Pro Nobis
The First Installment of a New Writing Project
I’m currently working on a short book/pamphlet on the Church Year, entitled “Pro Nobis: Paragraphs Explaining the Church Year.” I will be publishing excerpts here as I finish my initial revisions. Here are the first few paragraphs:
Pro Nobis, Part 1
Welcome to the Church Year! The first question you may have on this topic—and the most important to answer—is why the Church Year? After all, it didn’t fall down on golden plates, nor was it given by God’s Prophets, like the Old Testament’s liturgical calendar was (Leviticus 23). The Apostles are hesitant to insist on holy days and seasons (Colossians 2:16). So, why the Church Year? One simple reason: It gives Christ pro nobis.
Pro Nobis, Part 2
For the non-Latinists among us, “pro nobis” translates as “for us.” The Church Year isn’t chiefly about banner colors or candle wreaths. It has one chief goal: to preach Christ for us. In the readings, hymns, and prayers throughout the entire year, the person & work of Christ are unpacked and given to us. We kneel with the shepherds on Christmas Eve and behold our newborn Savior (Luke 2:11). On Good Friday, we gaze upon Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:18). We rejoice at His resurrection and His ascension in the Easter season. We await His return as the days shorten during the Last Sundays of the Church Year. Christ was born for us, suffered and died for us, was raised and exalted for us, and will return for us.
Pro Nobis, Part 3
Martin Luther, in his treatment of the Second Article of the Creed, lists all the major points of Christ’s work for us, then says: “But to explain all these single points separately belongs not to brief sermons for children, but rather to the ampler sermons that extend throughout the entire year, especially at those times which are appointed for the purpose of treating at length of each article – of the birth, sufferings, resurrection, ascension of Christ, etc. Ay, the entire Gospel which we preach is based on this, that we properly understand this article as that which our salvation and all our happiness rest, and which is so rich and comprehensive that we never can learn it fully.”[1]
Pro Nobis, Part 4
Lutherans treasure the inherited ceremonies of the Church that deliver Christ. When the Papists claimed that Lutherans had abolished the Mass (Divine Service), our Lutheran Fathers responded: “Falsely are our churches accused of abolishing the Mass; for the Mass is retained among us, and celebrated with the highest reverence. Nearly all the usual ceremonies are also preserved, save that the parts sung in Latin are interspersed here and there with German hymns, which have been added to teach the people. For ceremonies are needed to this end alone that the unlearned be taught [what they need to know of Christ].”[2]
Pro Nobis, Part 5
Christ’s work for our salvation must be taught in His Church (Matthew 16:18, 21-23). We retain the Church Year & the Liturgy of the Divine Service among us in order to proclaim Christ’s work for us. In the Divine Service, we hear Christ’s pronouncement for us in the Absolution, Christ’s Word for us in the reading & preaching of the Holy Scriptures, and Christ’s body & blood given and shed for us in the Sacrament of the Altar. In the Church Year, we hear Christ for us in each word and work of His life and continued ministry.
[1] Large Catechism II, paragraphs 32-33, Concordia Triglotta, 687.
[2] Augsburg Confession, Art. XXIV, paragraphs 1-3, Concordia Triglotta, 65.