cms@dragon.uucp (08/16/90)
In the early editions of the Book of Common Prayer, the Blessed Virgin Mary
was constantly referred to; at Morning Prayer, reference is made to the
Incarnation; at Evening Prayer is the Magnificat. The Feast of the
Presentation of our Lord (Purification of St. Mary) is traditionally known in
England as Candlemas (Feb. 2). The Anunciation (March 25) used to called by
most Anglicans Lady Day. The one conspicuous absence from the early Prayer
Books was the Feast of the Assumption. However, since most other major New
Testament figures have red letter feasts, to deny such a feast to the person
who brought our Lord into the world is problematic. Although she is remembered
at Christmas, Candlemas, and the Anunciation, many people felt her red letter
feast of August 15th, which has been her feast since the earliest Christian
times, needed to be restored. When the Prayer Book was revised, this was taken
under consideration, along with her Feast of the Visitation (May 31).
The red letter days found in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer are:
Confession of Saint Peter Jan. 18
Saint Joseph March 19
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary May 31
Saint Mary Magdalene July 22
Saint Mary the Virgin August 15
Holy Cross Day September 14
Saint James of Jerusalem October 23
There over 100 black days listed in the Common of Saints, including early
Eastern and Western saints, British/Anglican saints; basically, it's a list of
Lesser Feasts and Fasts.
In the Middle Ages, it was common to sing an antiphon in honor of the Blessed
Virgin Mary at the end of lauds and vespers. In the modern Prayer Book, this
is included in both Morning and Evening Prayer, pages 50, 91, and 92.
The collect for the Feast of Saint Mary the Virgin (pages 192 and 243). This
particular collect was revised from one found in the South African Prayer Book
called "The Falling Asleep of the Blessed Virgin Mary." The actual collect on
page 192 reads:
"O god, who hast taken to thyself the blessed Virgin Mary, mother of thy
incarnate Son: Grant that we, who have been redeemed by his blood, may share
with her the glory of thine eternal kingdom; through the same thy Son Jesus
Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Preface of the Incarnation"
Page 489, "O God, the King of saints, we praise and magnify thy holy Name for
all thy servants who have finished their course in thy faith and fear; for the
blessed Virgin Mary; for the holy patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs;
and for all other thy righteous servants, known to us and unknown; and we
beseech thee that, encouraged by their examples, aided by their prayers, and
strengthened by their fellowship, we also may be partakers of the inheritance
of the saints in light; through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen."
Cranmer, in the original Prayer Books, had only one invocation to the Blessed
Virgin Mary, "Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God our Saviour Jesus Christ, pray
for us." Invocations addressing angels became, "All holy angels and
archangels, and all holy orders of blessed spirits, pray for us." Eventually,
these were deleted from subsequent Prayer Books.
In the East, the Feast of Saint Anne is July 25; in the BCP it is July 26.
Commemoration of Anne joined Joachim in the 1969 Roman calendar. Anne and
Joachim are the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since their names are not
found in canonical Scripture, the feast is dedicated simply to "The Parents of
the Blessed Virgin Mary."
Page 375, in Eucharistic Prayer D, the priest (celebrant) says, "And grant that
we may find our inheritance with [the Blessed Virgin Mary, with patriarchs,
prophets, apostles, and martyrs, (with ______) and] all the saints who have
found favor with you in ages past. We praise you in union with them and give
you glory through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord."
Also, there are two intercessions, Form V, page 391, "Rejoicing in the
fellowship of the [the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, (blessed N.) and] all the
saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life to Christ
our God."
Sorry if this was a bit haphazard. I just wanted to indicate that the Blessed
Virgin Mary isn't ignored in the Book of Common Prayer. It's sad that the
Blessed Mother of God is a source of contention between Protestants and
Catholics. The opinion of one author is that the phrase "communion of saints"
loses its meaning and power if specific individuals are not identified and
named in our prayers.
--
Sincerely,
Cindy Smith
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