Calendar of saints (Lutheran)

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Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The Lutheran Church has, from the time of the Reformation, continued the remembrance of saints. The theological basis for this remembrance may be best illustrated in the words of the Epistle to the Hebrews: "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] The Apology of the Augsburg Confession states that the remembrance of the saints has three parts: "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]

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

The Calendar found below is a listing which aims to give a sense of the primary annual 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.

While extensive, the Lutheran sanctoral calendar is not presently as strictly ranked as that of the Roman Catholic Church. Principal feasts are marked with BOLD CAPS, feasts of Christ with bold italics and other major feasts with bold text. If applicable, the country where a particular observed is also noted, 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 are noted as being specific to the LCMS, ELCA, or an earlier source with a note following each entry, though commemorations and festivals held in common are not annotated.

For further information on the development of the calendar, see Liturgical calendar (Lutheran).

January

File:Gregor-Chora (cropped).jpg
Gregory of Nazianzus

February

Martin Luther's face and hands cast at his death.

March

Simon Ushakov, The Last Supper

April

May

Sts. Constantine and Helen
  • 10
  • 11 Cyril, 869 and Methodius, 885, missionaries to the Slavs (Commemoration) W – LCMS
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14 Saint Matthias, apostle (Lesser Festival) R – ELCA
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18 Erik, King of Sweden, martyr, 1160 (Commemoration) R – ELCA
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21 Saint 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 The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (W) - modern date

June

Lucas Cranach the Elder, Philipp Melanchthon

July

Elias Gottlob Haussmann, Johann Sebastian Bach

August

September

October

File:Ecstasy St Theresa SM della Vittoria.jpg
Gianlorenzo Bernini The Ecstasy of St. Teresa

November

December

Domenico di Pace Beccafumi, Saint Lucy

See also

References

  1. Hebrews 12:1
  2. Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXI.4-6
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  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Evangelical Lutheran Worship - Final Draft. Augsburg Fortress Press, 2006.
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