Anno Domini 2026 July 28

Beloved of the Lord:

Today is Tuesday, 28 July, in the year of our Lord 2026. The scheduled services are as-follows:

• Tuesday (today): 6:30 PM, Requiem, Parrish monthly.
• Wednesday: 12:10 PM, Mass, S. Martha, Virgin.
• Thursday: 6:30 PM, Evensong & Holy Communion, Feria, Soup & Study.
• Friday: 9:00 AM, Mass, S. Ignatius of Loyola, Confessor, with Gregorian Canon.
  Immediately following, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
• Saturday: 10:00 AM, Holy Communion, Lammas Day.
• Sunday: 8:30 AM, Deacon's Liturgy, Trinity IX.
  10:00 AM, Mass, Trinity IX.

As can be seen in the above schedule, we are back onto our usual order of services. On the first- and third Sundays of the month, at the 8:30 AM service, we have the Deacon's Liturgy. This is an order of Service that can be performed by a Deacon, which is to say that there is no Consecration of the elements. The Deacon (and Deacon alone, for we have no lay-ministers in our Church) may distribute the Body (known as the Host, the bread or wafer in our tradition) when it has previously been consecrated by a Priest or a Bishop. He may also take the Host (typically called the Viaticum when employed in sick calls) to those in need, who cannot come to the Church. Again, the bread taken to the ill must have been previously Consecrated.

The precious Blood (the wine) is never reserved ~ never set-aside, waiting to be used in a service, either in Church or for those in physical peril. This goes back to the earliest days of the Church, and has its roots in practical concerns. Bread may be reserved virtually forever, and not lose its material character. Wine, however, especially without refrigeration, will turn, at some point. Further, transporting wine hither-and-yon presents a high risk of spillage ~ not an acceptable outcome for the Blood of our Lord.

In order that the people will know that they are not attending a Mass, but rather a distribution of the most blessed Sacrament, certain changes are made in the Liturgy. The entire rite of Consecration is, of-course, removed. Typically, the Apostles Creed is used, rather than the 'Nicene ~ both are authorised for the Mass, but the 'Apostle's is very seldom used. Here at S. Matthew's, we also substitute the Bidding Prayer for the Prayer for the Whole State of Christ's Church. All blessings are removed, as a Deacon may never give a blessing, in the same way that he may never Consecrate anything.

Thus, some of the broader strokes of the Deacon's Liturgy, and of his role in the Parrish. The Deacon, particularly in this age of priestly shortages, can provide a vital service to the faithful. Transitional Deacons are those who serve the role of a Deacon for the prescribed time before potentially being Ordained to the Priesthood. Permanent Deacons, as one might guess, remain in that role, without intention of becoming Priests. Both are needful, both are valuable, in the Kingdom of our Lord. I remain

in His praise,

The Rt. Rev'd T. L. Crowder

Pastor, Saint Matthew's Parish