O God, whose justice continually challenges thy Church to live according to its calling: Grant us who now remember the work of John Wyclif contrition for the wounds which our sins inflict on thy Church, and such love for Christ that we may seek to heal the divisions which afflict his Body; through the same Jesus Christ, who livest and reignest with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Now this is truly a feast day that should be entrenched in all Anglican liturgical calendars!
Wyclif wrote and worked about 150 years prior to the Protestant Reformation. His influence was enormous, in Bohemia, Germany and France, as well as England. He has been called “the morning star of the reformation”, although that is perhaps unfair to many other medieval reformers.
He is chiefly remembered for his promotion of the Bible in English – which was largely unavailable to the common people of England at the time. His translation work was as good as he could do – he had neither the translation skill or access to original texts that would result in Tyndale’s world-moving translation in the 16th century. he AND
Oops, hit send button too soon.
Wyclif’s translation of the Bible from the Vulgate into English, however imperfect had a profound effect on the church in England. Copies spread everywhere, despite the difficulty of hand-copying, and despite the danger (possession of the Bible in English was not technically illegal in the 15th century, and the gentry or clergy could do so with little risk, but for a commoner to be found in possession of the scriptures in English was likely to result in investigation, and quite possibly torture or death).
His translation spread everywhere. It is believed that Richard III’s bible in the Smithsonian is a lollard bible (translated by Wyclif or one of his followers).
Further his action in sending out itinerant preachers all around the country helped to stimulate gospel activism, a work that was still on-going when the Protestant Reformation reached England.
Historians are discovering more evidence, almost on a yearly basis that the “lollards” or followers of Wyclif were far more active (and paid a far heavier price) during the 15th century than has previously been thought.
I approve most heartily.