Book of Common Prayer, 1552

Book of Common Prayer, 1552 

Das Book of Common Prayer, durch Eduard VI. in Auftrag gegeben und maßgeblich von Thomas Cranmer geschrieben, regelt den Rahmen und Ablauf der Gottesdienste, Taufe, Abendmahl, Trauung, Beerdigung und Konfirmation. Die erste, noch gemäßigt protestantische, Version erschien 1549, wurde aber hinlänglich ihrer unzureichenden evangelischen Tragweite kritisiert. Die zweite, überarbeitete Version von 1552 bricht stärker mit den katholischen Ritualen, die unter Heinrich VIII. bestanden hatten. Nach dem Tod des protestantischen Eduard VI. wurde das Book of Common Prayer von Maria I. abgeschafft, doch von ihrer Nachfolgerin Elisabeth I. wiedereingeführt und gesetzlich in der Uniformitätsakte von 1559 verankert.

"THE PREFACE

THERE was never anye thynge by the wytte of man so wel devised, or so sure established, whiche (in continuance of tyme) hath not been corrupted: as (emong other thynges) it may playnlye appeare by the common prayers in the Churche commonlye called divine servyce: the firste originall and grounde whereof yf a manne woulde searche out by auncient fathers, he shall fynde that the same was not ordayned but of a good purpose, and for a great advancemente of godlynesse. For they so ordered the matter, that all the whole Bible (or the greatest part thereof) shoulde be readde over once in the yeare entendynge thereby, that the clergie and speciallye suche as were ministers of the congregacion, should (by often readynge and meditacion of Godde's woorde) be stirred up to godlynesse themselves, and be more able also to exhorte other by whole some doctrine, and to confute them that were adversaries to the trueth. And further, that the people (by dayly hearynge of holye scripture read in the Churche) should continuallye profyte more and more in the knowledge of God, and be the more in flamed with the love of hys true religion. But these manye yeres passed, this godly and decent order of the auncient fathers hath been so altered, broken, and neglected, by plantinge in uncertayn Stories, Legendes, Respondes, Verses, vayne repeticions, Commemoracions, and Sinodalles, that commonlye when anye boke of the Bible was begonne, before three or foure Chapters were read out, al the rest were unread. And in thys sorte the boke of Esay [Isaiah]was begonne in Advent, and the boke of Genesis in Septuagesima: but they were onely begonne, and never read through. After a lyke sorte were other bokes of holy scripture used. And moreover, where as Sainct Paule woulde have such language spoken to the people in the Churche, as thei might understande, and have profite by hearing the same; the service in this Churche of Englande (these manye yeres) hath been read in Latyn to the people, whiche they understode not: so that they have heard with their eares onely; and their heartes, spirite, and mynde, have not been edified thereby. And furthermore, notwithstandynge that the auncient fathers have divided the Psalmes into seven porcions, whereof everye one was called a Nocturne; nowe of late tyme, a fewe of them have been dayly sayd (and ofte repeated) and the rest utterlye omitted. Moreover, the numbre and hardnesse of the rules, called the Pie, and the manyfolde chaungynges of the servyce, was the cause, that to tourne the boke onely was so harde and intricate a matter, that manye tymes there was more busynesse to fynde out what shoulde be read, then to reade it when it was founde out.

    These inconveniences therefore consydered, here is set furthe suche an order, whereby the same shalbe redressed. And for a redynesse in thys matter, here is drawen out a kalendar for that purpose, whiche is playne and easye to be understanden: wherin (so muche as may be) the readynge of holye scriptures is so set furthe, that all thynges shalbe doen in order, without breakynge one pyece thereof from another. For thys cause be cut of Anthemes, Respondes, Invitatories, and suche lyke thynges, as dyd breake the continuall course of the readynge of the scripture. Yet because there is no remedye, but that of necessitie there must be some rules, therefore certayn rules are here sette furth, whiche as they be fewe in numbre, so they be playn and easie to be understanden. So that here you have an order for prayer (as touchynge the readynge of holye scripture) muche agreable to the mynde and purpose of thold fathers, and a great deale more profitable and commodious, then that which of late was used. It is more profitable, because here are lefte out manye thynges, where of some be untrue, some uncertayn, some vayne and supersticious, and is ordeined nothynge to be read, but the very pure worde of God, the holye scriptures, or that which is evidentlye grounded upon the same, and that in such a language and order, as is most easy and playne for the understandynge bothe of the readers and hearers. It is also more commodious, bothe for the shortness thereof, and for the playnnesse of the order, and for that the rules be fewe and easye. Furthermore, by thys order, the curates shall nede none other bokes for their publyke service, but thys boke, and the Bible: By the meanse whereof, the people shall not be at so greate charge for bokes, as in tyme paste they have been.

    And where heretofore there hath been greate diversitie in sayeng and syngyng in Churches within this realme, some folowynge Salisbury use, some of Herford use, some the use of Bangor, some of Yorke, and some of Lincolne. Nowe from hence furthe, all the whole realme shall have but one use. And yf any woulde judge thys way more painfull, because that all thynges muste be read upon the booke where as before by the reason of so often repeticion, they could saye many thynges by heart; yf those men wyl weygh their laboure, with the profyte and knowledge, which dayly they shal obtayne by readyng upon the boke, they wyl not refuse the payne, in consideracion of the great profite that shal ensue therof.

    And for asmuche as nothynge can almoste be so playnly set furthe, but doubtes may ryse in the use and practisynge of the same: To appease all suche diversitie (yf any aryse), and for the resolucion of all doubtes concemynge the maner howe to understande doe and execute the thynges conteyned in this boke: the partes that so doubt, or diversly take any thyng, shall alway resorte to the Byshoppe of the Diocesse, who by hys discrecion shall take order for the quietynge and appeasyng of the same: so that the same order be not contrarye to anye thynge conteyned in thys boke. And yf the Byshoppe of the Diocesse be in anye doubte, then maye he sende for the resolution thereof unto the Archebyshoppe.
    Though it be appoynted in the afore wrytten Preface, that all thynges shalbe read and songe in the Churche in the Englyshe tongue, to the ende that the congregacion maye be thereby edified: yet it is not ment, but when menne say Mornyng and Evenynge prayer privatly, they may saie the same in anye language that they themselves do understande.

    And all Priestes and Deacons shalbe bounde to say dayly the Mornynge and Evenyng prayer, either privatly or openly, excepte they be letted by preaching, studeing of divinityie, or by some other urgent cause.

    And the Curate that ministreth in every Parish Churche or Chapell, beyng at home, and not beyng otherwise reasonably letted [prevented], shall say the same in the Parishe Churche or Chapell where he ministreth, and shall tolle a belle thereto, a convenient tyme before he begyn, that suche as be disposed maye come to heare Goddes worde, and to praie with hym."¹

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¹ http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1552/Front_matter_1552.htm
Dokumentenquelle: http://www.sid.cam.ac.uk/life/lib/1552Commonprayer2_000.jpg