prayer books

[cheezit]

When I was a little kid, many, many, many moons ago, I went with my parents to the Episcopal church. I always thought of the Episcopal church as an off-shoot (so to speak) of the Catholic Church. I may be wrong there but, like I said, I was a little kid.

Anyway. The Episcopal Church always used a Prayer book for all of the prayers said in the services, as I assume that the Catholic church also does. My question is simply why use a prayer book? Why not just say prayers from the heart? It just seems to me that the prayers would mean more than a "pre-printed" one from a book page.

 

[VOW]

To Cheezit:

The Episcopalian services are VERY similar to Catholic services; a study of history will tell you why. Henry VIII tangled with the Catholic Church when he was refused a divorce from his wife. His advisors told him that according to the laws of England, NOTHING had more authority than the King. Therefore, Henry named himself as the head of the Church of England, and appointed the Archibishop of Canterbury to oversee the management of that Church.

I believe the "prayer book" you are talking about is the Missal. It shows the structure of the Mass: we talk to God, God talks to us, we give to God, God gives to us. Some prayers are offered by the priest, others are offered by the congregation. Attending Mass is an active participation by the congregation as well as the priest, and we ALL come together to worship God.

Wolseley has explained about the Liturgical cycle of the Scripture readings. Every single day, including Sunday, has a set of Scripture readings. They are all inter-related. The homily of the priest (or sermon) typically focuses on the readings for that day. The prayers offered also complement the readings.

To a non-Catholic, it may seem as though the Catholic services are packaged, freeze-dried meals like the astronauts take into space. Just add Holy Water, and POOF, instant Church. Comments are usually made about "vain, repetitious prayer." That truly isn't applicable. The celebration of the Mass is set up to have continuity. People are generally creatures of habit, and they find comfort and security in continuity. On a personal level, I can tell you this: I'm hearing-impaired. With the missalette in my hand, I can follow along and participate with everyone else, I can BELONG. I'm LOST during the Homily, but with everything other than that, I'm 100% involved in the Mass.

This arrangement doesn't turn the priest into a "See-n-Say" toy where you pull the string and out comes a Catholic Church service. A priest can say a blessing or a prayer that ISN'T written down someplace.

A prayer doesn't have to be spontaneous to be "from the heart."


Peace be with you,
~VOW

 

[Annabel Lee]

The most important prayer book for the Anglican/Episcopalian Church is the Book of Common Prayer.Maybe that's the one you're thinking of Cheezit.

 

[cheezit]

Originally posted by Annabel Lee
The most important prayer book for the Anglican/Episcopalian Church is the Book of Common Prayer.Maybe that's the one you're thinking of Cheezit.

Yes, that is the one. Do they also use that in the Catholic Church? Or am I all wet and just don't know what I'm talking about?

 

[Annabel Lee]

No, it's not used in the Catholic Church. I attended an Episcopal Church for a year and I have a copy. It's a beautiful prayer book.

 

[KC Catholic]

Is he thinking of the Missal?

 

[Avila]

I'm sure AnglicanFather can help you, cheezit. He uses the Book of Common Prayer in his liturgies, and could also explain how it differs from what (dare I say it? Roman) Catholic priests use.

 

[jukesk9]

Why not just say prayers from the heart? It just seems to me that the prayers would mean more than a "pre-printed" one from a book page.

Well, how about the Lord's Prayer for starters? Or any Psalms? Those are "pre-printed." But the key is whether or not one prays in vain. If you're praying these prayers with all of your heart, then there's absolutely no difference then coming up with a prayer from the heart. I will agree totally with you that if someone just reads these prayers, they will avail nothing. You must have faith.

I had a priest once that didn't ask us for an Act of Contrition in the confessional because he wanted us to make up our own act from the heart. He didn't want us to recite an act. He wanted us to be sincerely sorry.

 

[Fr. Rob]

Originally posted by Avila
I'm sure AnglicanFather can help you, cheezit. He uses the Book of Common Prayer in his liturgies, and could also explain how it differs from what (dare I say it? Roman) Catholic priests use.

Thanks for the segway

The Book of Common Prayer is made up of the four basic Liturgical texts that were existent in the Roman Church of the 1500's:

THE BREVIARY: Morning and Evening Prayer, AKA Divine Office (The Psalter is also included, ususally in the back of the book)
THE MISSAL: The Mass-Rite, together with Prayers and Scripture readings (all fully printed out in most earlier editions) for all Sundays and Holy Days of the Church Year.
THE MANUAL: The Services used for Christian Initiation, Marriage, Reconciliation, Sickness and Death.
THE PONTIFICAL: The Rites used by a bishop only (Confirmation, Ordination)

The services are rendered in the traditional language form, with a fair sight of poetry.

The Episcopal Church (ECUSA) uses a new-fangled revision from 1979 that is, frankly, borderline at best. The Psalter is all messed up, and some of the liturgies and Eucharistic Prayers make me wretch (like Eucharistic Prayer C: The Star Trek Canon!).

My jurisdiction formerly used either the 1928 or 1892 American revision, but authorised a revision last year. This form is currently in preparation for publication.

The BCP is used for the purpose of:
1. Daily Prayer for all of the People of the Church. The Daily office of the BCP is quite simple, easy to follow, and straight forward. Invatory, Psalm, Reading, Canticle, Creed, Prayers. The Daily Office Lectionary lets you read through the scriptures in either one or two years. With all the people praying the same form, the clergy, laity. . . all the people pray the same prayers, with their own special needs added, giving strength to the Church.

2. The Eucharist is offered in two rites, one longer and fuller, the other a bit more spartan (mainly for weekday use, or use during Lent when it is often customary to say the long Great Litany and the full ten commandments at every Sunday Mass). Each dervie from historical liturgies, and exhibit an Ambrosian, Sarum, Roman, and Eastern flavour.

3. There is also a section of family prayer that is brief, takes a few minutes, and allows a family to unite in prayer -- regardless of age -- twice a day for stength and faith.

The best thing for a member of the Roman Church to do is to get a copy of the Vatican II Sunday Missal as a start, and then, later, to get a copy of the Daily Roman Missal, both published by the Daughters of Saint Paul. These are wonderful RC resources, and even though our Reading Cycle is quite different from the RC, it is still useful to me from time to time.

Hope this has helped answer some of your questions.

Father Rob
Anglican Catholic

 

[cheezit]

"Eucharistic Prayer C: The Star Trek Canon!"

Frankly, this does not really surprise me. As I said, when I was a kid growing up in the 50's and 60's I went to the Episcopal Church. I can't remember ever hearing a sermon about the love of God or Salvation of any kind. I do, however remember sermons based on Peanuts and Snoopy. And I was an Acolyte and also was in the choir. (couldn't carry a tune if I had a big huge bucket, but, hey I could make a "joyful noise". )

"Hope this has helped answer some of your questions."

It did. Thank-you very much. I appreciate it.