Anskar 			February 3
Archbishop of Hamburg,
Missionary to Denmark and Sweden
Anskar, also known by his Latin name Ansgarius, was born in 801 near Amiens. He was educated and professed as a monk in the nearby monastery of Corbie. He was in Correy, Westphalia, when King Harold of Denmark asked for a Christian evangelist for his people. Harold had been in exile and during that time had been converted to Christianity. Anskar agreed to accompany him and in 826 became a missionary to the Danish people. A few years later he made a missionary journey to Sweden. In 832 he was consecrated bishop of Hamburg. After the Vikings sacked Hamburg in 845, the pope made Anskar archbishop of Hamburg and Bremen and gave him also some responsibilities for Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Anskar devoted his energies to founding schools and preaching and was famous for his great charity to the poor. He attacked the slave-trade of the Vikings, but was unable to end it. Anskar was not very successful in Sweden, which soon reverted to paganism, until the eleventh century. His greatest achievements were in Denmark (of which country he is the patron saint) and in northern Germany. Even so, Anskar saw no real harvest of his labours in his own day. He died in Bremen in 865 and was buried there.
For Liturgical Use
Anskar, archbishop of Hamburg, who lived from 801 until 865, was a missionary to Denmark and Sweden. He was invited to Denmark by King Harold in 826. He founded schools and preached widely and was famous for his charity to the poor. Anskar saw no great results from his work, especially in Sweden, but he is the patron saint of Denmark.
Sentence
See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, says the Lord. 		Jeremiah 31:8	
Collects
Gracious and eternal God,
your servant Anskar laid the foundations
for the gospel among the people of Scandinavia,
but did not see the results of his labours;
give us patience and keep us from all discouragement,
knowing that you will surely bring to completion
the work that you have begun;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We praise you, God, for Anskar,
who took the gospel to the Danes
and, when they did not want it, to the Swedes,
and then back to the Danes;
so thousands heard the gospel from him
and rejoiced.
Psalms	65:1-8	100
Readings
Jeremiah 16:19-21		The nations shall come
Acts 1:6-8		To the end of the earth
Mark 6:7-13		They went out and preached
Post Communion Sentence
Jesus sent out the twelve to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 	Luke 9:2