{"id":8829,"date":"2024-01-10T13:54:59","date_gmt":"2024-01-10T13:54:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farefwd.com\/?p=8829"},"modified":"2024-01-10T21:04:58","modified_gmt":"2024-01-10T21:04:58","slug":"how-to-use-the-book-of-common-prayer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farefwd.com\/index.php\/2024\/01\/10\/how-to-use-the-book-of-common-prayer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use the Book of Common Prayer"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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A Love Letter to the Book of Common Prayer<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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A beginner\u2019s guide to the Book of Common Prayer is also a celebration of the traditions and structures of prayer, and an invitation into communion.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Review by Fr. John Trammell<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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On its face, How to Use the Book of Common Prayer<\/em>, by Samuel L. Bray and Drew Nathaniel Keane, is just what it claims to be: a manual for how to use the Book of Common Prayer, specifically the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, International Edition<\/em>. What readers will find, however, is that this book is no mere manual. Rather, it is a love letter to the Book of Common Prayer<\/em> (hereafter, BCP<\/em>). What bleeds through the pages of what could otherwise have been a bland, dry reference book is that Bray and Keane are devoted disciples of the Prayer Book Tradition. They have read, marked, learned, inwardly digested, and most importantly, practiced that which they prescribe.<\/p>

The inherently limited scope, however, undermines the strengths of the book (but perhaps, in doing so, illuminates an essential characteristic of the BCP). One of the underlying principles of the historic prayer book is that the prayers it prescribes are supposed to be common<\/em>\u2014ideally said by all members of a communion, whether geographically proximate or (merely) spiritually unified. The 1662 BCP(IE)<\/em>, published by InterVarsity Press, however, is not, as far as I have been able to ascertain, being used by any diocese or province within the Anglican Communion or the Continuing Church. The Church of England still uses the 1662, but certainly not the International Edition<\/em>. The Episcopalians are still using the 1979 BCP. The Anglican Church in North America has their own prayer book (2019). One is left asking the question, \u201cWho exactly is this for\u2026?\u201d Truth be told, one might ask the same question about a book review, written for a journal, about a guidebook, for a BCP edition not being used officially by any group\u2026 just who is this review for\u2026? \u201cThere are dozens of us!\u201d <\/em>It is possible that the BCP(IE)\u2019s target audience are liturgically\u2013minded evangelicals, looking to bolster their individual prayer lives. This is commendable enough. However, prayerbook spirituality pursued in isolation can only take a practitioner so far. According to the Anglican Tradition, sacraments cannot be rightly administered outside the context of the Church, and the Book of Common Prayer is meant to be utilized by a community\u2014a communion<\/em>.<\/p>

The focus of this review, however, is the guidebook\u2014How to Use the Book of Common Prayer<\/em>, by Samuel L. Bray and Drew Nathaniel Keane\u2014and when examined for what it is, regardless of who might find it useful, it is truly iridescent. This book elevates itself beyond its station. It is a love letter to the Book of Common Prayer, and as one who loves the BCP, I would like to add my name as a signatory of that letter. As such, I commend this book to you, dear reader. May it lead you into the deep well of English spirituality, to the very feet of Christ, and may your prayers be enriched by your enjoyment of it, to the glory of God.<\/p>

As you begin to plumb these depths, the authors have helpfully structured their billet-doux<\/em> by dividing the book into 10 chapters, loosely depicting the ascent of the soul in prayer and devotion, passing through the Sacramental liturgies, and into the presence of God and the Great Cloud of Witnesses who worship around his throne. The first couple of chapters are introductory material covering liturgy as a concept and a history of the Prayer Book. Like novices, or Christ\u2019s disciples who asked their rabbi to teach them to pray, readers are introduced to the liturgical prayer as a concept, and specifically to the liturgies of the BCP. Here spiritual curiosity is piqued, and the practitioner begins to open herself in prayer. Chapter 1 is not only an overview of liturgy, but a powerful apologetic for liturgical prayer. The history portion is particularly strong, owing to the authors\u2019 willingness to neither eschew the more sordid elements of English Reformational history, nor to necessarily glorify them. Theirs is an unapologetic and nuanced relating of Reformation history. The next chapters focus on what the authors call \u201cthe heart of the Book of Common Prayer,\u201d the Daily Office and ways of augmenting the prayer services. Here, disciples enter into the school of prayer<\/em>, practicing its rhythms and learning the nuances of each portion.<\/p>

From here, the book turns to a discussion of the dominical Sacraments, baptism and the eucharist, wherein we are joined as members of Christ\u2019s Body, sharing in his death and resurrection, and enjoy a foretaste of resurrection life. Next, the authors cover the lectionary and the calendar of the Christian Year, as disciples learn to explore Holy Scripture within the practice of liturgical prayer. Finally, the book explores Reformation\u2013era hagiography, and the series of commemorations throughout the Christian Year, both reflecting upon the value of remembering the lives of the saints, and individually outlining each red letter day<\/em> from the 1662 BCP(IE).\u00a0Here members of the Church Militant\u2014Christians still journeying on earth\u2014experience communion and interplay with the Church Triumphant\u2014those faithfully departed who are with God in Heaven. Chapter 10 is an epilogue of sorts, which includes an exhortatory section about how to begin using<\/em> the Prayer Book in earnest and recommendations for further reading.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The focus is on\u00a0using\u00a0<\/em>the BCP, not simply knowing about it.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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This book shines for its beautiful, simple, accessible prose. The authors assume that their readers are probably novices when it comes to liturgical prayer and the BCP<\/em>, while still crafting a guide which may benefit practitioners at any leg of their journey upon the Canterbury Trail. Technical jargon is used sparingly, and is introduced and explained where present. For example, in Chapter 3, the authors describe liturgical rubrics (instructive portions of the text) without even using the word, feeling no apparent need to bolster their readers\u2019 vocabulary, but instead focus on enabling them to use<\/em> the text. That same idea undergirds much of the rest of the work. The focus is on using<\/em> the BCP, not simply knowing about it.<\/p>

This priority becomes apparent also in the in-depth walk-throughs of the Daily Office, the Lectionary, the Liturgical Calendar, and Commemorations of the Saints. Within the section on the Sacraments, there is even a thorough, winsome discussion\/defense of infant baptism, an acknowledgement of the need for a child to come to a lively, individual confession of faith, and an entire section devoted to the catechism. Each section of the 1662 BCP(IE) is introduced in sterling fashion.<\/p>

It is my sincere hope that this book (and the volume to which it is a companion) might draw readers deeper into the tradition of English spirituality. As a priest and practitioner, I believe that the Anglican Tradition is, at its best, one of the most beneficial pathways for Christian discipleship. It is both ancient and modern; Western in its expression, but comfortable with Eastern theology and practice; theologically generous, but orthodox in its convictions. Truly Nicene; truly orthodox; truly biblical; truly catholic. There is a wealth of Christian spirituality to glean from the Anglican Tradition; individuals will benefit greatly by adopting these ancient practices. The tradition is at its strongest, however, where it bridges those gaps\u2014ancient and modern, East and West, catholic and evangelical. This cannot be embodied in isolation. So it is also my hope that these practices will draw readers deeper into the Great Tradition, deeper into discipleship to Jesus, as Members of his Body, the Church. Further up and further in.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Fr. John Trammell<\/strong> is a priest at Eucharist Church in San Francisco. He and his wife have one delightful daughter and one cuddly cat. He loves liturgy, craft cocktails, sushi, and Star Trek.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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How to Use the Book of Common Prayer: A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy<\/strong> will be published by InterVarsity Press on February 27, 2024. Fare Forward<\/em> appreciates their provision of an advance copy to our reviewer. You can purchase a copy from the publisher here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A beginner\u2019s guide to the Book of Common Prayer is also a celebration of the traditions and structures of prayer, and an invitation into 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