Church Literary Association, 1933.
This prayer book gets its name by being first published on the hundredth anniversary of the 1833 start of the Oxford Movement in the Church of England. The Foreword by Viscount Halifax explains:
“the Catholic Revival, known as the Oxford Movement […] began with prayer, and it must be continued in prayer, if it is to produce the ripe fruit of Christian living and Catholic devotion.” Page 7.
In this collection:
“Naturally the greatest emphasis is laid upon the Mass, which is the Divinely appointed mode of worship […] In addition to the liturgical prayers, there is a wealth of private devotions” Pages 7-8.
There is a bit too much emphasis on Mary for my taste, and the occasional old fashioned word can jar – such as praying for “the heathen”. Also, the font size is miniscule. But it contains some excellent prayers which would be our loss if they were forgotten.
The prayers often take you out of your comfort zone. I would never normally pray for “strictness of life”, but perhaps I should:
“Pardon, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the neglect of Prayer and Fasting by Thy people: Deepen within us such a spirit of prayer and penitence that we may indeed humble ourselves before Thee, and being drawn to strictness of life we may be sanctified in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Page 40.
It doesn’t cross my mind to pray for a good death, but perhaps I should:
“I beseech Thee, O Lord, to have mercy upon me at the last, and dispose the end of my life in peace; that it may be Christian, acceptable to Thee, fortified by Thy Sacraments, and, if it please Thee, painless. Gather me, O Lord, under the feet of Thine elect, when Thou wilt, and as Thou wilt, only without sin and shame. Amen.” Page 46.
“O Jesus, Who didst die for us upon the Cross of shame; grant us to so die to all that would draw us away from Thyself, that when the hour of our departure arrives we may die loving Thee and in Thy sacred arms.” Page 315.
When I have troubles, my response can be irritation or depression, but this prayer challenges me to seek meekness:
“O Jesus, grant us by the virtue of Thy Cross to embrace with meekness the difficulties of our lives, and to be ready to take up our cross daily and follow Thee.” Page 305.
If we desire things that are not of God, they seem attractive, but will make our life worse:
“I beseech Thee to withdraw my heart from all things that are not of Thee, in which there is nought but vanity and vexation of spirit. On thee alone let my heart be fixed, in Thee let my repose be:” Page 173.
The reality that Christians continually sin is faced:
“O Jesus, we entreat Thee […] to pardon our frequent relapses and our long continuance in sin, and may the thought of these Thy sufferings make us to hate our sins more and more.” Page 312.
There is a handy prayer for blessing a house, which is really a prayer for those living in it:
“Visit, we beseech Thee, O Lord, this dwelling, and drive far from it all the snares of the enemy. May health, love, joy and peace be given to all that dwell therein, and may Thy blessing be upon them evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” Page 360.
There is a sweet prayer for all who suffer around the world:
“O God, the Father of all, look down in pity on those who suffer, and heal the anguish of the world; Release from the prison-house all held in the bondage of fear, and set free such as are bound by the fetters of disease, whether of soul or body.
Do Thou care for the desolate, give rest to the weary, comfort the sorrowful, watch by the sleepless, and to those who lie untended in their sickness grant the gentle ministry of Angels, to supply their needs and relieve their pain. Visit with Thy great compassion all in their last agony and bring them in peace and safety into Thy Paradise of Love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” Pages 213-4.
Adrian Vincent
September 2026.