The Richard Hooker Society

“The righteousnes wherewith we shalbe clothed in the world to come, is both perfecte and inherente: that whereby here we are justified is perfecte but not inherente: that whereby we are sanctified, inherent but not perfect. But the righteousness wherein we muste be found if we wilbe justified, is not our owne, therefore we cannott be justefied by any inherente quality. Christe hath merited rightuousness for asmany as are found in hym.”

-Richard Ho**er, Homily on Justification

"It's amazing how often the Bible quotes the Book of Common Prayer". Joking aside, the Prayer Book is shot-through with Scripture. Now, a website developed in the last few years shows the origin of almost every line and its Scriptural origins, alongside various historical commentaries.

"The Scriptural BCP":
https://cwtc.gitlab.io/scriptural-bcp/1662/holy_communion.html

We are looking forward to hosting our conference on the great Anglican theologian E.L. Mascall on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Please note that there will be two public lectures, one delivered by Fr Christopher Smith on Wednesday at 4pm and another (keynote) by Rowan Williams on Thursday at 4pm. All are welcome to attend these lectures.

Please write to [email protected] if you wish to request a link to the livestream.

Reformation Day, commemorated since the 16th century as a reminder of the principle “Ecclesia semper reformanda est” (the church must always be reformed”). May we always be reformed in the light of God’s love revealed in his Holy Word.

O God, by your grace your Reformation saints, kindled by the flame of your love, became a burning and shining light in your Church, turning pride into humility and error into truth: Grant that we may be set aflame with the same spirit of love and discipline, and walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

"My eager protestations, made in the glory of my ghostly strength, I am ashamed of; but those crystal tears, wherewith my sin and weakness was bewailed, have procured my endless joy; my strength hath been my ruin, and my fall my stay."

-Richard Ho**er in "A Learned Sermon on the Nature of Pride."

"Few prayers in those prayerbooks match the Prayer of Humble Access . . . for its eloquent and moving summary of the Lutheran doctrine of justification by faith. . . .The Prayer of Humble Access, like many of the daily collects, came from Cranmer’s own hand. He did not, as with other prayers, reorder and rework traditional elements; rather, this prayer is his, out of whole cloth. . . . [The] 1552 Prayerbook, the work completed under the child-king Edward, preserves Cranmer’s deepest and most troubling achievement: it is as [Dom Gregory] Dix writes, “the only effective attempt ever made to give liturgical expression to the doctrine of ‘justification by faith alone’” (SL, 672). . . . And the Prayer of Humble Access, I would say, is this doctrine in its clearest, most inward, and moving form."

-The Rev’d Dr Katherine Sonderegger, “The Doctrine of Justification and the Cure of Souls."

“Orthodoxy means not only correct propositions about God, but the life of the one Body of Christ in the due working of all its members.” - Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, Ecumenist, and Teacher of the Faith

Arthur Michael Ramsey was the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury, serving during the culturally significant years of 1961-1974. Teaching from an Anglo-Catholic perspective, Ramsey aspired to unite Anglicans of all perspectives within a robust, orthodox framework that honored Scripture and respected the reasoned tradition of the ancient church. He labored to build unity among other Christian communions, as well. He advocated for unification between the Anglican and Methodist churches and gained respect with Eastern Orthodox theologians. In 1966, he visited Pope Paul VI in Rome and together the two signed a historic document declaring an end to the enmity that had existed between the two communions since the Reformation. During this visit, Pope Paul VI greeted Archbishop Ramsey, saying, “You are our beloved sister church.” The Pope then presented Ramsey with one of his episcopal rings. This ring has been worn by every Archbishop of Canterbury since this presentation. Ramsey was a theologian, an author, and devoted student of Scripture and ancient church fathers. Today he is considered one of the most significant modern Archbishops of Canterbury.

Prints available via link in bio Almighty God, we give you thanks for the ministry of Arthur Michael Ramsey, who labored that the Church of Jesus Christ might be one: Grant that we, instructed by his teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

www.ourchurchspeaks.com

The Saintly Sixteen continues as Johann Sebastian Bach faces Richard Ho**er. Yesterday, Bertha of Kent trounced Edmund 82% to 18% to advance to the Elate Eight. Vote now! https://www.lentmadness.org/2023/03/johann-sebastian-bach-v-richard-hooker/

“Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope … in Jesus Christ.” - Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556), Archbishop of Canterbury & Martyr

Thomas Cranmer was Archbishop of Canterbury during the volatile years of the English Reformation. Educated at Cambridge, he became convinced that the Catholic Church needed reform. He earned the trust of King Henry VIII and was named Archbishop of Canterbury in 1533. In this significant office, Cranmer worked carefully within the drama of the royal court to nudge the Church of England toward independence from Rome. Cranmer compiled the Book of Common Prayer and influenced Henry VIII to authorize the mass production of it and English Bibles. The throne of England returned to Roman Catholicism with the ascension of Mary I. Queen Mary (nicknamed “Bloody Mary”) ordered the ex*****on of those complicit in the English Reformation. In fear for his life, Cranmer renounced Protestantism, but his friends, Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, chose to burn rather than deny their beliefs. Witnessing their courage, Cranmer regained his conviction and renounced his renunciation. Cranmer was tied to a stake and as the flames leapt around him, he placed his right hand into the fire, declaring that his “unworthy hand” that had signed his renunciation would burn first. Within 3 years of Cranmer’s death, the Church of England returned to Protestantism and Cranmer’s work became consequential in shaping the prayers and worship of all English language Christianity.

O God, our heavenly Father, you raised up your faithful servant Thomas Cranmer to be a Bishop and pastor in your Church and to feed your flock: Give abundantly to all pastors the gifts of your Holy Spirit, that they may minister in your household as true servants of Christ and stewards of your divine mysteries; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.