Returning to an Old Question

Earlier in the life of the blog, I attempted to answer a question, which I am not sure I satisfactorily answered. I would like to return to that question now with a bit more reflection on the subject. The original question rested on a false presupposition, in my mind now, which fogged the nature of the question. The original idea was to alter the 1662 BCP to make it "suitable" for an American audience. The idea was that the collects relating to the English monarchy have no relation to the American Church. The solution, then, was to modify the English text to make it conform to an American audience. The attempt was to avoid truly altering the English Prayer Book (wishing to avoid the shortening and sacramentalist tendencies of the American BCP) accept only to alter for the political circumstances. This chiefly plays out in the Prayer for Christ's Church Militant here in Earth, the Collects at the end of the Daily Offices, and the Litany (among other places). The solutions I offered were varied, I only provided a revised litany [LINK]. The various solutions I thought up usually resulted in the substitution of an already authorized American prayer books(from the 1789-1928 books) or for substituting a generalized prayer for Christian rulers (either an edited text or from other sources).

I would like to return to the subject while proposing that altering the text is not the solution to the problem. Rather, I propose that the remedy is our understanding of the role of the English monarch in the American Church (and in other places).

First, however, I believe it is necessary to view the texts in question. First, the English text, then the 1789/1892 American texts, and finally the 1928 text.

1662

We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God; and that it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church universal in the right way; 
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to keep and strengthen in the true worshipping of thee, in righteousness and holiness of life, thy Servant ELIZABETH, our most gracious Queen and Governor;
 We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to rule her heart in thy faith, fear, and love, and that she may evermore have affiance in thee, and ever seek thy honour and glory;
 We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to be her defender and keeper, giving her the victory over all her enemies;
 We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to bless and preserve Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Charles, Prince of Wales, and all the Royal Family;
 We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of thy Word; and that both by their preaching and living they may set it forth, and show it accordingly;
 We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to endue the Lords of the Council, and all the Nobility, with grace, wisdom, and understanding;
 We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to bless and keep the Magistrates, giving them grace to execute justice, and to maintain truth;
 We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

I think the 1662 text demonstrates clearly there is a hierarchy of authority in relation to the Church (and the State). The prayer starts with the prayer for the Church Universal, that it be governed in the "right way". The Litany then proceeds to pray for the Queen, the Royal Family, the Clergy, the Nobility, and then the Magistrate. The order goes something like this: Church - Monarchy --> Clergy --> Rulers (magistrates). The Prayer for the Church Militant also confirms this order:

We beseech thee also to save and defend all Christian Kings, Princes, and Governours; and specially thy Servant ELIZABETH our Queen; that under her we may be godly and quietly governed: And grant unto her whole Council, and to all that are put in authority under her, that they may truly and impartially administer justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true religion, and virtue. Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bishops and Curates, that they may both by their life and doctrine set forth thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments.

The only break here is in the word "Governor", I'm not sure that this implies an elected official, such as in the States, or if it is referring to a royally-appointed official, such as in Canada (probably the latter). However, the Litany appears to be implying that there is an hierarchy in the life of the Church, that includes the monarchy, in some sense.

Now, to consider the American texts.


1789/1892

We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God; and that it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church universal in the right way; We beseech thee lo hear us, good Lord.


That it may please thee to bless and preserve all Christian Rulers and Magistrates, giving them grace to execute justice, and to maintain truth; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.


That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of thy Word; and that both by their preaching and living they may set it forth, and show it accordingly;
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

This is the 1789/1892 version (it was not changed at the 1892 revision) which was the first attempt to resolve the issue of what to do with the ordered life of the Church and the "chain of command" so to speak. I like this version, particularly, although, I still have doubts as to where to place the elected officials that we have in the States and other countries as well. I think it would be better to separate Rulers and Magistrates in some sense or place them after the Clergy as in the 1662 text. This seems to go against the hierarchy above: Monarchy -->Clergy --> Magistrates.


1928

WE sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God; and that it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church universal in the right way; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee so to rule the heart of thy servant, The President of the United States, that he may above all things seek thy honour and glory; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to bless and preserve all Christian Rulers and Magistrates, giving them grace to execute justice, and to maintain truth; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of thy Word; and that both by their preaching and living they may set it forth, and show it accordingly; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

I think the 1928 text does the worst job of trying to sort through this. It essentially equates the Presidency with the Monarchy in an unnatural sense. The President and the Queen are two wholly different positions. The Monarchy is an inherent authority based on office and person, the Presidency is an elected agent. I don't think the 1928 text has it right here and it seems to totally disrupt the hierarchy implied in the 1662 text.

Now, I am not sure of how to appropriately resolve these matters, yet, one of the best options to me seems to be to pray the 1662 text. I used to object to praying for the Queen, yet, now I find myself compelled so to do. She is a Christian Ruler, is she not? Also, I am now under the impression that she has some role to play as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, especially as we tie Anglicanism to the English Church. I am not convinced that an elected official can replace the Monarch in the hierarchy of the Church.