The Annunciator

Newsletter of the Church of the Annunciation

of the Blessed Virgin Mary Anglican Patrimony within the Catholic Communion

Canadian Deanery of St John the Baptist Personal Ordinariate of the

Chair of St Peter

289 Spencer Street Ottawa ON K1Y 2R1 613-722-9139

www.annunciationofthebvm.org

Vol. 22 No. 09– AUGUST 2020

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“I will seek him whom my soul loves.” Song of Solomon 3:2 The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene - July 22, 2020 Song of Solomon 3:1-4a; John 20:1-2, 11-18

I have often commented that most of us know very little of God’s trustworthiness,

because we so seldom really trust in Him, letting go of all other supports, and back-up

plans (“just in case”). Likewise, we know so little of His grace, and what it is to be

filled completely with His life and love, for that requires emptying out of ourselves—

giving up ourselves to the way of the Cross: dying, to be raised and made alive in Him

alone—such as is expressed by St. Paul in Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ;

it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. We need to return to Cross and be overwhelmed by sin’s

consequences, and the divine grace which restores us by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.

In St. Mary Magdalene we have a wonderful example of one who knew both most profoundly. She had

learned to trust Jesus absolutely; to pour out her life and love wholly upon Him, who had raised her up

from the dead—if not physically, certainly morally and spiritually.

Both Saints Mark (16:9) and Luke (8:2) inform us that Jesus had cast out seven demons from her. That

may be the literal number—certainly possible that she had so many attached to her—or it might be

intended as a symbolic figure.

In Scripture, the number seven symbolizes completeness—think of the days of Creation, which thereafter

form the rhythm of the week and liturgical life; likewise there are the seven churches, seven seals, etc. in

the Revelation. If we are to read of the seven demons in Mary in this way, it could mean that her

possession was extreme, flooding her frame—perhaps like the man with, “Legion”; for many demons had

entered him. Luke 8:30, who was chained among the tombs—therefore she found herself completely empty

after being delivered. We might imagine then that her subsequent infilling with Christ’s presence was

as being raised from the dead, transformed: absolutely and completely His.

Tradition connects her with a previous life of prostitution, which certainly could have provided that open

door to demonic activity, especially since she might have been driven there by sexual abuse and related

demonic attachments from childhood. Such a one may well have felt little more than property; worthless,

except as a commodity, passed from man to man. She has been identified with both the figure of the

woman caught in adultery in John 8, and that of the “sinful woman” in Luke 7—she who anointed Jesus’

feet with her tears and ointment from an alabaster flask, drying them with her hair, and eliciting His

words: “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

I have offered a further identification—which we see in our Ancient Office Hymn as well (*below)—of her

with Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus. According to St. John, that Mary clearly was known for her prophetic anointing of Jesus at their home in Bethany (cf. John 11:2, 12:1-7; also Matthew

26:13, Mark 14:9), when she took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped

his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. While we recognize the extravagance of the gesture, particularly in light of Judas’s protestation, “Why was this ointment not sold

…continued on page 2…

for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”, we

might not be stricken so strongly by the scandalous

nature in that day of publicly letting down her hair

and wiping His feet. She gave herself freely and

selflessly—an act of love—and the fragrance filled the

house, putting us in mind of the sweet-smelling scent

of a burnt offering, an holocaust, or incense: a sacrifice

wholly immolated—nothing held back—in worship of

GOD. So she poured—emptied—out herself to Him,

that she might be filled fully in turn with His grace to

become what she was created to be.

I have often noted that every time we encounter Mary

of Bethany she is at the feet of Jesus: anointing (John

12); listening (Luke 10:39); collapsing at the grave of

Lazarus (John 11:32). In iconography she is portrayed

regularly with a flask of ointment and/or spices—

recalling both the earlier anointing and her later

appearance at the grave on the first day of the week—

or sometimes she is pictured in her encounter with the

risen Jesus, responding as He calls her by name.

From the time she first appears on the scene,

Scripture presents her as the most faithful of Jesus’

disciples: there to the end of His earthly life and

burial; among the first to arrive at the empty Tomb,

on the day of the Resurrection; and more. St. John

actually presents her as the first witness to the risen

Christ, there at the Tomb after the Apostles had come

and gone.

Confounded and dismayed by the emptiness, she had

run to find Peter and John. Thereafter, when they

drifted uncertainly away, having been unable to

discover anything more than she—although we are

told that John saw and believed, they clearly were still

not sure what to make of it all—could not follow. Was

she clinging to a memory and simply the last place she

had glimpsed His form? Or was she perhaps holding

to hope beyond hope—weeping even as Abraham had

wept on the mountain-top, as he offered up his son,

while still clinging fast to the Promise of the LORD

embodied in that very child—holding to God? Perhaps

Mary, though her mind told her He was gone, still

clung fast to Jesus in her heart—knowing that, if she

were yet alive, He must be too, because He was her Life. I slept, but my heart was awake. Song of Solomon 5:2

Then He called her by name, “MARY!” and her heart

leapt, and her body followed after; and though she was

not to cling to Him at that moment—not to hold that

bodily form which had been so near and dear to her—

she was to experience an even deeper infilling with

His Life and Love, when His Spirit was poured out in

weeks to come. And what she came to know then was

that very fullness which we too might know, if we, like

Mary Magdalene, would let go of ourselves to Him and

in Him, and let our Lord fill us with that same Life.

May we beseech the intercession of St. Mary

Magdalene this day, that we might know more fully

both the trustworthiness of God and the immensity of

His grace in our lives; that overwhelmed by His grace

and love, we might pour ourselves out in turn, loving

even as we are loved by Him who calls each one of us

by name.

My song is love unknown,

My Savior’s love to me,

Love to the loveless shown,

That they might lovely be.

O who am I, that for my sake

My Lord should take frail flesh and die?

In Christ Jesus,

Fr. Doug

*AOH #131 Lauda, mater ecclesia EH 17

1. Exalt, O Mother Church, to-day

The clemency of Christ thy Lord:

By seven-fold grace who wipes away

The guilt of seven-fold crimes abhorr’d.

2. Sister of Laz’rus that was dead,

She, that in such transgression fell,

To the bright gates of Life was led

Up from the very jaws of hell.

3. The great Physician she pursues,

Bearing the precious ointment-cruse:

And by His only word is she

From manifold disease set free.

4. With heart dissolv’d in penitence,

And tears that flow’d apace, she came,

And piety of deed—and thence

She found the cure of sin and shame.

5. Pardon of guilt had made her soul

A golden for an earthen bowl;

And for a vessel of disgrace,

A precious vessel finds its place.

6. To Christ, arisen from the dead,

And Death’s great Conqu’ror, as she press’d,

His earliest sight she merited,

Who lov’d Him more than all the rest.

7. To God alone be honour paid

For grace so manifold display’d:

Their guilt He pardons who repent,

And gives reward for punishment. Amen.

St. Odo of Cluny. 9th century (J.M. Neale)

SOME NOTES FOR AUGUST 2020

Streaming of services: https://www.facebook.com/annunciationofthebvm/

i) SUNDAY, AUGUST 2nd Eighth after TRINITY {Solemnity} 9:20 Mattins/10:00AM SUNG MASS

4:00PM Solemn Evensong & Benediction

ii) THURSDAY, AUGUST 6th

TRANSFIGURATION of the LORD

{Solemnity} 5:30 Evensong/6:00PM SUNG MASS

iii) SUNDAY, AUGUST 9th Ninth after TRINITY {Solemnity} 9:20 Mattins/10:00AM SUNG MASS

iv) MONDAY, AUGUST 10th

ST. LAWRENCE, Deacon & Martyr

{Feast} 5:30 Evensong/6:00PM SUNG MASS

v) SATURDAY, AUGUST 15th ASSUMPTION of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

{Solemnity} 8:30 Mattins/9:00AM SUNG MASS

vi) SUNDAY, AUGUST 16th Tenth after TRINITY

{Solemnity} 9:20 Mattins/10:00AM SUNG MASS

4:00PM Sung Evening Prayer with Sermon

ix) SUNDAY, AUGUST 23rd Eleventh after TRINITY {Solemnity} 9:20 Mattins/10AM SUNG MASS

x) MONDAY, 24th ST. BARTHOLOMEW the APOSTLE

5:30 Evensong/6:00PM SUNG MASS

xi) SATURDAY, AUGUST 29th The PASSION of ST. JOHN the BAPTIST

8:30 Mattins/9:00AM SUNG HEALING MASS

xii) SUNDAY, AUGUST 30th Twelfth after TRINITY

{Solemnity} 9:20 Mattins/10:00AM SUNG MASS

xiii) SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th St. Mary on Saturday 8:30 Mattins/9:00AM Mass

******************** 3:00PM St. Peter & St. Paul ANIC Church

152 Metcalfe St., Ottawa AUGUSTINE COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT

xiv) SUN, SEPTEMBER 6th Thirteenth after TRINITY

{Solemnity} 9:20 Mattins/10AM SUNG MASS

4:00PM Solemn Evensong & Benediction

In a belated June birth announcement:

Zack & Bentleigh Candy welcomed their first-born

Gregory Athanasius Candy

Sunday, June 20th,

2020

On MONDAY, JULY 27th,

2020

Joshua and Elizabeth Korf welcomed their first-born

Henrietta Elodie Bernadette Thérèse.

She was baptized into the Body of Christ,

In the Name of the FATHER,

and of the SON,

and of the HOLY GHOST,

on Saturday, August 1st

, 2020

Thanks be to GOD!

Many blessings be upon their household.

MICHAEL’S MUSINGS

It probably is almost silly to say that the past six months are

nothing like what I had been expecting. Actually, that’s

not completely true. In a few, very important, respects, they’ve been exactly what I was expecting—lots of time

playing with my children, lots of time with a new baby who

seems to be laughing and smiling at me most of the time (especially when she’s kicking me in the head or pulling my

hair at midnight). Of course, along with that comes the

great pain of physical separation from many other family and friends. This is especially true of Rebecca’s family,

who all live in the United States, but we’ve avoided visiting

many of my relatives, and even a lot of friends, as well.

The family camp we usually attend during the summer was cancelled, of course. Many of the things that we thought

we’d be doing simply haven’t been options.

One would think that this would present us with manifold

opportunities for self-improvement, or to get things done

around the house. This was the first year we planted a garden, and I also put in some rose bushes and we planted

apple trees. I’ve been working on improving my French.

But it’s amazing, with comparatively little structure to our

days, or having to fit things in around trips out of town, how quickly the time slips by without much sense of

accomplishment—although, truth be told, if I simply spent

the whole day long hugging my kids I’d feel enough of a

sense of accomplishment. I’m grateful I can do that—I

know that many people are much more cut off from family than I am. In any case, whether it seems a short time or

long, the summer is drifting past, and (one way or another)

our son will be back at school in another month, and

Rebecca and I are starting (rather belatedly and slowly) to look at our own plans for the fall.

The whole point of this so far, about which nothing needed to be said, is that this is a difficult set of circumstances in

which to make decisions. There are a lot of strong feelings

and many potential distractions, even when things might seem comparatively less busy. It’s hard to discern the will

of God—even more so when I am battered by as many

different emotions as this year has provided. There are rare

occasions when God has given me very clear signs of what he wants me to do; I could tell some stories that are pretty

amazing (at least they amaze me.) But usually God speaks

in something that more closely resembles silence than a shout. Sometimes there’s no clarity at all as to the

specifics; there’s simply the desire to do something that

would honour God, and bring glory to his name, and then we have to make a decision. And then there are times

when I come back to something that Bishop Scott McCaig

said in a talk to some CCO staffers years ago, and which I

only vaguely remember—I believe I may have shared this before—something along the lines of, “When you have

clearly discerned something is God’s will, and are at peace

with it, don't change your mind simply because you no longer feel at peace.” In other words, sometimes you

simply know who you are, what God has called you to do,

and you can spend months lamenting your lack of

emotional equilibrium, or you can get on with it. You go with what you know. In the centre of so many things that

we don’t understand, or that are very upsetting, what are the

things of which we are absolutely certain?

During my parental leave, my “business” has been

discerning whether to return to work full-time as a support worker, or whether God was calling me in a different

direction; for example, to take another job in high school

chaplaincy, or to return to school myself (which might

involve continuing in my current job as well). Part of the question was answered for me when I wasn’t offered the

chaplaincy jobs for which I applied; however, I could have

kept looking for similar positions farther afield. What stopped me was what we already know clearly—and had

become even clearer as we thought of making a move—and

that is a deep sense of call to be part of this community. Especially with the absence of connection to so many of our

family members, the sense that Annunciation really is our

family, not just in a vague mystical sense, but in a very

practical way, was stronger than ever. The same sense of, “Start with what you know” began to work its way through

school considerations. Since I was a teenager, I’ve wanted

to pursue a doctorate in theology. I spent some time

looking at programs in the United States, and began

thinking about long term dreams to go to some prestigious

school there, and to have some wonderful academic career. Lovely daydreams and all, and they could very possibly

have come true, but in praying about what to do, I wasn’t

given a sense of call to any particular school. Instead, over

and over, our sense of calling to stay right here came to the forefront, not just for Annunciation—I have my family ten

minutes away, and Robert attends a wonderful Christian

school—but largely because of the parish.

So, tentatively, although we don’t understand all of the

details, or what God is doing through this, here is our plan, which I am sharing with you, asking for your prayers.

Both Rebecca and I are planning to return to studies at St.

Paul University here in Ottawa. She actually began taking

classes there last Fall, to explore the possibility of enrolling in the Master of Divinity program, which she now intends

to do. Rebecca’s undergrad is in ministry, from the time

she spent preparing for ordination as a Wesleyan minister (she completed all of the educational and training

requirements before choosing to become a Catholic

instead); she doesn’t know exactly what God is calling her to do—perhaps some type of health care chaplaincy, or

perhaps an apostolate intersecting with some of her other

interests (assisting women with childbirth, nursing, and

Natural Family Planning). We don’t know where all that will take her, but we know the next step (and like for

Newman, that always has to be enough.) Likewise, for me,

I don’t know if one day I will clearly hear God’s voice calling me to study somewhere in the United States or

Europe, but that certainly is not now. But since I know that

God is calling me to study, I’m going to move forward

taking advantage of the opportunities that I have here, especially a particular opportunity I’m exploring to do

research with one of St. Paul’s adjunct faculty (more shall

be revealed in time, if that works out). We’re continuing to discuss this with family, close friends, and with Fr. Doug,

but this is what we believe we’re supposed to do now.

Of course, this doesn’t answer all the questions. In fact,

the questions are just beginning—aren’t they always?—but

it’s easier to deal with all of those secondary questions

when there’s a firm sense of where the ground is, when you can remind yourself of how much you already know. What

we as a family have found through a lot of this uncertainty

is how much we’re at home here at Annunciation, and this provides the stability to take bold stabs into the unknown.

We know that, as always, you’ll be praying for all of us.

Michael Trolly (Michael is our Cantor, Organist, Instituted Acolyte & a father of three)

Money Matters August 2020

Summary of General Fund Income and Expenses, April thru

June 2020

Income: Donations $23,020, bank interest and investment income

$1,312 for a total of $24,332.

Expenses: $31,165.

Deficit: $6,833.

Amount transferred from our investments to our chequing account

to maintain cash flow: $8,500.

Treasurer’s Comments

A special thanks to everyone who mailed donations to the church

when we were unable to hold services, because of you transfer of

funds from our investments remained at ‘normal’ levels.

As I mentioned in my last report, our expenses remained the

same, even when we were unable to hold services. Even though

he was not required to play the organ during the shutdown,

Michael Trolly has been as busy as ever, perhaps more so,

managing the live streaming of services. In recognition of this we

are now paying him a mileage allowance for his commute when

he cannot claim organist’s fees.

Bishop’s Appeal 2020

The annual Bishop’s Appeal, which was announced in late

February, did not get as much attention as it would normally have

done, because of its timing. However, as of July 31st, our pledges

have now reached 92% of our community’s goal, i.e. $3,500 of

$3,800 (mistakenly reported last month as $3,900). Further

information and donation/pledge cards are available at the back of the church. Please note that our donations are to be mailed to the

Deanery in Calgary, and the funds raised remain in Canada and

donors will receive a Canadian tax receipt.

Jill Wayne, Treasurer

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

In the June Annunciator, I offered some reflections upon the

current state of things around us, and I would like to reiterate

them here: There is no question in my mind that the heart of the

current disruptions in our world is demonic. Please notice that I

am not calling any particular person, government or organization “demonic”, but I am saying that the devil is very much in the

thick of what is going on; to quote St. Paul, We are not

contending against flesh and blood, but against the

principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of

this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness

in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12.

I have remarked to many of you that the points of attack need to

be recognized as of deliberate satanic choice, for Holy things

have been designated dangerous: Holy Water is removed from

the fonts; church doors are locked and we are prohibited from

meeting together; some are forbidding singing; and we are not to

participate in the Sacraments. Further, Christians are being set

against each other, on opposite sides of the debates—even to the

point of calling each other unchristian, whether for violating the COVID-19 protocols (“How can you love your neighbor and put

his/her health at risk of contagion?!”) or for not doing so (“You

are false shepherds, who deprive your people of spiritual

sustenance!”)— and our “tolerant” society betrays its absolute

intolerance of anyone who deviates from the latest orthodoxy,

morality or “values”. [I might add that I am stunned by the lack

of willingness to debate, and how quickly Facebook “friends’

belittle or call names those who disagree—especially if they are

“anti-maskers”. Given how many “experts” are making

mutually contradictory statements, “based on the science &

studies”, we ought to be a little more tolerant of brothers and sisters seeing things from differing angles and perspectives].

Accordingly, we need to follow the rest of St. Paul’s words (Ephesians 6:10-20), donning the full armour, and focusing on

disarming the Evil One. In that regard, let me suggest a few

things to keep in mind:

-It is good to renounce any openings you might have created in

your life, by which Satan can get a toe hold, or claim that he has

a right to be there. Frankly, even if you have sinned, he has no

rights, because you belong to Jesus! Often, though, you have to reassert that truth, both by word and action; so consciously

renounce openings and deliberately close doors.

- Pray specifically for those who upset you, whether it is someone

who has wronged you, or hurt you in any way, or someone who

angers you by his or her actions or words, particularly those you

consider to be deserving of your disdain. If possible, offer [on their behalf] some small sacrifice to God (i.e. of your time,

comfort or certain prayers: something that costs you at least some

time or convenience to give).

- Go out of your way to be kind and forgiving in your actions

towards others.

- Practise Jesus’ directions to “Ask, and it will be given you;

seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 Be deliberate and specific in prayer; but listen and

attend to God as you pray, for it is not about us dictating to Him,

but seeking His perfect will; and His answers to prayer are not

always what we expect. [Here I would add a reminder that we

have blessed rose petals in the Lady Chapel, which might be held

or passed on to others, while praying our Lady’s intercession that

we may receive favours granted to our petitions. There is a book there at the window in which to record Petitions and how they

have been answered.] In the LORD Jesus Christ, Fr. Doug

6

Saturday, August 1st (St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop & Doctor) 8:30AM Mattins [ ] 9:00AM Mass

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2nd EIGHTH SUNDAY after TRINITY 9:20AM Mattins (OT 18) [GREEN] {Solemnity} 10:00AM Sung Mass 4PM Solemn Evensong & Benediction

MONDAY, August 3rd (Feria) [GREEN] 7:30Mattins/8:00AM Mass Tuesday, August 4th (St. John Vianney, Priest) [ ] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass

Wednesday, August 5th (Dedication of Basilica of St. Mary Major) [Blue/ ] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass THURSDAY, AUGUST 6th (TRANSFIGURATION of the LORD) 5:30PM Evensong [ ] 6:00PM Sung Mass

Friday, August 7th (St. Sixtus II, Pope, & Companions, Martyrs) [RED] 7:30 Mattins/8AM Mass SATURDAY August 8th (St. Dominic, Priest) 8:30AM Mattins [ ] 9:00AM Mass

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9th NINTH SUNDAY after TRINITY 9:20AM Mattins (OT19) [GREEN] {Solemnity} 10:00AM Sung Mass Monday, August 10th (St. LAWRENCE, Deacon & Martyr) 5:30PM Evensong [RED] {Feast} 6:00PM SUNG MASS

Tuesday, August 11th (St. Clare, Virgin) [ ] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass Wednesday, August 12th (St. Jane Frances de Chantel, Religious) [ ] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass

Thursday, August 13th (Ss. Pontian, Pope, & Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs) 5:30PM Evensong [RED] 6:00PM Mass

Friday, August 14th (St. Maxmilian Kolbe, Priest & Martyr) [RED] 7:30 Mattins/8AM Mass SATURDAY AUGUST 15th (The ASSUMPTION of the BLESSED 8:30 Mattins [Blue/ ] {Solemnity; Holy Day of Obligation} VIRGIN MARY) 9:00AM Mass

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16th TENTH SUNDAY after TRINITY 9:20AM Mattins (OT 20) [GREEN] {Solemnity} 10:00AM Sung Mass 4PM Sung Evening Prayer with Sermon Monday, August 17th (Feria) [GREEN] 7:30 Mattins/8:00AM Mass Tuesday, August 18th (Feria) [GREEN] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass

Wednesday, August 19th (St. John Eudes, Priest) [ ] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass Thursday, August 20th (St. Bernard, Abbot & Doctor) 5:30PM Evensong [ ] 6:00PM Mass

Friday, August 21st (St. Pius X, Pope) [ ] 7:30 Mattins/8AM Mass Saturday, August 22nd (Queenship of the Blessed Virgin St. Mary) 8:30AM Mattins [Blue/ ] 9:00AM Mass

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23rd ELEVENTH SUNDAY after TRINITY 9:20AM Mattins (OT 21) [GREEN] {Solemnity} 10:00AM Sung Mass MONDAY, AUGUST 24th (ST. BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE & MARTYR) 5:30PM Evensong [RED] {Feast} 6:00PM SUNG MASS

Tuesday, August 25th (St. Louis, Catholic Ruler) [ ] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass Wednesday, August 26th (Feria) [GREEN] 7:30/8:00AM Mass

Thursday, August 27th (St. Monica, Holy Woman) 5:30PM Evensong [ ] 6:00PM Mass

FRIDAY, August 28th (St. Augustine, Bishop & Doctor) [ ] 7:30 Matins/8AM MAss SATURDAY, AUGUST 29th (PASSION of ST. JOHN the BAPTIST) 8:30AM Mattins [RED] {FEAST} 9:00AM SUNG HEALING MASS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30th TWELFTH SUNDAY after TRINITY 9:20AM Mattins (OT 22) [GREEN] {Solemnity} 10:00AM Sung Mass

Monday, August 31st (St. AIDAN, Bishop & the Saints of Lindisfarne) [ ] 7:30 Mattins/8AM Mass

Tuesday, September 1st (Ferias) [GREEN] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass Wednesday, September 2nd (Blessed André Grasset, Priest & Martyr) [RED] 7:30/8:00AM Mass

Thursday, September 3rd (St. Gregory the Great, Pope & Doctor) 5:30PM Evensong [ ] 6:00PM Mass

Friday, September 4th (St. Cuthbert, Bishop) [ ] 7:30 Mattins/8AM Mass Saturday, September 5th (St. Mary on Saturday) 8:30AM Mattins [Blue/ ] 9:00AM Mass

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th THIRTEENTH SUNDAY after TRINITY 9:20AM Mattins (OT 23) [GREEN] {Solemnity} 10:00AM Sung Mass/4PM Solemn Evensong & Benediction