The Festival of St. Thorlak, Bishop and Confessor
Posted on December 23, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 24:42-47 (NKJV)
24:42 “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.”
Devotion
“Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Thorlak Thorhallsson lived from 1133 to 1193. He was consecrated as a deacon at age 15, was ordained a priest at age 18, became the bishop of Skalholt in southern Iceland, and eventually became archbishop of Nidaros, a city in Norway (now Trondheim). He studied for a time in Paris, and founded the first Augustinian monastery in Iceland.
Christianity had come to Iceland as early as 795, but only became the official religion of Iceland in 1000. So, when St. Thorlak was alive, Christianity had only been the religion of the land for a short time. There was much work to be done in service of the Lord.
We saw in yesterday’s devotion the three reasons we revere departed saints: we thank God for saving them through faith in Christ, we thank God for all that He accomplished through them, and we look to them as examples for us. Likewise, we are thankful that God saved St. Thorlak; we rejoice in all that God accomplished through him, particularly for the Icelandic and Norwegian people; and we pray God give us zeal in service to Christ, as He did for this saint.
Collect: Merciful God, graciously look upon Thy Church here on earth. Strengthen Thy congregation and give Thy Church comfort and peace. Teach the leaders of Thy Church to unite against all obstacles to Thy Word. Guide those who are tempted. Comfort those who suffer any want of body or soul. Prepare Thy congregation to make ready to sincerely and faithfully celebrate the holy feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for Rorate coeli Sunday, the Fourth Sunday in Advent
Stir up, O Lord, we beseech Thee, Thy power, and come, and with great might succor us, that by the help of Thy grace whatsoever is hindered by our sins may be speedily accomplished through Thy mercy and satisfaction; Who livest and reignest with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
