We thank thee, Lord God, for all the benefits thou hast given us in thy Son Jesus Christ, our most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother, and for all the pains and insults he hath borne for us; and we pray that, following the example of thy saintly bishop Richard of Chichester, we may see Christ more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
I know a small Episcopal church in rural VA that sings the 1982 Hymnal setting of +Richard’s famous prayer every Sunday. Of coufrse, as a Boomer, I can’t help but remember the energetic Godspell version of Day By Day when that marvelous prayer comes up, asking that Christ would grant us the grace to see him more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly day by day.
As an enthusiastic advocate of what I love to call “3-D Christianity” (evangelical, catholic, and charismatic) I might add that one of the advantages of such an understanding of the Christian faith and life is that it matches our 3-D makeup as human beings made in the image of the Triune God. The medieval bishop’s prayer is a “3-D” prayer that reflects that same reality.
David Handy+