MORNING PRAYER

Liturgical Learning for St. Phoebe School for Deacons

Early Church History

• The Prayer Life of the early church is traced from around the 4^th Century
• Writings of an early pilgrim named Egeria; she visited Jerusalem in the 4^th Century
• Studies of John Cassian, observing monastic practices in Egypt (“desert fathers and mothers”)
• Church History presents two aspects of prayer, developing simultaneously:
• “Cathedral” Prayer: the deliberate gathering together of a community for formally organized, corporate prayer usually led by an ordained clergy (Bishops and Deacons are clearly identified in cathedral prayer roles in the 4^th Century). “Popular Tradition”
• “Monastic” Prayer: the daily devotions of religious communities of monks and nuns, focused on both contemplation and communal devotion, often using sung psalms and prayers. ”Monastic Tradition”
• Both tended to be offered at fixed hours of prayer throughout the day
• Focus of the prayers as recorded differed somewhat:
• Cathedral Prayer had a learning focus, built around the liturgy of the word and scripture, and integrated those preparing for baptism (catechumen)
• Monastic Prayer had a contemplative focus, built around the psalms and chanted prayer

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Common Prayer in Episcopal Tradition

• In Episcopal tradition, our lives of common prayer include elements from both the Cathedral and Monastic traditions.
• Holy Eucharist (or other Principal Sunday Worship) emerges primarily from the formality of the Cathedral tradition.
• The Liturgy of the Word/Liturgy of the Table format of our Holy Eucharist liturgy still has a “pivot point” after the confession and absolution which stems from that tradition.
• Catechumens would have only been at the Liturgy of the Word, then dismissed at the peace and the baptized followers would have remained to break bread/celebrate Holy Eucharist.
• Daily Offices (inc. Morning Prayer) are the prayers of an already gathered, identified community and draw more heavily from the Monastic tradition
• Psalms and Canticles form the basis of prayer
• Scriptures are included without commentary, as receipt of the word for our contemplation

Daily Offices in Episcopal Tradition

• Daily Offices are in their own section of the BCP pp. 36 – 146
• Rite 1 (version of liturgies with language from the 1928 (and earlier) BCP)
• Rite 2 (contemporary language introduce with the 1979 BCP)
• Enriching our Worship offers updated language for optional use (separate publication)
• The two formal daily offices are Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer
• Morning and Evening Prayer are supplemented by Noonday Prayer and Compline (pausing in monastic style, either in corporate or personal practice)
• The BCP also includes shortened versions of the Daily Office for use by individuals and families (paying respect to the monastic traditions of the early church and a desire for structured, personal devotions of many protestants…another via media example)

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Elements of Morning Prayer - Opening

Elements of Morning Prayer – Appointed Lessons & Canticles

Elements of Morning Prayer – Intercessory & Communal Prayers

Commemorations & Feast Days

• Since our Daily Office Lectionary also honors commemorations of those recognized in on the Calendar of Saints (“Lesser Feasts and Fasts”) there is almost always a choice of whether to keep to the Daily Office Lectionary readings (sequential) or to honor commemorations.
• Commemorations are more characteristic of the Cathedral tradition; sequential and rotating readings from the Monastic tradition.
• In church life, minor commemorations may be celebrated as Eucharistic Feasts (aka: “Propers”) or via the Daily Office. On Principal Feasts and Holy Days there are both Daily Office and Eucharistic readings.
• Church Calendar & Order of Observation (see BCP pp. 15-33)
• Principal Feasts
• Sundays
• Holy Days (Feasts of Our Lord + Major Feasts)
• Days of Special Devotion
• Days of Optional Observance

Commemorations �& where to find them

• BCP Calendar of Saints (pp. 19 – 30)

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• Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2022
• Online Index: https://lectionarypage.net/CalndrsIndexes/TxtIndexLFF.html
• Episcopal Common Worship: electronic (pdf) version for free download/access:

https://www.episcopalcommonprayer.org/uploads/1/2/9/8/129843103/lesser_feasts_and_fasts_2022_final.pdf

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• Calendar of Deacon Saints (Ormonde Plater): to honor your formation!
• https://www.episcopaldeacons.org/uploads/2/6/7/3/26739998/deaconsaints.pdf
• Deacon Ormonde Plater put together this collection of over 200 deacons. The calendar is still housed by AED as a tribute to Deacon Plater’s work

Reflections:

QUESTIONS?