Movable Feast Days – ☩ Ecclesia Gnostica

Corpus Christi:
The First Thursday after Trinity Sunday

Color: White

THE COLLECT

O God, Holy and Ineffable, who art verily mystically present in all things, and who art yet transcending all embodiment, we thank Thee for this wonderful sacrament of the altar, which Thou givest us as a token of thine indwelling divinity. We thank Thee for this the most wonderful gift which Thou hast given unto us and we ask Thee to grant us so to venerate the mystery of this sacred body and blood that we may ever perceive within ourselves thine indwelling presence, and share Thy life with others. Amen.

THE LESSON

The Lesson is taken from the first Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians:
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and He said: Take, eat; this is my Body, which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me. After the same manner also, He took the cup, when He had supped, saying: This cup is the new testament in my Blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this Bread, and drink this cup, ye show the lord’s death till He come.

THE GOSPEL

The Gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. John:
Amen, Amen, I say unto you: He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that Bread of Life. This is the Bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

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Homilies for the Day of Corpus Christi by Bishop Stephan Hoeller

A Homily for the Day of Corpus Christi by Bishop Steven Marshall

Whitsunday (Pentecost)

Color: Red; Intent: Coming of the Holy Spirit

THE COLLECT

Eternal Spirit of Wisdom, source of love and light; thou norm of the Father and the Son, who comest into the soul of man as the balance of righteousness and truth, we hail thee! Most holy comforter, dove that deifiest mankind; thou presence most secret and adored in all the worlds, hear our prayer! Thou who art the fire of Pentecost, who movest upon the face of the waters; who comest down as a mighty wind; and who renewest the face of the earth, we glorify thee, and rejoice in the all renewing majesty of thy deathless might, now and forevermore. Amen.

THE LESSON

The Lesson is taken from the Kephalaia of the Paraclete:
The fount of every blessing and all the invocations is the mother of life, the first Holy Spirit, the first mother who has come forth from the father and first appeared, the glorious one who is the beginning of all emanations that have come to this world. Know that the grains of the dust of the earth can be measured, with the whole universe, one can count the grains of the dust of the earth year after year; but the length of time the Holy Spirit passed with the father, that one cannot count. He first formed her in his inner chambers in quiet and in silence; but when she was needed, then was she called and came forth from the father of greatness; she looked after all the aeons of the light.

THE GOSPEL

The Gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. John:
Jesus said unto His disciples: I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that She may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Her not, neither knoweth Her; but ye know Her, for She dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more, but ye see Me; because I live, ye shall live also. The Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, she shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

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Homilies for Pentecost by Bishop Stephan Hoeller

A Homily for Pentecost by Bishop Steven Marshall

Ascension Day

Color: White; Intent: Return to the Light

THE COLLECT

Our Lord, the joy of Thy sweet cry has made us forget the life of this world, the sweetness of Thy voice has made us remember the Heavenly City. We rejoice as we ascend unto Thee, Father with whom we have conquered in the land of darkness. O our great King, transport us to the city of the Angel-Gods, take us into the homes of rejoicing, for we are Thine. Amen.

THE LESSON

The Lesson is taken from the Chaldean Oracles:
Let the immortal depths of the soul be opened, and open all thy eyes at once to the Above, for if the mortal draw near to the fire he shall have light from God. Thou shouldst speed to the light and to the rays of the Father. And when thou beholdest the most holy fire, flashing formless with dancing radiance through the depths of all the worlds, then listen to the voice of fire. Believe thyself to be out of body and so thou art; for divine things are not accessible to mortals who fix their minds on body; it is for those who strip themselves naked, who speed aloft to the height.

THE GOSPEL

The Gospel is taken from the Book Pistis Sophia:
So it was that when the Light-Power came down on Jesus it gradually surrounded him altogether. Then Jesus ascended on high, shining most exceedingly with an unmeasured light; and the disciples were gazing after him, not one of them speaking until he went up to heaven, but they were all in great silence. When Jesus went up to heaven, after three hours, all the powers of the heavens trembled, and the whole earth with those who dwell thereon shook until the ninth hour of the next day. Then were all the powers of the height singing hymns to the Inmost of the Inmosts so that the whole world heard their ceaseless voices. But the disciples sat close together, being afraid. Then the heavens opened, and they saw Jesus coming down, shining most exceedingly, for he shone more than at the time he had gone up to the Heavens, so that no man of earth can speak of the light that was on him.

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Homilies for Ascension Day by Bishop Stephan Hoeller

A Homily for the Feast of the Ascension by Bishop Steven Marshall