To Anthea

by Robert Herrick (1591-1674)

Now is the time when all the lights wax dim;
And thou, Anthea, must withdraw from him
Who was thy servant: Dearest, bury me
Under that holy-oak, or gospel-tree;
Where, though thou see’st not, thou may’st think upon
Me, when thou yearly go’st procession;
Or, for mine honour, lay me in that tomb
In which thy sacred reliques shall have room;
For my embalming, Sweetest, there will be
No spices wanting, when I’m laid by thee.

The “yearly procession” in the poem is the tradition called “beating the bounds” when all the members of the parish walked around the parish boundary and prayed for good weather, for a good harvest, and for the Lord to protect the people. It was held on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the Ascension.

The Gospel reading on the previous Sunday is John 16:23-33, which begins, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.” The Latin word for ask is rogare, and so this Sunday is known in liturgical churches as “Rogation Sunday,” and the next three days are called “Rogation Days.”

It’s been unseasonably dry here, so we’ve been praying for rain, and, thanks be to God, it rained most of the day today! I took this photo this evening between showers.

The 1979 Book of Common Prayer has three prayers for use during the Rogation Days. We prayed the first, For Fruitful Seasons, during Morning Prayers today, and will pray the next two on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

I. For fruitful seasons

Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth: We humbly pray that thy gracious providence may give and preserve to our use the harvests of the land and of the seas, and may prosper all who labor to gather them, that we, who constantly receive good things from thy hand, may always give thee thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

II. For commerce and industry

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ in his earthly life shared our toil and hallowed our labor: Be present with thy people where they work; make those who carry on the industries and commerce of this land responsive to thy will; and give to us all a pride in what we do, and a just return for our labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

III. For stewardship of creation

O merciful Creator, whose hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us, we beseech thee, ever thankful for thy loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of thy bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

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I’ve blogged before about Rogation Day – here’s a post explaining Beating theBounds, and here’s one with a hymn for Rogation Sunday.