ascetical theology

The Anglican Spiritual Tradition, parts 1 and 2

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By Martin Thornton

PART ONE
There is good reason for dividing this lecture into two unequal parts. I must first offer a brief resumé of what I take the Anglican spiritual tradition to be; then I should like to look rather more fully at the contemporary impact of our tradition, concluding with a somewhat dangerous game of attempting to read the signs of its future unfolding.

Pedantic haggling over the meaning of words is not the most exciting exercise, but it is apparent already that some attention must be given to that most ambiguous and abused term “Tradition”; paradosis, traditio, literally a giving-over, or handing-over. Handing-over be it noted and not handing-down.

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Offices of Praise, Silence and Readings

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This is my own pattern of offices, which is a threefold form. This form is built of a Prologue Office of Praise, a Holy Office of Silence, and a Daily Office of Readings. This can be summarized as, respectively, set-prayer, silence, and scripture. Most everything is chanted. What this reflects is “devout experimentation” within Anglican … Read more

A Prologue Office of Praise: Antelogium laudis

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For the praise and glory of his Name, for our good, and the good of all his holy Church. PDFs: noted version | said version. [display_podcast] Preces Officiant    O Lord, open thou our lips. People     And our mouth shall show forth thy praise. Officiant    O God, make speed to save us. People … Read more

“The Principles behind Martin Thornton’s Theology”

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[Note: The following essay was written for Formatio Online Journal, once published by the Ambrose Institute (of Nashotah House). It can be usefully seen as an introduction to my master’s thesis on Martin Thornton, available here to download .] The Principles behind Martin Thornton’s Theology by Matthew Dallman, May 2015 Martin Thornton’s theology has been “largely overlooked,” … Read more

“Catholic and Anglican: The Motif, Model, and Operations of Martin Thornton’s Theology”

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In my continuing efforts to awaken public interest in this Anglican priest’s remarkable theology, I am thrilled to make available my master’s thesis on Martin Thornton. It completed my M.T.S. degree from Nashotah House, and is the result of several years of prayer and dedicated research—including my month of pilgrimage in summer 2014 spent in England … Read more

“Music and Ascetical Theology”

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(This is an essay by Martin Thornton published in the Programme for the Southern Cathedrals Festival, Salisbury, July 27-29, 1967.) There is an old tradition which sees the relation between the Organist and the Vicar as roughly that between cat and dog: by domestication they manage to exist together without physical violence while remaining natural enemies … Read more

About “The Purple Headed Mountain”

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[From the description posted to the book’s Facebook page. Coming soon for both e-book and print.] The Purple Headed Mountain by Martin Thornton was the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book of 1962, with a Foreword by Arthur Michael Ramsey. Yet be not deceived, for this concise, 100-page work is a potent meditation written for all … Read more

Why pray the Office?

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One of the primary reasons to pray the Divine Office is because it works. Many Christians report just that, and they go further and call the daily Office one of the most important aspects of their spiritual life. It is the core of what “being religious” actually means, in terms of behavior. But what are we saying … Read more

“The Diverse Riches of Prayer”

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By the Rev. Dr Martin Thornton The Times (UK) 14 December 1968 The Creeds grew out of the first disciples’ confrontation with Christ, that is out of “prayer,” and they remain the only source of responsible experiment in prayer. But these formulae need reinterpretation in every age; spirituality constantly changes with new situations and “traditional” … Read more

Ascetical theology and Catholic imagination

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When we speak ascetically in the Catholic sense as Martin Thornton did — against and beyond the Anglican ascetical writers of the early 20th century such as Evelyn Underhill, Oscar Hardman, Bede Frost, C.F. Rogers, H.S. Box, and F.P. Harton — we are liberated from their more limited “theology of ascetical practices” into ascetical theology … Read more