Calendar

Priest and Mystic
b. 1380
d. 1471

Author of The Imitation of Christ, a meditative book of devotion which, according to Lesser Feasts and Fasts of the Episcopal Church, has been translated into more languages than any other book, save for the Bible itself.

For an example of how his works influence Christian thought and theology even to this day, see Why Pray for the Dead? in the Sermon Archive.

Collect:

Holy Father, who hast nourished and strengthened thy Church by the inspired writings of thy servant Thomas a Kempis: Grant that we may learn from him to know what is necessary to be known, to love what is to be loved, to praise what highly pleaseth thee, and always to seek to know and follow thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Priest and Ecumenist
Sixth Rector of Grace Church, New York City
b. 1838
d. 1909

Authored the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral which can be found in the historical documents section of the 1979 Prayer Book. He also wrote the collect we use during worship on Monday in Holy Week.

Collect:

O Lord our God, we thank thee for instilling in the heart of thy servant William Reed Huntington a fervent love for thy Church and its mission in the world; and we pray that, with unflagging faith in thy promises, we may make known to all people thy blessed gift of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Mary and Martha were the sisters of Lazarus. On this, Scripture is clear. Roman Catholics believe Mary of Bethany is the same person as Mary Magdalene; on this, Scripture is not clear. The Episcopal Church has a separate feast day for Saint Mary Magdalene.

Worth reading (or listening to) is Fr Daniels' 2010 sermon on the siblings entitled Martha and Mary.

Collect:

O God, heavenly Father, whose Son Jesus Christ enjoyed rest and refreshment in the home of Mary and Martha of Bethany: Give us the will to love thee, open our hearts to hear thee, and strengthen our hands to serve thee in others for his sake; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Politician, Philanthropist and Abolitionist
b. 1759
d. 1833

Lesser Feasts and Fasts describes the contribution of William Wilberforce in this way:

He gave himself unstintingly to the promotion of overseas missions, popular education, and the reformation of public manners and morals. He also supported parliamentary reform and Catholic emancipation. Above all, his fame rests upon his persistent, uncompromising, and single-minded crusade for the abolition of slavery and the slave-trade. That sordid traffic was abolished in 1807. He died just one month before Parliament put an end to slavery in the British dominions. One of the last letters written by John Wesley was addressed to Wilberforce. In it Wesley gave him his blessing for his noble enterprise.

Collect:

Let thy continual mercy, O Lord, enkindle in thy Church the never-failing gift of love, that, following the example of thy servant William Wilberforce, we may have grace to defend the poor, and maintain the cause of those who have no helper; for the sake of him who gave his life for us, thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Priest, Monastic and Founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits)
b. 1491
d. 1556

Collect:

Almighty God, from whom all good things come: Thou didst call Ignatius of Loyola to the service of thy Divine Majesty and to find thee in all things. Inspired by his example and strengthened by his companionship, may we labor without counting the cost and seek no reward other than knowing that we do thy will; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.