Sonnets to the Saints and Sacred Days

Saints:  April through June

Saints:  July through September

Saints:  October through December

Collects from the Book of Common Prayer and

Inspirational Sonnets by George K. Johnson (1920-2007), member of Holy Trinity Anglican Church.

The Annunciation of The Blessed Virgin Mary, March 25

Collect:  WE beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts; that, as we have known the incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his cross and passion we may be brought unto the glory of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ANNUNCIATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY

God sent his trusted angel Gabriel

To Nazareth in Galilee one morn

And to a startled virgin to foretell

Of her the Son of God was to be born.

As Jesus (Yahweh saves) would He be called,

The throne of David would He sure ascend

To rule the House of Jacob e’er installed,

"And of His Kingdom there will be no end."

This maiden Mary, troubled at the news,

Told Gabriel that she had never wed,

But when assured a caring God would use

The Holy Ghost to come to her, she pled,

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord;

So let it be according to your word."

Saint Matthias the Apostle, February 24

Collect:  O ALMIGHTY God, who into the place of the traitor Judas didst choose thy faithful servant Matthias to be of the number of the twelve Apostles; Grant that thy Church, being alway preserved from false Apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Saints:  December through January

MATTHIAS, ELECTED APOSTLE

Known only from first chapter of Luke’s Acts,

Matthias earned his choice in Judas’ stead

As twelfth Apostle, Peter said, by facts:

He closely followed Christ where ere He led.

Meeting in their secluded Upper Room,

Apostles and disciples joined in prayer

For our Lord’s guidance indicating whom

To choose. Christ’s mother, too, was there;

Heard them confirm in prayer her Son divine

(Her last appearance in our Holy Book).

By lots they chose Matthias to assign

As twelfth who with them Pentecost partook.

‘Tis said he preached among most savage men;

Was martyred, but we know not where or when.

The Purification of Saint Mary the Virgin, Feb. 2

Collect:  ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we humbly beseech thy Majesty, that, as thy only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in substance of our flesh, so we may be presented unto thee with pure and clean hearts, by the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saints:  February through March

PURIFICATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY

His fortieth day our infant Christ was shown

At temple for his mother’s cleansing rite.

Though really needing none, Mary was known

To adhere to the Law e'en it seem trite.

And waiting there, guided by Holy Ghost,

Simeon saw the Babe, held Him and blessed

God for at last revealing to him Host

Of man’s salvation, thus to take his rest.

The prophet first to say that Christ had come,

He saw a suffering although gloried Lord;

"This Child will fall and rise again," his sum,

As Mary and hers marveled at his word.

Their offerings were doves of modest price,

But God had sent His Lamb as sacrifice.

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