To-night, our parish Compline and Benediction was graced by the attendance of Bp Robarts of the TAC, together with his wife and one of his parishioners. My parish priest had very kindly invited him to attend, in the cause of promoting Christian Unity and more particularly the success in Australia of Anglicanorum cœtibus.
After Compline (sung in Gregorian chant), Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed, while we sang Ave verum, and Gaudeamus omnes in honour of St Cecilia, patroness of music, whose feast it is this day. Bp Robarts then led us all in prayer before Our Lord truly present in the Eucharist, concluding very feelingly with the Prayer for Christian Unity. Benediction was given by our priest with the usual Tantum ergo &c., then the Sacrament was reposed in the tabernacle while we chanted Jesu Redemptor omnium. Our worship concluded with that most ecumenical hymn "Let all mortal flesh keep silence" – translated by an Anglican from an Eastern liturgy, set to a French tune.
After our foretaste of the joys of full communion in Eucharistic worship, we had a little agape - wine, savouries, cake...
It was a very blessed occasion in every respect. Forward the Australian Ordinariate!
All for Christian Unity - especially those turning toward the Church.
ReplyDeleteHowever, not sure how I feel about (essentially, still) a Protestant leading the prayers...
I think you are a little harsh - he explicitly prayed most devoutly, most obviously worshipping Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament - and in any case, he is certainly en route to full communion with the Church.
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