Are you familiar with this prayer which concludes Litany 1 on page 111 in the BAS? “Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications to you, and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together you will hear their requests. Fulfill now our desires and petitions, as may be best for us, granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come eternal life; for you, Father, are good and loving, and we glorify you through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, in the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.”

An older version concludes Morning and Evening Prayer in the Book of Common Prayer. It is titled, “A Prayer of Saint Chrysostom”. Although not written by the saint it comes from a liturgy honouring John, Archbishop of Constantinople. John earned the nickname Chrysostom, “golden- mouthed”, through his preaching. He worked to care for the poor and to reform a worldly church and a lustful society but powerful opposition led to his exile and death,407. Thirty-one years later his influential teaching and life-style bore fruit.

Today we remember John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, Teacher of the Faith.

Bible Reading: Psalm 41; Ezekiel 3:16-21; Luke 21:12-15.