Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #449577 in Books
• Published on: 2000-12-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 512 pages

Customer Reviews

A delightful treasury of Christian prayer and devotion
Yet another delightful devotional book has come to us via the Canterbury Press. 'A Manual of Anglo-Catholic Devotion,' compiled by Andrew Burnham, the Bishop of Ebbsfleet, is a rich resource for Christian devotion, both public and private. It is a worthy successor to the old 'Manual of Catholic Devotion' and contains much, though not all, that a devout layperson needs to have handy nowadays. Although primarily intended for Catholic minded Anglicans, the book is sufficiently broad and inclusive in it's scope to appeal to other Christians too.

In common with other books of a similar type nowadays, it encourages the laity to pray in a regular, structured way, not by using a handful of set prayers but by praying the Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer instead. Modified forms of Lauds and Vespers as well as Compline (based on the current Roman Catholic Daily Office) are are provided in contemporary English. However it is good to see that traditional language forms of Morning and Evening Prayer, based substantially on those found in the 1549 Prayer Book, are also included as are forms of mid-day prayer and prayers which can be used on their own. A substantial chunk of the Psalter (though not all 150 Psalms)has been included too and one hopes that this will encourage people to pray the Psalms and become familiar with the beauty of their poetry.

In addition to the Rosary, Angelus, and prayers for the dead which one might expect to find in a prayer book which bears the name 'Catholic,' there is a wealth of seasonal material for celebrating the Christian Year, including a lectionary which uses the daily readings of the Weekday Missal.

Perhaps most importantly of all, this book contains both contemporary and traditional forms of the Mass, using Order One from Common Worship. No attempt has been made though to include the 1662 form of Holy Communion and this is a pity as this service remains popular, albeit often at off-peak times in many English Parish churches and Cathedrals.

If a justifiable criticism can be made in connection with this book though, it must necessarily be in connection with the layout. It would have been better if the seasonal Collects and prayers had been kept separate from the lectionary references instead of being mixed in with them. Similarly, it would have been better if all the Offices, particularly the Morning and Evening ones, had been grouped together instead of being placed at opposite ends of the book.

These weaknesses to one side, it is an excellent book and one in which most Christian people of goodwill will surely find something to delight and inspire them. Compact enough to take to church, it is also a sturdy and comprehensive book, ideal for both private and corporate devotion, well worth the price.

Anglican Prayer drawing on the riches of Catholic devotion
The Manual of Anglo-Catholic Devotion is aimed primarily at the catholic wing of the Anglican Communion but evangelicals will enjoy it because of its emphasis on the importance of Scripture. It is an important reminder that the heritage of the Anglican Church is as part of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church that it derives its faith, teaching and spirituality. Since its completion the author has become a suffragan bishop to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He has wide experience as a parish priest. At Oxford, he was involved in the theological education of the next generation of Anglican priests. Now, as a so-called flying bishop he has the pastoral care of those who keep the traditional faith and teaching of the universal church.

The Bishop has harmonised catholic sources with the new Church of England service book, Common Worship. His book is likely to become the standard gift for new Christians who want to deepen their spirituality and learn from the resources of the world-wide church. It will help them with a simple framework for morning and evening prayer that will lead to the fullness of catholic worship. It will fill out their experience of the Eucharist, supplementing with sound teaching the diet they are likely to receive in the average Anglican parish. The richness of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the communion of saints is there. They will be encouraged to receive the sacrament of reconciliation through the careful preparation of the confession of sin. The church's year of feast and fast, is given its proper place for devotion.

The publishers are be to congratulated on producing a book that is such a pleasure both to handle and to look at. It is the perfect gift for confirmation candidates or for those preparing to train as priests. It will give them words for prayer including the beautiful prayers that have been written by the bishop himself.

In the Manual of Anglo-Catholic Devotion we see Christian tradition, developed out of scripture and the early church, enriched by the devotion of the centuries, finding modern fulfilment at its very best.

A good, varied resource
This is a book which provides a good, rich, range of resources. It provides a structure and details for the daily office and the eucharist, providing additional devotions for use before, during and after the latter. The breadth of available prayers gives a good choice, both privately and for communal use.
There are also a range of prayers for use at morning, in the day, and at evening, separate form any more formal office. The office structure is based on that of the Roman Liturgy of the Hours and Celebrating Common Prayer- though it does not plumb the depths available in that book. As such, it has a similarity to that of the Common Worship daily prayer book - though I use the latter, finding it more fulfilling and easier to follow. The introduction makes clear, though, that it is expected that the purpose of the inclusion of the office is to provide an introduction to those unfamiliar with it - and suggest where people might like to move to. I do, however, find that it provides some useful supplements where Common Worship has made no published provision - a number of responsaries and psalms for use at the office on a number of feasts are a most welcome addition.
The book can be hard to navigate - exacerbated by a lack of an index - should one be searching for something general, or out of the season with which it is commonly linked.
I would recomment this book both to those wishing to start a regime of daily prayer, and also those wishing to broaden, supplement, and use addtional meditations and prayers separate form the daily office.