" . . . manifold sins and wickedness."

Man, you just can't buy prose like that today.

Would that "the burden of them" would indeed be "intolerable" to these twits. I suppose history has had its share of truly awful people who have ascended to the throne, but one hopes that time and humanity move ever forward. These two horsey-faced bleeders may deserve one another, but they are decidedly several steps back.

That like, way out, dude. My karmic person is feeling the astral power.

A prayer that even a Roman Catholic can (and does) love.

Sheesh. You wussy little heretics. ;)

Ahem.

The Catholic Act of Contrition:

"O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen."

Nowhere in your act of contrition is the mention of penance. Of actually, you know, having to pay for your sins and to learn never to do them again. Oh sure, say you're sorry, but the rest of it? Naaaah.

is it the 1928 BCP where we also acknowledge that "we are not worthy to gather up the crumbs under thy table"? So excellent.

Kathy,

Words I speak whenever I get on an airplane . . .

Sarah--yes. That apparently was axed back in the Age of Aquarius (don't get me started) because it was felt that it "made people uncomfortable." I had this from my parish priest, who later became a counsellor. Or something.
Well, who knows where it will all end. The Lord moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.
At least we're still allowed to call Him Him, altho the use of capital letters is going fast.

Remember the old joke, "How many Episcopalians does it take to change a light bulb?"

"That light bulb doesn't need changing! It's worked perfectly well for the last hundred years!"

I guess we can't really tell that one any more.

AH, A Rite I purist. Hymn 591 should be right up your alley:

Oh God of earth and altar bow down and hear our cry, our earthly rulers falter, our people drift and die; the walls of gold entomb us, the swords of scorn divide, take thy thunder from us , but take away our pride.

From all that terror teaches, from lies of tongue and pen, from all the easy speeches that comfort cruel men, from sale and profanation of honor and the sword, from sleep and from damnation, deliver us , good Lord!

Tie in a living tether the prince and priest and thrall, bind all our lives together, smite us and save us all; in ire and exultation aflame with faith and free, lift up a living nation, a single sword to thee,

PS: I'm from Columbia, SC. I graduated from HHES and am currently a member of St. Johns.

I love Rite I - I got our parish priest's knickers all into a twist when I objected to his characterization of this line (one of my favorites) "an abomination":

"We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table"

I reminded him that what followed was a line I have always loved (forgive me, I haven't been to church in several years and may have it wrong):

...but Thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have Mercy...

I can't describe the feeling of peace that used to wash over this admitted skeptic when hearing those lines. How sad that Rite I is so seldom used anymore.

Yes. I should confess that there are Rite I services at my Church, but almost never at the 9:00 AM service I attend. We go to that one because it's the easiest for dealing with the kids. So for all my bitching, I could do something about it if I really wanted to.

Yes, well I can't say much. Since our boys grew up and we keep moving, the Spousal Unit and I have become regular attendees at a lesser known parish called St. Mattress-upon-Springs...