Author: Matthew S. C. Olver
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Liturgical revision in the Episcopal Church
Headlines this summer sounded that the Episcopal Church was revising its historical Book of Common Prayer. It turns out they were wrong. Sort of. The American church’s prayer book is historic, but it dates from 1979 and is one of the best examples of liturgical revision in the second half of the twentieth century that…
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The Death Penalty and the Prayers of the Faithful
Those present were invited to verbalize petitions. Veiled one-upmanship sometimes happened.
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Joseph of Arimathaea and Jesus in England
Today, August 1, the Episcopal Church commemorates St. Joseph of Arimathea, whom the Gospels all record begged the body of Jesus, which he then laid in a new tomb (which Matthew says was his own tomb) (his traditional day in the Roman calendar had been March 17, but it was moved to August 31 and…
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A homily for Rogation Monday
Readings: Ezekiel 47:6-12; Mark 4:26-32 Yesterday, I was wondering if Stonebank Elementary School was trying to help my kids participate in the Rogation Days this year. First, my daughter came into the kitchen yesterday and announced that she had learned about plants and about pollen and that she was rather grossed out by the fact…
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Self-Intinction
I have to admit that I have an instinctual reaction against self-intinction, though I struggle to articulate why in a way that I find completely satisfactory.
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Whence Came that Cross?
When Anglicans and Catholics attend Mass at each other’s churches, there are always some moments of awkwardness or slight conclusion.
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To read and to listen
Publicly reading a text well is very difficult
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Presiding from which chair?
The answer to the question, where the priest is to stand at various points in the rite, is not as easy as one might think.
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Proper Dignity to Saints and Souls
Matthew S. C. Olver explores the interrelationship between All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, and the wisdom of keeping them carefully distinct.