The Book of Common Prayer

[SFG75]

I picked up an old 1945 version of it, very rich in writing form which makes it interesting to peruse from time to time. I have to confess(religious pun not intended) that I have yet to read a more recent version.

The Book of Common Prayer; New Yorker article. (http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2012/10/22/121022crat_atlarge_wood)

[Jackson Richardson]

If you are in England (as the article suggests) the Book of Common Prayer is the 1662 version. There was no 1945 version. (The first two versions were 1549 and 1552 respectively).

We used to recite the General Confession every morning at my school. (We have done those things we ought not to have done, and left undone those things we ought to have done. We have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep and there is no health in us. Magnificent rhetoric and dishonest psychology.) English literature is scattered with quotes from the BCP.

In America "the Book of Common Prayer" generally refers to the current service book of the Episcopal Church.

[Jackson Richardson]

I'm very suspicious of the Book of Common Prayer from a religious point of view - it stressed the penitential aspect of Christianity far too much.

However it's language (which dates mainly from 1549) manages to hold together two aspects which are usually quite difficult. It is dignified without being pompous. It sounds magnificent while being extremely plain language. (Some of the words may be obscure now or have changed their meaning, but much has not. By the standards of the prose of its time, it is very simple in expression.)

[cacian]

Hi ruggerlad and SFG75

Have you got a favourite prayer?

[Jackson Richardson]

My favourite is the General Thanksgiving, added in 1662:

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men;
[*particularly to those who desire now to offer up their praises and thanksgivings for thy late mercies vouchsafed unto them.]
We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful,
and that we shew forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives;
by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

*This to be said when any that have been prayed for desire to return praise.

[SFG75]

Thanks for the clarification ruggerlad. Turns out, I have the 1945 edition of the American Episcopal book. As for a favorite prayer, I like the section regarding prayers for the deceased. The written language of the older texts is rich and just can't be replicated with similar works today, at least, that's what I have found.

[cacian]

Thanks for the clarification ruggerlad. Turns out, I have the 1945 edition of the American Episcopal book. As for a favorite prayer, I like the section regarding prayers for the deceased. The written language of the older texts is rich and just can't be replicated with similar works today, at least, that's what I have found.

Hi SFG75 do you have a quote as an example?

[BienvenuJDC]

I've never read any of the books of this type. While trying to maintain a focus on the Bible itself (and it by itself is inexhaustible), I never read much from any of the creeds. Are these considered to be creed books?

[Jackson Richardson]

I've never read any of the books of this type. While trying to maintain a focus on the Bible itself (and it by itself is inexhaustible), I never read much from any of the creeds. Are these considered to be creed books?

They are liturgical books, like the Roman missal. They are the words and directions for public corporate services. They are not intended to be read privately. They will include the Nicene Creed as part of the eucharist/mass/communion, and the the Apostles' Creed as part of baptism. The creeds can be read aloud in five minutes, so they are hardly reading material. They are the basis of the Christian faith.

I'm interested that the American BCP should have included prayers for the departed - it was something that is pointedly absent from the English Prayer Book. What was the material that struck you particularly?

[BienvenuJDC]

Thanks, ruggerlad. I was raised learning the ideas that it is better to just rely on the Scriptures themselves. I don't really even like to refer to commentaries when studying. It seems too easy for men to interject their own biases. I do some preaching in a small church and had gone to school for the ministry, but I don't believe that one has to necessarily be ordained to be able to understand the Bible, Christianity, or even God's will for mankind.

[Jackson Richardson]

We are coming from different traditions, BienvenuJDC. I could make an argument about it, but now's not the time. I'm not ordained and I certainly don't think you have to be ordained to understand all that - in one sense we never can fully. All the best.

[mona amon]

The liturgy followed by the traditional protestant churches here in India is heavily based on the Book of Common Worship, which in turn is heavily based on the Book of Common prayer. As a kid I used to feel bored in church, but now I don't feel that I've been to church unless they have this particular order of service. The newer churches have way too much hallelujah-ing and amen-ing and loud music and open display of devotional fervour for my taste.


Thanks, ruggerlad. I was raised learning the ideas that it is better to just rely on the Scriptures themselves.

True, but this is all part of the ritual of worship, the music, the hymns and chants, the stained glass...it is the artistic side of devotion, for those who like it.

[SFG75]

Hi SFG75 do you have a quote as an example?

Sorry cacian, I should check threads more, or have more subscriptions to them! I've been on board here for some time now, just haven't been a "regular" participant for most of it.


Lord, let me know mine end, and the number of my days; that I may be certified how long I have to live. Behold, thou hast made my days as it were a span long, and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee; and verily every man living is altogether vanity. For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain; he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what is my hope? truly my hope is even in t hee. Deliver me from all mine ofences; and make me not a rebuke unto the foolish. When thou with rebukes doest chasten man for sin, thou makes his beauty to consume away, like as it were a moth fretting a garment: every man there fore is but vanity. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with thine ears consider my calling; hold not they peace at my tears; For I am a stranger with thee, and sa sojourner, as well my fathers were. O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength, before I go hence, and be no more seen.

A burial of the dead at sea;


Unto Almighty God we commend the soul of our brother departed, and we commit his body to the deep; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection unto eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ; at who coming in glorious majesty to judge the world, the sea shall give up her dead; and the corruptible bodies of those who sleep in him shall be changed, and made like unto his glorious body; according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things himself.

Episcopal Church Book of Common Prayer online resources. (http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/bcp.htm)

[Jackson Richardson]

The first quote is from Psalm 39 used in the service of the Burial of the Dead, and is the same in the English 1662 BCP. The translation is by Bishop Miles Coverdale. (I can't remember hearing it used at any funeral I've been to.)

The second quote is an adaption of the English version, with some interesting variants and probably improvements.

At this time of night (in the UK) I'll quote from Evening Prayer (surely in your version)

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by the great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.