FROM THE VICAR: ON THE PROTEVANGELIUM OF JAMES

The feast of the Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary falls on this Sunday and so won’t be officially commemorated this year. All Sundays are feasts of Our Lord, and only a limited number of feasts can take precedence of a Sunday.[1] Nevertheless, St. Anne and St. Joachim, Mary’s parents, will be highlighted among the saints in the Prayers of the People.

Though they aren’t mentioned in the New Testament, the Protevangelium of James, which likely dates to the early-mid second century, does tells us some details about Anne and Joachim. The text was widely known and influential in the early Church based on the number of surviving manuscripts and languages that it was translated into. Its impact can also be clearly seen in later writings as well as in iconography.

Some have described it as having “near canonical” or “quasi-canonical” status given its widespread influence.[2] In other words, it can be seen as part of that next group of early Church writings that didn’t quite make it into the Bible, but were nevertheless very much part of tradition. The title protevangelium, or proto-gospel, is not proto- in the sense of a primitive gospel, but rather in that it describes what comes before the Gospels. The back story. It is clear that the author had access to Matthew and Luke, the two Gospels with Jesus’ birth narratives, and it provides some additional details that lead up to these accounts. Beyond telling us about Anne and Joachim, we also learn more about Mary’s birth and childhood.

Following a common biblical motif, Anne is unable to conceive and God intervenes. After prayers and lamentations by both Anne and Joachim, an angel appears and announces that Anne will become pregnant. She then dedicates the child’s future life to serving the Lord.

After Mary’s miraculous birth, we hear about her as a remarkable child based not only on her purity—which does get a lot of emphasis—but also her ability to do unexpected things like walking seven steps at only six months of age. Starting at age three, she begins to be raised in the Temple, which is where she remains in a life of holiness and purity until the time comes for her betrothal.

It’s at this point that there’s some overlap between this proto-gospel and the beginning of the canonical Gospels. Perhaps the most notable portion that overlaps with the canonical texts is the Annunciation.

Prior to the Angel appearing, Mary is working on a veil for the Temple, spinning the purple and scarlet portions. This is why she’s sometimes pictured working with thread in icons of the Annunciation. Mary then goes to fill up a pitcher with water. Some icons of this scene also have a well or a spring in the background.

Mary then hears a voice, “Hail, you who have received grace; the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”[3] But, Mary sees no one and is afraid. She returns to the house, and to her spinning. It is at this point that the angel appears to her in what’s essentially the Annunciation scene from Luke.

I find the extra details about the Annunciation in the Protevangelium to be especially helpful in imagining the scene. The initial voice that Mary hears before she sees the angel reminds me of the subtle nudging of the Holy Spirit. What was that? Are you talking to me? What comes next usually won’t be as dramatic as seeing an angel face to face, but we still have the opportunity to follow Mary’s lead and say yes to where God is calling. “Be it unto me according to thy word.”[4]  — MDJ

PARISH PRAYERS

We pray for our sister parish, the Church of All Saints’, Margaret Street, London, and for the Anglican Church of Tanzania in the Anglican cycle of prayer.

We pray for those who have asked us for our prayers, for Burks, Steven, Heather, Theodore, Laura, Arielle, Marat, Sveta, Kofi, Kay, Blaise, Jon, Riccardo, Jeff, Derick, Phil, Laura, Sue, Emilie, Sharon, Monique, Cassius, Lisa, Ruth Ann, Rosemary, Holly, Becky, Bill, Grady, Chris, Violet, Pat, Allen, Giovanna, Ronald, Jose, Ben, Russell, Robert, Sandy, Desarae, David, Tony, Jan, Carlos, Quincy, Leroy, and Margaret; James, Victoria, and Laura Katherine, religious; Lind, deacon; and John, Jay, and Stephen, priests.

We pray for the repose of the souls of those who have died, especially Bob and Elaine, and for those whose year’s mind is on July 26: Harriet Amelia Barras (1870), Bettie Cooper (1896), Florence Rayner Brinke (1924), Dudley G. Cozier (1961), Genevieve Morrison (1962), and Janet Dix (1971).

AROUND THE PARISH

Property Committee Forming — The Board of Trustees is actively working to assemble a Property Committee to advise them, manage projects, and interact with vendors. If you have experience in these areas, please contact Fr. Sammy. 

The Transfiguration — The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ is on Thursday, August 6. The 12:10 PM Mass will be offered as a Sung Mass in the Lady Chapel.

The Assumption — August 15, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, falls on a Saturday this year. Our principal celebration will be a Solemn Mass on the Eve of the Assumption, Friday, August 14, at 6:00 PM. Our guest preacher will be Fr. John Beddingfield, rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity on the Upper East Side and former curate here at Saint Mary’s.

Livestreamers needed — We are looking for additional volunteers to help us livestream Solemn Mass on Sundays. Typically, sixty to one hundred people join us live online on Sundays and then hundreds usually watch the recorded videos afterwards. Our hope is to build out the team so that volunteers would be scheduled to stream about once a month. Our current streamers are Mr. Blair Burroughs and Mr. Steven Eldredge. If you are interested, please speak with one of them, or Fr. Matt, for more details. It isn’t hard to learn!

Cookies are a Call to Community — During the summer months, we simplify Coffee Hour a bit to “Cookies and Lemonade,” though there is still coffee too! We are looking for volunteers to help support this ministry. Please let Fr. Wood know if you would like to bring the cookies and lemonade for a summer Sunday and check out this Substack post he’s shared entitled “Cookies are a call to community.”

Neighbors in Need: What do we need? — We always need practical shoes in all adult sizes. We need jeans, especially in men’s sizes 32-36—but also women's sizes and pants other than jeans. And, as you may be thinking of a new winter coat, we would love to have your old coat! We accept all kinds of casual clothing: jackets, pants, tops and shoes, but we do not need professional clothing or children’s clothing. Thanks to many wonderful cash donations, we are able to purchase toiletries and underwear. Please speak to MaryJane Boland or Marie Rosseels for more information or send an email to neighbors@stmvnyc.org. The next Drop-by day will be Friday, August 21.

MONTHLY LITURGIES

Parish Requiem — We offer a monthly Requiem Mass in the Mercy Chapel as part of our chapter of the Guild of All Souls. This Mass is typically celebrated on the third Saturday of the month unless a major feast falls on that day. All are welcome. Our next parish Requiem Mass will be on Saturday, August 8.

Rosary Guild — Our Rosary Guild meets in the Lady Chapel after Solemn Mass (and a brief stop at Coffee Hour) on the fourth Sunday of the month to pray the rosary. All are welcome including those who are curious, but have never prayed the rosary before! The Rosary Guild will meet this Sunday, July 26.

Evensong & Benediction — During the program year, we offer Evensong & Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in lieu of Evening Prayer at 4:00 PM on the first Sunday of the month. E&B will next be offered on Sunday, October 4.

THE DIOCESE AND WIDER CHURCH

Vocations Day: Listening Hearts Retreat — On Saturday, September 26, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Saint Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery, the Diocese will offer an intentional gathering to help those who are beginning to discern a call to lay or ordained leadership in the life of the Church. Seekers will hear from the Canon for Lay & Clergy Formation, the Archdeacon for Diaconal Formation and members of the Commission on Ministry about the ministry of the Laity and Clergy, the expectations of the Commission on Ministry for those seeking ordination, and clear and practical next steps. There will be prayer, a plenary session, breakout groups, and lunch. Break out groups will include sessions exploring priesthood, the diaconate, and discerning lay leadership for your community’s needs. Seekers are encouraged to attend with their clergy person, and the expectation is that participants will be present the whole day. Lunch will be served. Registration is required (click here).

Nightwatch — For the upcoming program year, the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine will offer Nightwatch, a one-night pilgrimage is for students aged 12-18, on the following Fridays: October 30, February 5, and April 9. Nightwatch is an evening spent in the world’s largest Gothic Cathedral immersed in a faith-based program to deepen your spiritual connection with God. Prices are $150 per person or $130 for groups of 15 or more. If cost is an issue, or if you’d like more information, please contact nightwatch@stjohndivine.org. Click here to learn more.

Immigration Legal Support Fund — Last year, the Diocese announced a new Immigration Legal Support Fund to support immigrant families in our congregations and neighborhoods throughout the Diocese of New York. The Legal Fund helps those navigating immigration under urgent and vulnerable circumstances to access legal resources. With your support, we can do more so that no one faces the system alone. Your contribution makes possible same-day response, family preparedness, limited-scope appearances, and urgent filings. Click hear to contribute.

ABOUT THE MUSIC ON THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

The setting of the Mass on Sunday is Missa “Le bien que j’ay” by Claude Goudimel (c.1514–1572). Goudimel was a prominent composer, and music theorist, editor and publisher of the High Renaissance period. He was born in Besançon, in modern day France, and studied in Paris in mid Sixteenth century Paris. He later moved to Metz and converted to Protestantism, finally settling in Lyon where he lived the remainer of his life. Goudimel’s Masses and motets are mostly presumed to have been composed prior to his Protestant conversion around 1560. His parody Mass sung on Sunday is based upon the madrigal “Le bien que j’ay” (The good that I have) by his Franco-Flemish contemporary Jacques Arcadelt (1507–1568). This Mass setting is for four voices and employs textures which combine chordal writing with polyphonic elements, and passages in duet and trio voicing which lighten the texture when all four voices are not sounding together.

The motet sung during the administration of Communion is Sir William Sterndale Bennett’s setting of John 4:23,24 from his cantata The Woman of Samaria. W. Sterndale Bennett (1816–1875) was an English composer, pianist, conductor and music educator. At the age of ten he was admitted to the London Royal Academy of Music, where he remained for ten years. By the age of twenty, he had begun to make a reputation as a concert pianist, and his compositions received high praise. At the invitation of Felix Mendelssohn, Bennett spent time in Leipzig where he also enjoyed the friendship and admiration of Robert Schumann. Beginning in 1837, Bennett taught for twenty years at the Royal Academy of Music where his students included Arthur Sullivan and Hubert Parry. In 1866 he became Principal of the RAM and remained so until his death. He was knighted in 1871. He died in 1875 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Bennett’s later compositions, including The Woman of Samaria from which this Sunday’s communion anthem is taken, were praised for their craftsmanship but critiqued for their style which was considered old-fashioned at a time when a more vivid romanticism was sweeping the European musical landscape. Yet, Bennett’s most significant influence on English music was as a teacher, as a promoter of standards of musical education and as an important figure in London concert life.

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Saint Mary’s is a vibrant Anglo-Catholic witness in the heart of NYC. With our identity in Christ and a preference for the poor, we are an inclusive, diverse community called to love God and each other for the life of the world.

This edition of The Angelus was written and edited by Father Matt Jacobson, except as noted. Father Matt is also responsible for formatting it on the parish website and distributing it via mail and e-mail, with the assistance of parish volunteer, Clint Best. Mother Elis Lui also assists with editing the newsletter. If you have an idea for an article that you would like to publish in an upcoming issue of The Angelus, Father Matt would be happy to discuss it with you.

[1] See pages 15–18 of the Book of Common Prayer for more details about how feast days are handled.
[2] Lilly C. Vuong, The Protevangelium of James, (Cascade Books, 2019), 3.
[3] Protevangelium of James, 11.
[4] Luke 1:38