PRAYER BOOK
CATHOLICISM
LESSON ONE:
INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY OF
THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
WHAT IS THE BOOK OF
COMMON PRAYER?
WHAT IS THE BCP?
• Prayer "in the Commons"
• Sacraments/Divine Liturgy
• Other Rites
• Daily and Eucharistic Lectionaries
WHAT IS THE BCP?
• Bound With:
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Psalms of David
39 Articles of Religion
Family Prayer
Catechism
Ordinal
WHAT IS THE BCP?
• Used In:
• Public Prayer Services
• THE Liturgy
• Other Sacraments
• Teaching/Discipleship
• Family Devotions
• Home Visits/Services
“
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
(The Law of Prayer is the Law of Belief)
HOW WE PRAY SHAPES HOW WE BELIEVE!
”
A BRIEF HISTORY OF
THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
ANTECEDENTS OF THE BCP
• Monastic Hours
• 8 Daily
• Based on Psalms
• Rule of St. Benedict
ANTECEDENTS OF THE BCP
• Liturgy Books
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Missal
Breviary
Pontifical
Manual
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Gradual
Psalter
Evangelion
Lectionary
Abp. Thomas Cranmer: Concerning the Service of the Church
“ THERE was never any thing by the wit of man so well
devised, or so sure established, which in continuance of
time hath not been corrupted: As, among other things, it
may plainly appear by the Common Prayers in the
Church, commonly called Divine Service. The first original
and ground whereof if a man would search out by the
ancient Fathers, he shall find, that the same was not
ordained but of a good purpose, and for a great
advancement of godliness.
”
Abp. Thomas Cranmer: Concerning the Service of the Church
“
For they so ordered the matter, that all the whole Bible
(or the greatest part thereof) should be read over once
every year; intending thereby, that the Clergy, and
especially such as were Ministers in the congregation,
should (by often reading, and meditation in God's word)
be stirred up to godliness themselves, and be more able
to exhort others by wholesome doctrine, and to confute
them that were adversaries to the truth;
”
Abp. Thomas Cranmer: Concerning the Service of the Church
“ And further, that the people (by daily hearing of holy
Scripture read in the Church) might continually profit
more and more in the knowledge of God, and be the
more inflamed with the love of his true Religion. And
moreover, whereas Saint Paul would have such language
spoken to the people in the Church, as they might
understand, and have profit by hearing the same; The
Service in this Church of England these many years hath
been read in Latin to the people, which they understand
not;
”
Abp. Thomas Cranmer: Concerning the Service of the Church
“
So that they have heard with their ears only, and their
heart, spirit, and mind, have not been edified thereby.
And furthermore, notwithstanding that the ancient
Fathers have divided the Psalms into seven Portions,
whereof every one was called a Nocturn: Now of late
time a few of them have been daily said, and the rest
utterly omitted.
”
Abp. Thomas Cranmer: Concerning the Service of the Church
“
Moreover, the number and hardness of the Rules called
the Pie, and the manifold changings of the Service, was
the cause, that to turn the Book only was so hard and
intricate a matter, that many times there was more
business to find out what should be read, than to read it
when it was found out.
”
Abp. Thomas Cranmer: Concerning the Service of the Church
“
These inconveniences therefore considered, here is set
forth such an Order, whereby the same shall be
redressed. And for a readiness in this matter, here is
drawn out a Calendar for that purpose, which is plain and
easy to be understood; wherein (so much as may be) the
reading of holy Scripture is so set forth, that all things
shall be done in order, without breaking one piece from
another.
”
HISTORIC BCP'S
• 1549 (Cranmer, Edward VI)
• Combination of 'Old' and 'New'
• Beloved by Anglo-Catholics
• 'The body of our Lord Jesus Christ which was given
for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto
everlasting life.'
HISTORIC BCP'S
• 1552 (Cranmer, Edward VI)
• Moved in a more Reformed direction
• Never approved by Synod, just Parliament
• Forbid Eucharistic Vestments
HISTORIC BCP'S
• 1552 (Cranmer, Edward VI)
• Infamous 'Black Rubric'
• 'The body of our Lord Jesus Christ which was given
for thee, Take and eat this in remembrance that
Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by
faith, with thanksgiving.'
HISTORIC BCP'S
• 1559 (Elizabeth I)
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Conservative revision back toward the traditional
Never approved by Synod, just Parliament
Removed anti-Papal prayers
Permitted vestments, MP/EP vesting
HISTORIC BCP'S
• 1559 (Elizabeth I)
• 'The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given
for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto
everlasting life. Take and eat this in remembrance
that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy
heart by faith, with thanksgiving.'
HISTORIC BCP'S
• 1662 (Charles II)
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Post-Restoration
Further movement toward traditional
Approved by Synod and Parliament
Current official prayer book of Church of England
BCP during the spread of the Empire
AMERICAN BCP'S
• 1662 – English
• Used in Colonial period
• Revised the prayers for the State and King after the
Revolution
• Lots of experimental interim liturgies
AMERICAN BCP'S
• 1786 – Proposed Book
• Radical Changes (Psalms & Creeds)
• Approved by the Bishops and Clergy
• Rejected by Laity
AMERICAN BCP'S
• 1789 – First American Prayer Book
• Conservative revision of the 1662
• New State prayers appropriate for U.S.
• Scottish Episcopal Church's Communion Liturgy
• 1801 – American 39 Articles of Religion
AMERICAN BCP'S
• 1892 – Second American Prayer Book
• Very conservative revision
• Pleased neither low churchmen nor high churchmen
• Preceded the REC 'Schism'
• Lasted less than 30 years
AMERICAN BCP'S
• 1928 – Third American Prayer Book
• More traditional than any before (high church friendly)
• Added family prayers
• Still used by many traditional Anglicans, including ASAC
• Last American BCP in the classical format
AMERICAN BCP'S
• 1979 – Current in TEC
• Radical Changes (More like an ASB)
• Multiple Rites
• Less specific theology
• Influence of Vatican II and Ecumenism
• Bp. Orji at last synod….
CURRNET LANDSCAPE
• TEC
• 1979
• Proposed Changes
• "Rite 3"
• Continuum
• 1928
• American Missal
• Roman Rite
CURRNET LANDSCAPE
• ACNA
• 1979 (Less and Less)
• 1928 American
• 1962 Canadian
• African Liturgies
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Common Worship
Proposed Liturgies
REC Liturgies
Other?
ON THE HORIZON
• ACNA's BCP
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In Progress (proposed)
2019 Estimated Completion
More traditional than 1979, but still modern
No 'Rite 1'
ON THE HORIZON
• American 1928, Canadian 1962, REC
• Will continue to be used by 'traditional language'
parishes
• Keeping the traditional BCP alive in ACNA
• Continuum will still use