Almighty God, our sovereign Lord, who called Cornelius the Centurion to be the first Christian among the Gentiles, who healed the servant at Capernaum in accordance with the Centurion's great faith, and who inspired the Centurion at Calvary to glorify Jesus; strengthen us in our faith that we might follow their example to love, serve, and glorify you as faithful members of the Church Militant, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
and pay thy vows unto the most High
Acts x. 1, Psalm 144, Matthew viii. 5., & Matt xxvii. 34
Homily of Cyprian
Homily on Oaths of Cranmer
On this day centurions may
reaffirm the Vow of the Order in rememberance of the traditon of
the centurions of the first centuries "Sacramentum".
Another suggested day is January 1, or
its eve, which was another day when the Roman Army soldiers would
affirm their vows.
New members may be received into
the order.
Where two or more are gathered, a leader will state the
Sacramentum. For those without a Cohort, the Primus Pilus will
state the Sacramentum at the Chapel of the
Centurions.
I acknowledge Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior. I will endeavor to obey the Ten Commandments & the Summary of the Law, and follow the Rule of the Order of Centurions; and through faith and the aid of the Holy Spirit - fear God and do what is right. So help me God.
Centurions and candidates, in turn, affirm their acceptance with the words,
"The same in my case"
When a man was enlisted in the army, he received a special
mark. All early Christians received a an invisible mark at baptism,
when he was sealed with the cross on the forehead.
The observance then may continue with Devotion or Eucharist using
the following collect, readings, and sermon and Communion and/or an
Agape banquet. If this office is performed on January 1, or its
eve, the appointed collects and the readings for the Circumcision may be
used.
Acts x:1-44
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion
of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that
feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people,
and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the
ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying
unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and
said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine
alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to
Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth
with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall
tell thee what thou oughtest to do. And when the angel which spake
unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household
servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him
continually; And when he had declared all these things unto them,
he sent them to Joppa. On the morrow, as they went on their
journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the
housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry,
and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a
trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon
him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let
down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of
the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the
air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But
Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is
common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second
time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was
done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. Now
while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen
should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had
made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, And
called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were
lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said
unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get
thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent
them. Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from
Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the
cause wherefore ye are come? And they said, Cornelius the
centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report
among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy
angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter
went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied
him. And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius
waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near
friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell
down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up,
saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with
him, he went in, and found many that were come together. And he
said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man
that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation;
but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or
unclean. Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I
was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour;
and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man
stood before me in bright clothing, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer
is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of
God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname
is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the
sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. Immediately
therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art
come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all
things that are commanded thee of God. Then Peter opened his mouth,
and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of
persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh
righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto
the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is
Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published
throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism
which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the
Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing
all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we
are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the
Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him
God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the
people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did
eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he
commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is
he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To
him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever
believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet
spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the
word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished,
as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was
poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak
with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man
forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have
received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be
baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry
certain days.
Psalm 144
Matthew viii. 5
WHEN Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a
centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at
home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto
him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said,
Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but
speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man
under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man,
Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my
servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he
marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I
have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto
you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit
down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer
darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus
said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so
be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame
hour.
Matthew xxvii. 45
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto
the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud
voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God,
my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there,
when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And
straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with
vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest
said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the
ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from
the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which
slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and
went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the
centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the
earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly,
saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
HOMILY
The Combat of the Faith
Cyprian of Cathage
Bishop & Martyr
God is watching us as we battle and fight in the combat of the faith. His angels are watching us, and so is Christ. How great is the honour of that glory, how great is the happiness of fighting with God as protector, and of being crowned in victory with Christ as the judge.
Beloved brethren, let us summon up all our strength; and let us be prepared for the conflict with a pure mind, complete faith, and with dedicated courage. Let the army of God march to the place of battle which is appointed for us. The blessed apostle Paul teaches us to be prepared and armed when he says: 'Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.'
Let us take up these arms, let us fortify ourselves with these spiritual and heavenly means of protection, that on the evil day we may be able to resist the threats of the devil and beat them back.
Let us put on the breastplate of righteousness, that our hearts may be fortified and safe against the darts of the enemy. Let our feet be shod and armed with the teaching of the gospel, so that when we begin to trample on and crush the head of the serpent, he will not be able to bite us and overthrow us.
Let us carry bravely the shield of faith, so that with its protection we may be able to parry whatever the enemy hurls at us.
Let us also receive the spiritual helmet to protect our head, so that our ears may be fortified against hearing commands which would bring us to destruction. Let our eyes be covered against the sight of the despicable images, and our foreheads fortified, that the sign of God may be kept safe, and our mouths, that in victory our tongue may confess Christ its Lord.
Let us also arm our right hand with the sword of the Spirit, so that it may bravely reject the sacrifices of death; so that this right hand which receives the body of the Lord, may, mindful of the Eucharist, embrace him, and afterwards may receive the prize of the heavenly crown from the Lord.
Beloved brethren, keep these things in your hearts. If the day of persecution should overtake us as we think and meditate upon these things, the soldier of Christ who is well trained by his advice and warning will not shrink from the battle, but will be prepared for the crown of victory. Amen