For my Sacred Life Sunday post today, I discovered the wonderful quote below over at Does Not Wisdom Call. The blogger, Ellie Finlay, often serves up beautiful visual displays and inspiring words for reflection. I hope you will visit her site soon. Here's the quote from Michael Ramsey, one time Archbishop of Canterbury - Without meditative and contemplative prayer the sacramental life can become shallow and formal and can lack interior depth. It is essential that the liturgical movement with its great emphasis upon the corporate action of the faithful in worship be accompanied by no less emphasis upon interior prayer.
I find that it is tempting to be transported by the beauty of the Episcopal liturgy perhaps at times to only appreciate it for its loveliness rather than for its worship quality. For me, it is essential to remind myself that the beauty of this service is God inspired, God given and if for no other reason during the church service I'm attending, I should be on my knees giving thanks for the beauty and privilege of worshiping the giver of my life. I hope you have a chance for a little liturgy in your life today either in a church or in your own special silence of interior prayer.
I find that it is tempting to be transported by the beauty of the Episcopal liturgy perhaps at times to only appreciate it for its loveliness rather than for its worship quality. For me, it is essential to remind myself that the beauty of this service is God inspired, God given and if for no other reason during the church service I'm attending, I should be on my knees giving thanks for the beauty and privilege of worshiping the giver of my life. I hope you have a chance for a little liturgy in your life today either in a church or in your own special silence of interior prayer.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=a5f9d174-1311-4cc2-94e8-d879bcf8e46d)
It has taken Fr. Jean Corbon 154 pages in his book The Wellspring of Worship to make the same point you have captured so well in a few paragraphs with a little help from Ramsey. Sometimes theologians get so tangled up in a swamp of their own words and have to work hard to get out.
ReplyDeleteCP
Thank you for the compliment.
ReplyDeleteoxoxo
CP - you saw that I picked up Ramsey's quote over at "Does Not Wisdom Call"......I went to Wikipedia to take a look at Ramsey's history as I recognized his name of course. I'm afraid my awareness of archbishop's histories hasn't really been in the forefront of my mind until maybe the last few years:)
ReplyDeleteyes! Yes! /and happy traveling! JG
ReplyDeletei think the liturgy can get us started, but moving to the interior can be where the deep soul work and connection with God begins to find even deeper & more personal meaning.
ReplyDelete