I had not been really that aware of the change until I compared the prescribed services for consecrating a bishop in the 1928 and 1979 BCPs. V. Gene Robinson simply could not have been "properly" consecrated in the 1928 service, but he could in the 1979.
But as the article makes clear, the language is important. Believe me, you cannot recite the General Confession without at the very least being drawn along. Even from memory, or maybe especially from memory.
Compare 1928 BCP (archaic):
ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou those who are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind In Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.with CofE (modern):
Father eternal, giver of light and grace, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour, in what we have thought, in what we have said and done, through ignorance, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We have wounded your love, and marred your image in us. We are sorry and ashamed, and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past; and lead us out from darkness to walk as children of light. Amen."Through weakness, through ignorance"? Hm, that wasn't in the other. Now we're excusing ourselves as well -- "I couldn't help it; I did not know." But we've just modernized the words in the prayers, right?
Obviously post-enlightenment humanism has won out. Education and self-help will cure what ails us....NOT!
I have been able to put my heart and mind so much more towards God because of the 1928 BCP than I was ever able to through the RCC catechism. I actually UNDERSTOOD how I should approach God and how to worship him.
ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou those who are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind In Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.
Odd. There seems to be a word missing: "That we may ever hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life..." The sentence has doesn't have the cadence, it stutters, without it.
Note to self: check against a hardcopy.
"...I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, my own fault, my own most grievous fault."
Yes, language is important.
Makes the ICEL look good. And I didn't think that was possible.
Wow, what a stunning contrast. Thanks for the post.