Commontide
Proper 27
Liturgical Color: White/Gold
The 23rd Sunday after Trinity
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Most liturgical texts are from the Book of Common Prayer (2019) of the Anglican Church in North America.
The New Coverdale Psalter, © 2019 by the Anglican Church in North America. Used by permission.
Bishop
Anglican Commemoration
Hugh of Lincoln was a Carthusian monk from the mountains of Burgundy who became one of the greatest bishops of medieval England. Brought over by Henry II to rescue the first charterhouse in the country at Witham in Somerset, he was made bishop of Lincoln in 1186, rebuilt its cathedral after an earthquake, and faced down three Angevin kings without fear. He is remembered above all for shielding the Jews of his diocese from massacre with his own body, and for the wild swan of Stow that guarded him while he slept. He died in 1200 and was canonized in 1220, the first Carthusian saint; his feast is November 17.
Hugh was born into nobility in the Dauphiné region of southeastern France and entered the Carthusian order while young, embracing the order's demanding contemplative and ascetic discipline. His reputation for holiness, spiritual wisdom, and austere devotion attracted ecclesiastical notice. In 1186, King Henry II appointed him Bishop of Lincoln, one of England's largest and most important sees. Hugh initially resisted, preferring to remain in monastic contemplation, but accepted the appointment as obedience to authority. As bishop, he proved a forceful reformer and courageous defender of both ecclesiastical independence and human dignity. During the violent anti-Jewish pogroms that erupted following the Third Crusade, Hugh directly intervened to protect Jews in his diocese from massacre. He sheltered them in Lincoln Castle, used his authority as bishop to threaten excommunication against rioters, and stood against the tide of crusading violence with moral clarity. This act was historically remarkable and atypical for the period—a bishop actively protecting a religious minority against popular violence. Hugh also stood firm against the secular authority of both Henry II and Richard I on matters of conscience, refusing to compromise ecclesiastical independence. He was known for directness and sometimes blunt speech with kings and nobles, which his biographer notes occasionally caused him difficulty but earned respect. One of Adam of Eynsham's most memorable anecdotes describes Hugh's pet swan at Stowe Park, which reportedly followed him everywhere—a detail that illustrates his reputation for gentleness and his spiritual authority over creation. Despite his episcopal station and political influence, Hugh maintained rigorous personal asceticism throughout his life, wearing a hair shirt, maintaining strict fasts, and living with minimal comfort. He died on November 16, 1200, after a brief illness. He was canonized in 1220, only twenty years after his death. Hugh remains the patron saint of sick children and animals, reflecting both his gentleness and his moral courage in defending the vulnerable.
Hugh's reputation as a holy bishop and defender of the oppressed developed organically during and immediately after his lifetime. Adam of Eynsham records miracles at his tomb and through intercession. Post-canonization miracles were documented and compiled, contributing to his cult's development. His reputation for defending Jews was preserved in both ecclesiastical and Jewish historical memory, making him unusual among medieval bishops. His reverence for creation (reflected in the swan story) became part of his spiritual legacy.