An Expanded Calendar of Commemorations

For some time now, I’ve been working on an expanded list of commemorations, and I’ve finally completed a first full draft, including commemorations for every day of the year.  My starting point has been the calendar of feasts, festivals, and commemorations included in the Lutheran Service Book; and I’ve built upon the research and work that went into that project.

All things considered, I’ve attempted to be comprehensive and catholic in my approach, and to rely upon precedents as much as possible.  I’ve drawn on the sanctoral cycle of Wilhelm Löhe, as well as the old LCMS Lutheran Annuals, which for many decades included commemorations for every day of the year.  I’ve taken into account Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican calendars, hopefully with appropriate discretion (although I’ve tried to exercise latitude).

I view these commemorations not as a kind of “canonization” of those who have gone before us, but as something of a tour de force through church history, considering some of those fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters in Christ, through whom He has served His Church on earth.  Along the same lines, I’ve included quite a few biblical saints, both with and without prior precedent in Eastern and Roman sources.  Most of those inclusions will presumably not be controversial, even if some may object that I am introducing novelty into my practice.  I would offer that the stories of the Holy Scriptures are already a commemoration of the saints who are there set before us, which is the most significant precedent one might ever hope to find.

In any event, I should clarify that I certainly don’t intend this list to usurp or overshadow the Sunday and Feast Day Lectionary, but view it as a supplement to the practice of daily prayer.  To that end, I share the following calendar of commemorations, a list of people worth remembering and learning from, for whom I give all thanks and praise to Christ Jesus.

JANUARY

1 Jan - THE NAME & CIRCUMCISION OF JESUS

2 Jan - J. K. Wilhelm Löhe, Pastor

3 Jan - Abel, Seth, and Enoch

4 Jan - Theophylact of Ohrid, Bishop and Theologian

5 Jan - Simeon Stylites

6 Jan - THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD

7 Jan - Lucian of Antioch, Pastor and Martyr

8 Jan - King Solomon, Son of David

9 Jan - William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury and Martyr

10 Jan - Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa,

Bishops and Confessors

11 Jan - Duke Ernst the Confessor

12 Jan - Jakob Andreae, Confessor

13 Jan - Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Confessor

14 Jan - Felix of Nola, Pastor and Martyr

15 Jan - Sebastian of Avla, Soldier and Martyr

16 Jan - George Spalatin, Reformer

17 Jan - Anthony of Egypt, Abbot

18 Jan - The Confession of St. Peter

19 Jan - Fabian of Rome, Bishop and Martyr

20 Jan - Sarah, Matriarch

21 Jan - Agnes, Child Martyr

22 Jan - Vincent of Saragossa, Deacon and Martyr

23 Jan - Ildephonsus of Toledo, Bishop

24 Jan - St. Timothy, Pastor and Bishop

25 Jan - The Conversion of St. Paul

26 Jan - St. Titus, Pastor and Bishop

27 Jan - John Chrysostom, Bishop and Preacher

28 Jan - Thomas Aquinas, Theologian

29 Jan - Emperor Charlemagne, Christian Ruler

30 Jan - Andrei Rublev, Iconographer

31 Jan - Claus Harms, Pastor and Reformer

FEBRUARY

1 Feb - Brigid of Ireland, Abbess

2 Feb - THE PURIFICATION OF ST. MARY

AND THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD

3 Feb - Ansgar of Hamburg, Bishop and Missionary

4 Feb - Rhabanus Maurus, Bishop and Theologian

5 Feb - Jacob (Israel), Patriarch

6 Feb - Amandus, Bishop and Missionary

7 Feb - Zechariah, Prophet

8 Feb - George Wagner Carpentarius, Pastor and Martyr

9 Feb - Apollonia of Alexandria, Deaconess and Martyr

10 Feb - Silas (Silvanus), Companion of St. Peter and St. Paul

11 Feb - Augustus, Elector of Saxony

12 Feb - Cornelius the Centurion [Acts 10–11]

13 Feb - Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos

14 Feb - Valentine, Martyr

15 Feb - Philemon and Onesimus

16 Feb - Philip Melanchthon, Confessor

17 Feb - Agabus the Prophet [Acts 11, 21–22]

18 Feb - Martin Luther, Doctor and Confessor

19 Feb - Simeon of Jerusalem, Bishop and Martyr

20 Feb - Peter Damian, Bishop and Theologian

21 Feb - Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr

22 Feb - Johann Crüger, Kantor

23 Feb - Polycarp of Smyrna, Bishop and Martyr

24 Feb - St. Matthias, Apostle

25 Feb - King Ethelbert & Queen Bertha of Kent, Christian Rulers

26 Feb - Princess Isabelle Capet of France

27 Feb - George Herbert, Pastor and Poet

28 Feb - John Cassian, Abbot

29 Feb - Joseph Barsabbas, also called Justus [Acts 1]

MARCH

1 Mar - David of Menevia, Bishop

2 Mar - Chad of Lichfield, Bishop

3 Mar - Empress Cunigunde, Christian Ruler

4 Mar - Rahab the Harlot [Joshua 2–3; Matt. 1:5; James 2:25; Heb. 11:31]

5 Mar - Lucius I of Rome, Bishop

6 Mar - Fridolin of Säckingen, Missionary and Abbot

7 Mar - Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs

8 Mar - Frances of Rome, Wife and Mother

9 Mar - Catherine of Bologna, Artist

10 Mar - Simplicius of Rome, Bishop

11 Mar - Susanna the Righteous [Apocryphal Daniel]

12 Mar - Symeon the New Theologian

13 Mar - Zadok the Priest [2 Samuel; 1 Kings]

14 Mar - Queen Matilda of Ringelheim, Christian Ruler

15 Mar - Ittai the Gittite, Hushai the Archite, and Barzillai the Gileadite,

Friends of King David [2 Samuel 17–19]

16 Mar - Heribert of Cologne, Bishop

17 Mar - Patrick, Missionary to Ireland

18 Mar - Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop

19 Mar - St. Joseph, Son of David

20 Mar - Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, Bishop

21 Mar - Thomas Cranmer, Bishop and Martyr

22 Mar - Epaphroditus of Philippi [Phil. 2:25–30; 4:18]

23 Mar - Gregory the Illuminator, Bishop and Missionary to Armenia

24 Mar - Nathan the Prophet [2 Samuel; 1 Kings]

25 Mar - THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LORD

26 Mar - Ludger of Münster, Bishop and Missionary to the Saxons

27 Mar - Gregory Palamas, Theologian

28 Mar - Gideon, Judge

29 Mar - Eustace of Luxeuil, Abbot

30 Mar - John Climacus, Theologian

31 Mar - Joseph, Son of Israel

APRIL

1 Apr - Hugh of Châteauneuf, Bishop of Grenoble

2 Apr - Theodosia of Tyre, Martyr

3 Apr - Joseph the Hymnographer

4 Apr - Isidore of Seville, Bishop and Theologian

5 Apr - Juliana of Liège

6 Apr - Lucas Cranach the Elder, Albrecht Dürer,

and Matthias Grünewald, Artists

7 Apr - Friedrich Myconius, Reformer

8 Apr - Celestine I of Rome, Bishop

9 Apr - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Theologian and Martyr

10 Apr - Aphraates of Persia, Theologian: “The Sage”

11 Apr - Nikolaus Hunnius, Theologian

12 Apr - Zeno of Verona, Bishop

13 Apr - Julius I of Rome, Bishop

14 Apr - Miriam, Sister of Moses and Aaron

15 Apr - Aaron, High Priest

16 Apr - Micah, Prophet

17 Apr - King Hezekiah, Son of David

18 Apr - Anicetus of Rome, Bishop

19 Apr - Olavus and Laurentius Petri, Pastors and Reformers

20 Apr - Johannes Bugenhagen, Pastor and Reformer

21 Apr - Anselm of Canterbury, Bishop and Theologian

22 Apr - Alphege of Canterbury, Bishop and Martyr

23 Apr - George, Soldier and Martyr

24 Apr - Johann Walter, Kantor

25 Apr - St. Mark, Evangelist

26 Apr - Egbert of Ripon, Bishop of Lindisfarne

27 Apr - Tertullian, Theologian

28 Apr - Origen, Theologian

29 Apr - Catherine of Siena

30 Apr - Aristarchus, Epaphras, and Tychicus, Companions of St. Paul

MAY

1 May - St. Philip and St. James, Apostles

2 May - Athanasius of Alexandria, Bishop and Confessor

3 May - Friedrich August Crämer, Pastor and Missionary

4 May - Friedrich Wyneken, Pastor and Missionary

5 May - Frederick the Wise, Christian Ruler

6 May - Jude of Jerusalem, Brother of James

7 May - C. F. W. Walther, Pastor

8 May - Julian of Norwich

9 May - Job the Righteous and Longsuffering

10 May - Johann Arndt, Pastor and Theologian

11 May - Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs

12 May - Epiphanius of Salamis, Bishop and Confessor

13 May - Germanus of Constantinople, Bishop and Theologian

14 May - Nikolaus von Amsdorf, Reformer

15 May - Isidore the Farmer

16 May - Alexander of Jerusalem, Bishop and Martyr

17 May - King Erik IX of Sweden, Christian Ruler

18 May - Ivo of Kermartin, Pastor

19 May - Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury

20 May - Alcuin of York, Deacon and Theologian

21 May - Emperor Constantine, Christian Ruler;

and Helena, Mother of Constantine

22 May - Bernardino of Siena, Preacher

23 May - Urban I of Rome, Bishop

24 May - Queen Esther the Righteous

25 May - Bede the Venerable, Theologian

26 May - Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop and Missionary to England

27 May - Deborah and Jael [Judges 4–5]

28 May - Germain of Paris, Bishop: “Father of the Poor”

29 May - Judith the Righteous [Apocrypha]

30 May - Joan of Arc, Soldier

31 May - THE VISITATION OF OUR LORD

JUNE

1 June - Justin, Martyr

2 June - Blandina and the Martyrs of Lyon

3 June - Franz A. O. Pieper, Theologian

4 June - Benjamin, Son of Israel

5 June - Boniface of Mainz, Missionary to the Germans, Bishop & Martyr

6 June - Caleb the Righteous [Numbers; Joshua]

7 June - Tobias, Son of Tobit [Apocrypha]

8 June - Pelagia of Antioch

9 June - Columba of Iona, Abbot and Missionary to Scotland

10 June - Ephrem the Syrian, Deacon, Hymnwriter, and Theologian

11 June - St. Barnabas, Apostle

12 June - The Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, A.D. 325

13 June - Anthony of Padua, Preacher and Theologian

14 June - Elisha, Prophet

15 June - G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, and J. R. R. Tolkien, Authors

16 June - Rachel and Leah, Matriarchs

17 June - Amos, Prophet

18 June - King Josiah, Son of David

19 June - Zephaniah, Prophet

20 June - Nicholas Cabasilas, Theologian

21 June - Paulinus of Nola, Bishop

22 June - Alban, Soldier and Martyr

23 June - David Chytraeus, Confessor

24 June - THE NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

25 June - Presentation of the Augsburg Confession

26 June - Jeremiah, Prophet

27 June - Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Confessor

28 June - Irenaeus of Lyons, Bishop and Martyr

29 June - St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles

30 June - Judah, Son of Israel

JULY

1 July - Hendrick DeVoes and Jan Van Esschen, Martyrs

2 July - Levi, Son of Israel

3 July - Ezra and Nehemiah, Reformers of Israel

4 July - Ulrich of Augsburg, Bishop

5 July - Jan Huss, Reformer and Martyr

6 July - Isaiah, Prophet

7 July - Willibald of Eichstätt, Bishop

8 July - Kilian, Bishop and Missionary to Franconia

9 July - Queen Elizabeth of Portugal: “Patroness of Peace”

10 July - Angela of Foligno

11 July - Benedict of Nursia, Abbot

12 July - Bo Giertz, Bishop and Theologian

13 July - Margaret of Antioch, Martyr

14 July - Bonaventure of Bagnorea, Bishop and Theologian

15 July - Queen Olga and Prince Vladimir, Christian Rulers

16 July - Ruth, Matriarch

17 July - Hedwig of Poland, Christian Ruler

18 July - Marcellina, Sister of St. Ambrose

19 July - Macrina the Younger, Sister of St. Basil the Great

20 July - Elijah, Prophet

21 July - Ezekiel, Prophet

22 July - St. Mary Magdalene

23 July - Birgitta of Sweden

24 July - Thomas à Kempis

25 July - St. James the Elder, Apostle

26 July - Joachim & Anna, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

27 July - King Olaf of Norway, Christian Ruler

28 July - Johann Sebastian Bach, Kantor

29 July - Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany

30 July - Robert Barnes, Confessor and Martyr

31 July - Joseph of Arimathea

AUGUST

1 Aug - The Holy Maccabees, Martyrs

2 Aug - Nicodemus the Pharisee, Disciple

3 Aug - Joanna, Mary, and Salome, Holy Myrrhbearers

4 Aug - Germanus of Auxerre, Bishop

5 Aug - Nonna, Mother of Gregory Nazianzus

6 Aug - The Transfiguration of Our Lord

7 Aug - John Mason Neale, Catherine Winkworth,

and John Kelly, Hymn Translators

8 Aug - Dominic, Preacher

9 Aug - Herman and Innocent of Alaska, Missionaries to the Aleut

10 Aug - Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr

11 Aug - Clare of Assisi, Abbess

12 Aug - Paul Speratus, Pastor and Hymnwriter

13 Aug - Maximus the Confessor, Theologian

14 Aug - Eusebius of Caesarea, Bishop and Church Historian

15 Aug - The Dormition of St. Mary, the Mother of God

16 Aug - Isaac, Patriarch

17 Aug - Johann Gerhard, Theologian

18 Aug - Agapius, Martyr

19 Aug - Bernard of Clairvoux, Abbot and Theologian

20 Aug - Samuel, Prophet

21 Aug - The Formula of Concord Signed at Gotha

22 Aug - Hippolytus of Rome, Bishop

23 Aug - Sidonius Apollinaris, Bishop

24 Aug - St. Bartholomew, Apostle

25 Aug - King Louis IX of France, Christian Ruler

26 Aug - Melchizedek, Priest and King [Gen. 14; Psalm 110; Heb. 5–6]

27 Aug - Monica, Mother of Augustine

28 Aug - Augustine of Hippo, Bishop and Theologian

29 Aug - The Beheading of St. John the Baptist

30 Aug - Rebekah, Matriarch

31 Aug - Aidan of Lindisfarne, Bishop and Missionary

SEPTEMBER

1 Sept - Joshua the Son of Nun

2 Sept - Hannah, Mother of Samuel

3 Sept - Gregory the Great, Bishop

4 Sept - Moses, Prophet

5 Sept - Zacharias & Elizabeth, Parents of St. John the Baptist

6 Sept - Simeon and Anna, among the Righteous of Israel

7 Sept - Regina, Martyr

8 Sept - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

9 Sept - Nikolai Grundtvig, Bishop and Hymnwriter

10 Sept - Empress Pulcheria, Christian Ruler

11 Sept - Johann Brenz, Reformer

12 Sept - Paphnutius of Thebes, Bishop and Confessor

13 Sept - Samson, Judge

14 Sept - Holy Cross Day

15 Sept - Catherine of Genoa, Widow

16 Sept - Cyprian of Carthage, Bishop and Martyr

17 Sept - Hildegard of Bingen, Abbess

18 Sept - Edward Bouverie Pusey and John Henry Newman, Theologians

19 Sept - Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury

20 Sept - Magdalena Luther

21 Sept - St. Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist

22 Sept - Jonah, Prophet

23 Sept - Thecla, Martyr

24 Sept - Gerhard Sagredo of Hungary, Bishop and Martyr

25 Sept - Sergius of Radonezh (Moscow), Abbot

26 Sept - Cosmas and Damian, Physicians and Martyrs

27 Sept - Vincent de Paul, Reformer

28 Sept - Duke Wenceslaus I of Bohemia, Christian Ruler

29 Sept - ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS

30 Sept - Jerome, Translator of Holy Scripture

OCTOBER

1 Oct - Remigius of Rheims, Bishop and Missionary to the Franks

2 Oct - Justina of Nicomedia, Martyr

3 Oct - Dionysius of Athens (the Areopagite) [Acts 17]

4 Oct - Francis of Assisi

5 Oct - Othniel the Son of Kenaz and Ehud the Son of Gera [Judges 3]

6 Oct - William Tyndale and Miles Coverdale,

Translators of Holy Scripture

7 Oct - Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, Pastor

8 Oct - The Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon, A.D. 451

9 Oct - Abraham, Patriarch

10 Oct - Justas Jonas, Confessor

11 Oct - Philip the Deacon

12 Oct - Hosea, Prophet

13 Oct - Romanus the Melodist

14 Oct - Calixtus I of Rome, Bishop

15 Oct - Teresa of ‘Avila

16 Oct - Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, Bishops and Martyrs

17 Oct - Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

18 Oct - St. Luke, Evangelist

19 Oct - Joel, Prophet

20 Oct - Nicholas of Lyra, Theologian

21 Oct - Ursula, Martyr

22 Oct - Reuben, Son of Israel

23 Oct - St. James of Jerusalem, Bishop and Martyr

24 Oct - Peace of Westphalia (Thirty Years’ War ended)

25 Oct - Tabitha (Dorcas), Lydia and Phoebe, Faithful Women

26 Oct - Philipp Nicolai, Johann Heermann, and Paul Gerhardt,

Pastors and Hymnwriters

27 Oct - King Alfred the Great, Christian Ruler

28 Oct - St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles

29 Oct - Obadiah, Prophet

30 Oct - Wolfgang of Regensburg, Bishop

31 Oct - Reformation Day

NOVEMBER

1 Nov - ALL SAINTS’ DAY

2 Nov - Cleopas of Emmaus, Witness of the Resurrection

3 Nov - Richard Hooker, Pastor and Theologian

4 Nov - Uriah the Hittite

5 Nov - Hans Egede, Missionary to Greenland

6 Nov - Bartolomäus Ziegenbalg, Christian Frederick Schwartz,

and John Christian Frederick Heyer, Missionaries to India

7 Nov - Willibrord, Bishop and Missionary to Frisia

8 Nov - Johannes von Staupitz, Luther’s Father Confessor

9 Nov - Martin Chemnitz, Pastor and Confessor

10 Nov - Leo the Great, Bishop and Confessor

11 Nov - Martin of Tours, Soldier and Bishop

12 Nov - Theodore the Studite, Theologian

13 Nov - Caspar Aquila, Pastor and Reformer

14 Nov - Emperor Justinian, Christian Ruler and Confessor of Christ

15 Nov - Albert the Great, Theologian

16 Nov - Queen Margaret of Scotland, Christian Ruler

17 Nov - Gregory Thaumaturgus, Bishop and Theologian

18 Nov - Hilda of Whitby, Abbess

19 Nov - Princess Elizabeth of Hungary, Christian Ruler

20 Nov - Odo of Cluny, Abbot

21 Nov - Thomas Tallis and William Byrd, Church Musicians

22 Nov - Cecilia, Martyr

23 Nov - Clement of Rome, Bishop

24 Nov - Columban, Missionary

25 Nov - Catherine of Alexandria, Martyr

26 Nov - Matilda of Hackeborn and Gertrude the Great

27 Nov - Lot the Righteous

28 Nov - Paul and David Henkel

29 Nov - Noah the Righteous, Patriarch

30 Nov - St. Andrew, Apostle

DECEMBER

1 Dec - Nahum, Prophet

2 Dec - Chromatius of Aquileia, Bishop and Theologian

3 Dec - Francis Xavier, Missionary

4 Dec - John of Damascus, Theologian and Hymnwriter

5 Dec - Clement of Alexandria, Theologian

6 Dec - Nicholas of Myra, Bishop and Confessor

7 Dec - Ambrose of Milan, Bishop and Hymnwriter

8 Dec - Martin Rinckart, Hymnwriter

9 Dec - Habakkuk, Prophet

10 Dec - Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Theologian

11 Dec - Damasus I of Rome, Bishop

12 Dec - Benaiah the Son of Jehoiada [2 Samuel; 1 Kings]

13 Dec - Lucia of Syracuse, Martyr

14 Dec - John of the Cross, Poet and Theologian

15 Dec - Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop and Confessor

16 Dec - Haggai, Prophet

17 Dec - Daniel and the Three Young Men

18 Dec - Olympias the Younger, Deaconess

19 Dec - Adam & Eve, Living Icon of Christ and His Bride

20 Dec - Katharina von Bora Luther

21 Dec - St. Thomas, Apostle

22 Dec - Micah, Prophet

23 Dec - Ivo of Chartres, Bishop

24 Dec - Peter the Venerable, Abbot

25 Dec - THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD

26 Dec - St. Stephen, First Martyr

27 Dec - St. John, Apostle & Evangelist

28 Dec - The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

29 Dec - King David, Patriarch and Prophet

30 Dec - Jonathan, Friend of David

31 Dec - Sylvester I of Rome, Bishop