Michael-what? Michaelmas is a shortened form of “Michael’s Mass” (just like Christmas is a shortened form of Christ’s Mass). It is also known as the feast day of Holy (or “St.”) Michael and All Angels. Celebrated similarly to Thanksgiving, Michaelmas conjures images of cool fall days, abundant harvests, and feasting. Festivities focus on the defeat…
The Calendar of Saints: A Rookie Anglican Guide
Why do Anglicans celebrate “feast days” for various “saints”? After all, aren’t all Christians saints? If you’re asking these questions, you’ve come to the right place! Biblical Beginnings Commemoration of saints has its roots in the Bible. In 1 Cor. 11:1, St. Paul writes: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” From this…
Why Pray for the Dead?
“For all those who departed this life in the certain hope of the resurrection, in thanksgiving let us pray to the Lord.” In Anglican worship, we don’t pray to the dead. But, we do pray for the dead and we pray with the dead. Many people have asked me why we do this. Most of the time they…
What is All Saints Day?
Knowing Our Family We’ve always been curious about our ancestors, to know where we came from and who we are. We’ve also wanted to gain wisdom from the experience of the past, both successes and failures. And we’ve desired communion and reunion of some sort. I know of a family that discovered an brother/uncle that no…
