Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, April 18th, 2024
the Third Week after Easter
the Third Week after Easter
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Historical Writings
Today in Christian History
Thursday, June 16
1361
Death in Strasburg of Johannes Tauler, German mystic and influential preacher.
1539
German Reformer Martin Luther declared: 'Faith justifies not as a work, nor as a quality, nor as knowledge, but as assent of the will and firm confidence in the mercy of God.'
1654
Queen Christina, a convert to Roman Catholicism, abdicated her Swedish throne to devote the remainder of her life to religion and art.
1660
The British House of Commons passes a resolution to burn books of John Milton that had championed the Parliamentarian rebellion against Charles I and argued for the legitimacy of that king's execution. The books will be burned on 27 August 1660.
1752
Death of Joseph Butler, Anglican theologian. His 1736 'Analogy of Religion' demonstrated the strong probability for the existence of a caring God over against that of a disinterested Creator Deity.
1804
Anglican missionary to Persia, Henry Martyn wrote in his journal: 'My soul, alas, needs these uneasinesses in outward things, to be driven to take refuge in God.'
1818
Death of Samuel J. Mills at sea. He had been exploring Africa to see if a mission work could be established. With Adoniram Judson and others, Mills had been a founder of American foreign missions.
1833
Anglican-turned-Catholic Cardinal John Henry Newman, while traveling on a ship from Italy to France, penned the words to the hymn, 'Lead, Kindly Light, Amid the Encircling Gloom.'
1862
Repose (Death) of Archimandrite Moses, who had entered the monastic life with the blessing of the famous St. Seraphim himself. After years of asceticism in Roslavl Forest, he had visited Optina and was persuaded to found a hermitage there.
1948
Death at Haverford, Pennsylvania, of Rufus M. Jones, American Quaker theologian. Through his writings and articles he had done much to advance Quaker social action. He had also helped found the American Friends Service Committee.
1983
Pope John Paul II visits his native Poland, remaining there through June 23rd.
Copyright Statement
© 1987-2020, William D. Blake. Portions used by permission of the author, from "Almanac of the Christian Church"
© 1987-2020, William D. Blake. Portions used by permission of the author, from "Almanac of the Christian Church"
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