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Calendar of saints (Lutheran)

The Lutheran Church has, from the time of the Reformation, continued the remembrance of saints. The theological basis for this remembrance is understood as being connected to the words of the Epistle to the Hebrews 12:1.[a] The Apology of the Augsburg Confession states that the remembrance of the saints has three parts: thanksgiving to God, the strengthening our faith, and the imitation of the saints' holy living.[b][3]

As a result, the Lutheran reformers retained a robust calendar of saints to be commemorated throughout the year. In addition to figures found in the Bible, early Christians such as Saint Lawrence and Martin of Tours were retained as saints on the calendar, as were extra-Biblical commemorations like the Assumption of Mary. Following the Reformation, most especially in the latter half of the twentieth century, many names were added to the calendar, both new and restored pre-Reformation commemorations.

The Calendar found below is a listing of the primary annual feasts, festivals and events that are celebrated liturgically by various Lutheran Churches in the English-speaking world. The calendars of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in their present forms are listed below, as found in the 2006 Lutheran Service Book of the LCMS, and the 2006 Evangelical Lutheran Worship of the ELCA. In addition to these, some historic observances not currently found on the aforementioned calendars but appearing in earlier Lutheran uses are also provided.[4]

While extensive, the Lutheran sanctoral calendar is not presently as strictly ranked as that of the Roman Catholic Church. Principal festivals are marked with BOLD CAPS and lesser festivals with bold text. If applicable, the country where a particular observed is also noted,[clarification needed] if it is not commonly observed on that date in North America. For individuals, the date given is generally the date of their death or "heavenly birthday." The liturgical color for vestments and paraments is noted as follows: White (W), Red (R) or Violet (V). Commemorations specific to the LCMS, ELCA, or an earlier source are noted following each entry. Commemorations and festivals held in common are not annotated.

January

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Gregory of Nazianzus

February

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Martin Luther's face and hands cast at his death.
  • 14 Cyril, monk, 869; Methodius, bishop, 885; missionaries to the Slavs (Commemoration) W – ELCA
    • Valentine, martyr, 270 (Commemoration) R – LCMS
  • 15 Philemon and Onesimus (Commemoration) W – LCMS
  • 16 Philipp Melanchthon, confessor, 1560 (Commemoration) R – LCMS
  • 17
  • 18 Martin Luther, doctor and confessor, renewer of the church, 1546 (Commemoration) W
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23 Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, martyr 156 (Commemoration) R
  • 24 Matthias, Apostle (R) – LCMS (25th February in leap years)
  • 25 Elizabeth Fedde, deaconess, 1921 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29

March

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Simon Ushakov, The Last Supper
 
Saint Joseph

April

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Michelangelo
 
Catherine of Siena

May

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Sts. Constantine and Helen
  • 10
  • 11 Cyril, 869 and Methodius, 885, missionaries to the Slavs (Commemoration) W – LCMS
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14 Matthias, apostle (Lesser Festival) R – ELCA
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18 Erik, King of Sweden, martyr, 1160 (Commemoration) R – ELCA
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21 Helena, mother of Constantine, c. 330 (W)
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24 Nicolaus Copernicus, 1543; Leonhard Euler, 1783; scientists (Commemoration) W – ELCA
    • Esther, matriarch, (Commemoration) W – LCMS
  • 25 Bede, theologian, 735 (Commemoration) R – LCMS
  • 26
  • 27 John Calvin, renewer of the church, 1564 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
  • 28
  • 29 Juraj Tranovský, hymnwriter, 1637 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
  • 30
  • 31 Visit of Mary to Elizabeth -- minor festival (W) - modern date

June

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Lucas Cranach the Elder, Philipp Melanchthon

July

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Benedict of Nursia
 
Elias Gottlob Haussmann, Johann Sebastian Bach

August

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Florence Nightingale
 
Mary, Mother of Our Lord

September

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Carlo Crivelli, Francis of Assisi

October

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Gianlorenzo Bernini The Ecstasy of St. Teresa

November

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Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg

December

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Domenico di Pace Beccafumi, Saint Lucy

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ " "Seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."[1]
  2. ^ "The first is thanksgiving. For we ought to give thanks to God because He has shown examples of mercy; because He has shown that He wishes to save men; because He has given teachers or other gifts to the Church. And these gifts, as they are the greatest, should be amplified, and the saints themselves should be praised, who have faithfully used these gifts, just as Christ praises faithful business-men (Matt. 25:21, 23). The second service is the strengthening of our faith; when we see the denial forgiven Peter, we also are encouraged to believe the more that grace truly superabounds over sin (Rom. 5:20). The third honor is the imitation, first, of faith, then of the other virtues, which every one should imitate according to his calling."[2]

References

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  1. ^ Hebrews 12:1
  2. ^ Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXI.4-6
  3. ^ Lutheran Service Book. Concordia Publishing House. 2006. pp. xii. ISBN 978-0-7586-1217-5. The Lutheran reformers understood that there was great benefit in remembering the saints whom God has given to His Church. The Apology of the Augsburg Confession (Article 21) gives three reasons for such honor. First, we thank God for giving faithful servants to His Church. Second, through such remembrance our faith is strengthened as we see the mercy that God extended to His saints of old. Third, these saints are examples by which we may imitate both their faith and their holy living according to our calling in life. [...] 'Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings to closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.' Hebrews 12:1
  4. ^ Mayes, Benjamin T. G. "Martyrology of W Loehe".
  5. ^ a b "The Church Year" (PDF). Renewing Worship. January 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 8, 2006. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  6. ^ Evangelical Lutheran Worship Leaders Desk Edition (8th (2019) Printing ed.). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress. 2006. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-8066-5620-5.

Bibliography

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  • Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship (1978). Lutheran Book of Worship. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress Press. ISBN 9780800633301.
  • Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship (1978). Lutheran Book of Worship: Minister's Desk Edition. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress Press. ISBN 978-9991472546.
  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Evangelical Lutheran Worship - Final Draft. Augsburg Fortress Press, 2006.
  • Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (1982). Lutheran Worship. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House. pp. 8–9. ISBN 978-0570010197.
  • Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (2006). Lutheran Service Book. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House. pp. x–xiii. ISBN 978-0-7586-1217-5.
  • Philip H. Pfatteicher (1980). Festivals and Commemorations: Handbook to the Calendar in Lutheran Book of Worship. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress Press. ISBN 978-0806617572.
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