Description
The LCMS does not have an official sanctoral calendar, nor does it have a process for canonizing saints. Because of this, some LCMS Lutherans may be hesitant to commemorate saints, unsure of which ones to commemorate, and in what way they should be commemorated.
“The Lutheran reformers understood that there was great benefit in remembering the saints whom God has given to His Church. The Apology of the Augsburg Confession (Article 21) gives three reasons for such honor. First, we thank God for giving faithful servants to His Church. Second, through such rememberance our faith is strengthened as we see the mercy that God extended to His saints of old. Third, these saints are examples by which we may imitate both thier faith and their holy living according to our calling in life.” Lutheran Service Book Page xii
The LSB provides an abridged sanctoral calendar that includes 117 feasts, festivals, and commemorations. These are not the only saints that we, LCMS Lutherans, are limited to remembering. For a more exhastive list, that includes at least one saint per day, I have attached the Sanctoral Calendar of Pastor J.K. Wilhelm Loehe’s Martyrologium, which is the same sanctoral calendar that our family follows. If you choose to purchase “Celebrating the Saints” by Pastor Will Weedon and “Saints: Becoming an Image of Christ Every Day of the Year” by Dawn Marie Beutner, you will own two books that include biographies of all the saints included in Loehe’s Sanctoral Calendar.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.