10 Reasons I Love the Book of Common Prayer

One of the great devotion resources that came out of the Reformation was Thomas Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer. There are many editions available of the Book of Common Prayer from the 1549 edition, 1662 edition, as well as the 1928 Book of Common Prayer and the popular 1979 Book of Common Prayer. I have a 1979 edition I use as well a 1549 edition, 1662 edition and the 2004 Book of Common Prayer of the Church of Ireland.

I use the Book of Common Prayer in my devotional and Prayer life and consider it invaluable as a help in my Prayer life. Here are the reasons why I love it,


1. It helps give me a structure in my Prayer Life - The Morning and Evening Prayer as well as Compline, the Devotions give me a basic frame work to help me to pray and keeps my prayers organized.

2. It reminds me daily of my need of forgiveness - The first prayer in the Book of Common Prayer in Morning and Evening Prayer is a prayer of repentance. We are reminded that in entering into prayer we are sinners approaching a Holy God and we need His forgiveness.

3. It helps me read the Bible - The Morning and Evening Prayer has Scripture reading as central in the prayer life of the Church. After all is not Scripture reading God speaking to us? You can use the Lectionary readings provided or follow another Bible reading guide or use a One Year Bible as I do. The Book of Common Prayer allows flexibility.

4. It Keeps my Prayers Trinitarian - Throughout the Prayer Book you offer praise to the Holy Trinity. It reminds me that when I pray that I am not praying to some generic God but that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit

5. It helps me Praise the Lord - There are scripture readings and other liturgy that Praise God and it is structured so you do not forget the importance of praising and thanking God in your prayers.

6. It helps me Confess my Faith in Christ - In the Prayer Book are ancient confessions such as the Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian creeds as well as the Te Deum that reminds me to confess my faith in the Holy Trinity.

7. It helps me in my intercession for others - There is an area for free prayer in the Prayer Book where I can pray for others.

8. It Reminds me of the Importance of the Lord's Prayer - At least once in Morning and Evening Prayer you pray the Lord's Prayer. By praying this model prayer you declare that you want all your prayers to be in line with it.

9. It Connects me to my Reformation Heritage - In Morning and Evening Prayer the prayers you pray remind us that they are answered "According to thy promises declared unto mankind In Christ Jesus our Lord." Answered prayer and forgiveness comes only by the merits of Jesus Christ.

10. It Connects me to the Early Church - By praying the Virgin Mary's prayer (The Magnificat), Simeon's Prayer of Praise, Zechariah's prayer all found in the Gospels as well as reciting the ancient creeds I connect myself both with New Testament Christians and the early Church fathers.