The Angelus was written and edited by Father Matt Jacobson, except as noted. Father Matt is also responsible for formatting it on the parish website and distributing it via mail and e-mail, with the assistance of Christopher Howatt, parish administrator, and parish volunteer, Clint Best. If you have an idea for an article that you would like to publish in an upcoming issue of The Angelus, Father Matt would be happy to discuss it with you.