Thomas Cranmer
1489-1556 16th century Feast day: March 21
Praying in words anyone can say, and coming back after giving way.
Who was Thomas Cranmer?
The son of a minor Nottinghamshire gentleman and a Cambridge scholar, he became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1533. His life's work is a prayer book: he carried the medieval Latin collects into English of a held, plain music, and wrote new ones, the Book of Common Prayer of 1549, probably the most prayed text in English after the Bible. Condemned under Mary Tudor, he recanted several times, then withdrew his recantations at the stake and held into the fire first the hand that had signed.
In their own words
Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, and all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit.
Blessed Lord, which hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: grant us that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them.
We do not presume to come to this thy table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies.
And forasmuch as my hand hath offended, writing contrary to my heart, therefore my hand shall first be punished […]