WORSHIP in the Order of Centurions

IN HOC
SIGNO VINCES

WORSHIP
of the
Order of Centurions

O worship the Lord in the beauty of his holiness;
let the whole earth stand in awe of him

TIME DEUM ET
OPERARE IUSTITIAM

Chapel of the Centurions
Devotional Liturgy | Daily Meditation | Anglican Daily Lessons | Liturgical History | Lessons & Homilies |
CALENDAR | CENTURION'S HYMNAL
Devotion
The Rule calls for a Centurion to meditate on Scripture and to pray. Early Christians prayed the Lord's Prayer thrice daily. Offered here is a daily Devotional Liturgy with a small devotion guide that you may print out and carry with you. The Daily Devotion in also in the Chapel of the Centurions . A term for periodic devotions in the Church was "Officium" meaning duty or responsibility and from which we get our word "Office" for devotions in prayer books.

Corporate Worship

Centurions should participate in corporate worship. The primary corporate worship service of the Church since the early days has been the Lord's Supper (Communion/Eucharist). The Scriptures and history tell us that the early Christians met in homes in small groups to hear the Scripture and break bread together on the first day of the week [Acts 2:42, Acts 20:7]. In some places the Eucharist was offered daily, and in the time Fabian (236-250), it was obligatory to approach the Holy Table three times a year, viz, at Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. Offered here is a Eucharist Liturgical History The liturgy is suitable for Centurions to use in homes and a local Chapel of Centurions

"The reconstructions of the earliest forms of the Eucharist present a domestic Eucharist not very different from the more solemn religious family gatherings which were characteristic of the Jewish liturgical calendar...rooted in meal-celebrations such as the Seder of the Jewish Passover." In families, the father would lead the gathering. In groups, the worship was led by one of the more experienced in the group. Consider the words of Jesus,

This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

The early Christians followed this command he gave at his last meal when he instituted a new festival. They took the Jewish annual feast and transformed it into a weekly celebration of the resurrection on the Lord's Day... but still a Pascal Feast in that it celebrated a memorial of the New Passover, the blood of the New Covenant, and a new sacrificial lamb... the Lamb of God.

Cohorts of the Order are encouraged to follow an ancient Liturgy like that shown below. It was used in early Rome for community gatherings, and is probably one similar to what soldiers in the Roman army used. Cohorts may use this style in their worship meetings and should use it at least annually on or about the time of the Feast of the Order of Centurions on 3 January at the Annual Meeting of the Cohort. Cohorts may include an Agape banquet. Here then is a form used in about the year of our Lord 155 as reported in an epistle by St. Justin Martyr

Assembly: On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place.

Scripture: The memoirs of the apostles (New Testament) and the writings of the prophets (Old Testament) are read, as much as time permits.

Sermon/Discussion: When the reader has finished, he who presides* over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things [*prohestos - means to stand in front].

Prayers: Then we all rise together and offer prayers for ourselves . . .and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation.

Peace: When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss

Offering: Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren.

In the absence of the Communion, the Cohort may wish to have a meal at this point. The food being brought forward as an offering and a prayer of thanksgiving being said.

Thanksgiving: He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks that we have been judged worthy of these gifts.

AMEN: When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: 'Amen.'

Lord's Supper: When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call deacons give to those present the "eucharisted" bread, wine and water and take them to those who are absent.

Altarpiece, Memorial Chapel, Ampleforth Abbey

The four centurions of the New Testament shown on bottom of Altarpiece
(used by permission)

The Order recognizes a day for the Centurions and those Christian occasions that were recognized by the Early Church. The Order remembers the deeds of great Christian centurions through the ages. Some key dates are listed on the Order's

CALENDAR

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