The Liturgical Calendar: The Church Remembers

Today the church remembers Edward Bouverie Pusey, Priest, 1882.

The friends of Forward Movement may take pleasure in recalling that one of the most dynamic religious revivals in church history began with the publication of a series of pamphlets entitled “Tracts for the Times.” One of the authors of these tracts was Edward Bouverie Pusey, an Oxford professor and priest in the Church of England. Pusey contributed to this religious revival, called the Oxford Movement, not only as a teacher and writer, but also as one of the greatest preachers of his day.

A product of the English aristocracy, he exercised a sound and effective pastoral ministry to many of the Victorian upper class who were inclined to take a dilettante attitude toward religion. Pusey was distressed by the church"s failure to minister to the poor of the great cities and dedicated most of his family"s fortune to develop such ministries. He was instrumental in the founding of the Society of St. John the Evangelist, Oxford, and the Sisterhood of the Holy Cross, London. Working with the indefatigable foundress of the Society of the Most Holy Trinity, Mother Lydia Sellon, he assisted in the creation of an impressive array of charitable institutions for orphans and free trade schools for very poor boys and girls.

He never lost sight of the catholic character of the Church of England, and when his friend, John Henry Newman, defected to the Roman Church he became the principal leader of the Anglo- Catholic revival.

As we see Jesus enthroned on our altars, may we also seek and serve him in all whom we meet. Amen.

Read the Wikipedia article here.

Grant, O God, that in all time of our testing we may know your presence and obey your will; that, following the example of your servant Edward Bouverie Pusey, we may with integrity and courage accomplish what you give us to do, and endure what you give us to bear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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