Saint Augustine's Prayer Book: an overview

[@richardsaintjohn8391]

Most all episcopal Parish in Fort Worth Texas have stations. Holy Water. And statue of Mary with personal votives. And I mean before the ACNA take over. I started going in the 1970s. Even benediction of the sacrament.

[@dalecaldwell]

You might do a bit of a gogle search on the Cowley Fathers. Their full name is the Society of St. John the Evangelist, and they were the first enclosed monastic community of men in England since the dissolution of the monasteries by good old Henry the Meglomaniac. They were called Cowley Fathers because their first house was in Cowley Street, Oxford. (cf. Oxford Movement). Oddly, althugh I have had once o many upon a time, both book, but I never noticed that their patron is Augustine of Hippo, having assumed it would be Augustine of Canterbury. And it is indeed the Canterbury Cross that is on the cover of the newer book, the symbol of the Holy Rood (Holy Cross) being on the first. The books are really very different. The American houe in West Park, New York, were among the first folk in this country to adopt the revision to the BCP that would be come the 1979 book, which is an oddity, imho. It is considered by many to be more 'catholic' but has almost a covenantal (is that a word?) view of baptism. So, the newer book is designed to be used with the 1979 BCP. You might enjoy looking at the Episcopal Church's Book of Occasional Services, which contains among ther things a rather elegant Way of the Cross. Many Episcopal Churches have the Stations, but usually they are just simple croses rather than the graven images often found in Roman Churches. Also, should you stumble upon it in a thrift shop or something, because otherwise the cost is quite dear, you might find Howard Galley's The Prayer Book Office fascinating. He includes an Office for the Dead. Although not calling it a Requiem Mass, the 1979 book has propers for a Burial Eucharist. Followers of the '28 Book who have wanted a 'Requiem Mass' have often included the Burial Office within the Prayers of the Eucharistic Liturgy, and of course there is music galoe for such a celebration. So many books. So little time. One Lord Jesus Christ.

[@dalecaldwell]

But wait, there's more. Lancelott Andrewes Press publishes a St. Ambrose Prayerbook, of devotions additional to the BCP from a more orthodox tradition.

[@ma-mo]

Excellent and informative comments, as always.

[@jenniferrogoff8459]

Saint Augustine didnt have a problem with prayers for the dead or Our Lady and I dont either. Seems like a good book for a Catholic too.

[@ma-mo]

Yes, I suppose a Catholic would find much to like in this book. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@geraldparker8125]

As I recall, the Anglo-Catholic parish, Church of the Advent in Boston, has the Stations of the Cross around its walls.

[@CaroElena]

While inclined to the older one, as a ELL I always find the old English tedious (personally) so I am not attached to it and prefer modern language as long as it’s translated correctly. Thanks for the comparison!

[@philipguzman9321]

Thanks for reviewing! I'm close to Anglo-Catholic liturgy and theology. From your review, the older book would be my preference. I'll take a look for it. It would be a wonderful complement to praying the Morning and Evening Daily. Office.

[@ma-mo]

Thanks! I prefer the older as well.

[@philipguzman9321]

UPDATE: . . .Based in greater part of this review, I purchased and just received on Friday my copy of the 1949 copy put together by Rev. Gavitt. . I simply love it! It's "old school" and it so reminds me of the foundational prayers that I grew up with. As an Anglo-Catholic, it is a wonderful complement to my readings in the Bible, and the Daily Office that I partake in each day. . . I probably would not have purchased but for this episode and your thoughts and comments. Thank you!

[@ma-mo]

Terrific!

[@jamesdavey9690]

I currently attend a Methodist church, but I think this might be the prayer book for me. Thanks for the video!

[@ma-mo]

Thanks for watching and commenting, James!

[@geraldparker8125]

Having severak editions of this publication, it is the original edition (in an early 1960s printing) that I have used most, indeed, almost (but not quite) exclusively which I have used over the years, intensively, and it has held up quite well. The pages are darker from my finger prints, but there is no problem at all with the sewn binding.

[@geraldparker8125]

I have both editions of St. Augustine's Prayer Book and also the reprint of the original edition from a Continuing Church Anglican publisher. They differ very, very marginally. I prefer the original edition primarily because its examination of conscience prior to confession to a priest is superior to what one finds in the Revised Edition. Other than that, they are equally good.

[@ma-mo]

Thanks for your insight, Gerald.

[@AmericanShia786]

I appreciated your video. Yesterday, I ordered the older edition from the publishing arm of the Anglican Catholic Church. Like the Saint Gregory and Saint Ambrose Prayer Books, I will use the Saint Augustine's Prayer Book as a supplement to the 1662 and 1928 BCPs. My problem is that I am more of a Primitive Western Catholic in my outlook. I really do have a problem with the development of doctrine after 800 AD / CE or so. I would not do Eucharist Adoration, for example. I also believe the Western Church went too far with Marian Devotions. As for the Book of Common Prayer, I believe it is an excellent resource that works well for laymen and clergy. I prefer classic monasticism to what developed in the High Middle Ages. They can pray the Psalter in a week. I don't have that kind of time. But, I can pray the Psalter in a month. Again, I don't expect that everyone will reach the same conclusions I reached. I appreciate your videos. God bless you and yours. These are my own

[@ma-mo]

Thanks, Philip. After this review, I sort of set them aside until about a week ago. I've started slowly going through the older book and am keeping it next to the Couch of Convalescence, and I'm rather warming up to it more and more. I mean, as you've said, as a supplement to the 1662.

[@inquisition5928]

If you want to know the theological difference between the two, check out the "Remember Christian Soul" part in the beginning of the book. The older version states, "the world to despise" while the newer one has "the world to enjoy." Imo, it tells me everything I need about them both haha Interestingly, there's also a Roman version of this called the St. Gregory's Prayer Book which is exactly the same as the old version just with more BCP material like collects and the order for mass.

[@ma-mo]

Interesting insight. I appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@justin_messer]

@@ma-mo If I recall correctly, st Gregory’s prayer book is published by the St Gregory Orthodox Parish in Maryland. They are part of the Western Rite Orthodox initiative of the Antiochian orthodox archdiocese of the United States.

[@ma-mo]

Thanks, Justin.

[@allenmacneel1572]

Also the Dies Irae is missing in thenew one

[@ThriftStoreBibles]

Just the review I've wanted to see! I appreciate you showing both versions. I was aware of these but suspected that once I subtract everything that's redundant to the BCP or that doesn't fit my very Protestant sensibilities that I wouldn't be left with much. It appears I was right, but certainly I can see the value for others. Great overview!

[@ma-mo]

Thank you, as always, good sir.

[@jamesdavey9690]

Hello again! I purchased the newest of these books (the second in the video) and I'm very pleased with it. But I notice it often refers me to specific pages from the Book of Common Prayer, do you know which version it's referencing exactly?

[@ma-mo]

If it's the newer prayer book, it's almost certainly the 1979 Episcopal prayer book. Edit: I don't have that one handy, so I can't be 100% sure, but pretty nearly.

[@jamesdavey9690]

@@ma-mo Okay, I thought it might be one of the newer ones. I'll do some research on it. Thanks!

[@Tax_Buster]

Why is it called St. Augustine’s Prayer Book? What is his relation thereto?

[@ma-mo]

Good question. This prayer book was originally produced by the Order of the Holy Cross (an Anglican/Episcopal Benedictine order), whose patron saint is Augustine of Hippo (not of Canterbury as one would suspect). Beyond that, I don't see anything especially or explicitly Augustinian about it.

[@joest.eggbenedictus1896]

This is all very Romish of you! Did I send you one of those? I had one but sent it off to someone last winter....Also, I think there's a copy at my LUBS, so if anyone wants one of these for a buck let me know.

[@ma-mo]

Must've sent it to someone else; you've sent me some curious things for sure, but these I found on my own. 'Romish' indeed!

[@ThriftStoreBibles]

Your LUBS gets the most amazing things.

[@eternalclaws]

I have the BCP 1979 and it has prayers for the dead and dying.

[@ma-mo]

Thanks for watching and commenting! The '79 book certainly has some significant differences from older prayer books.

[@eternalclaws]

Moving About and Manipulating Objects yeah. It does not have devotions to Mary or Joseph at all. Just collects for them.