Pusey's Suspension

Friday, September 18, 2009 -- Week of Proper 19, Year One
Edward Bouverie Pusey, Priest, 1882

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 984)
Psalms 69:1-23(24-30)31-38 (morning) 73 (evening)
2 Kings 1:2-17
1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Matthew 5:11-16

What struck me today was a note from the biographical sketch on Edward Bouverie Pusey in "Lesser Feasts and Fasts," our resource for the daily observations in our Church Calendar. Pusey was one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement which renewed High Church, Anglo-Catholic theology and piety in England starting with the first publications of the "Tracts for the Times" (1833-1841).

Pusey was the Regius Professor of Hebrew and Canon of Christ Church at Oxford. He was the acknowledged leader of the movement, along with John Keble, John Henry Newman and others. Pusey was best known, however, for his preaching. He was a zealous preacher, effective in communicating the catholic heritage of the church.

In 1843 Pusey preached a sermon at Oxford titled "The Holy Eucharist, a Comfort to the Penitent." At the heart of the sermon was a reclaiming of the tradition that Christ is truly present in the elements of bread and wine. He argued that the Eucharist is not merely a memorial or remembrance, but a sacramental participation in the body and blood of Christ. Pusey articulated the doctrine of Real Presence, not just a symbolic or figurative presence, in the Eucharist.

In secret proceedings that did not allow Pusey to defend himself, he was charged with heresy and suspended from preaching for two years. That's the thing that grabbed my attention this morning.

What Pusey did best and obviously loved; what he was most noted for -- was preaching. In an arbitrary act, without process, that ministry was taken away from him. How devastating that must have seemed to him.

Yet the records show that Pusey bore his judgment with great patience. There is no record of his complaint or bitterness. Indeed, he embodied the virtues that he taught, exhibiting penitence, humility, and submission. He was described as a man of simplicity and self-denial, and was known for his acts of charity, including the establishment of churches for the poor and the first monastic houses for Anglican nuns founded since the Reformation. He accepted his suspension from preaching with humble disinterest, and continued in his other works and ministries. He is a model for all of us in times of disappointment or injustice.

The irony of his suspension was that it created such a stir that his controversial sermon sold more than 18,000 copies and made Pusey the most influential person in the Anglican Church for the next twenty-five years.

Thanks to the Oxford Movement, the Anglican Church reclaimed many of the catholic traditions that are normative today but had been lost in the post-Reformation period. The centrality of the Eucharist, sacramental confession, vestments, candles and ceremonial, and a theological and spiritual continuity with the whole of Christian history.

We read today in the gospel: "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they prosecuted the prophets who were before you. ...You are the light of the world. ...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

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The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas