“We do not presume to come to this your table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your abundant and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table; but Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood..." — The Book of Common Prayer 2019, pg. 135
The Prayer of Humble Access:
A Rich but Often Misunderstood Treasure
Written by Thomas Cranmer during the English Reformation, the *Prayer of Humble Access* has been central to Anglican worship for centuries. Yet today, it can feel strange or even unsettling, especially for those unfamiliar with its penitential tone or its vivid eucharistic language. Some find it too self-renouncing—are we really *that* unworthy? Others wonder if its reference to eating Christ’s flesh and drinking His blood implies a Catholic view of the Eucharist.
Far more could be said, but five key observations help us understand this prayer’s depth and enduring relevance.
1. The Prayer Follows the Gospel Pattern of Worship
As J.I. Packer notes in his pamphlet The Gospel in the Prayer Book, Anglican liturgy follows a rhythm of "sin acknowledged – grace announced – faith exercised in response." This cycle, present throughout the service, reflects Jesus’ teaching on prayer (Luke 11:1-4) and underscores our ongoing need for mercy. The Prayer of Humble Access fits within this-pattern, aligning our worship with the biblical vision of encountering God’s holiness, confessing our unworthiness, and receiving His grace.
2. Its Placement in the Liturgy is Theologically Significant
The prayer historically follows the Sanctus—"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of power and might..."—which echoes Isaiah’s vision of God’s throne (Isaiah 6:1–7). Like Isaiah, who was undone in God’s presence before receiving purification, we acknowledge our unworthiness before coming to the Lord’s Table.
However, the prayer is not about despair but access. Through Christ’s sacrifice, a “new and living way” has been opened for us (Hebrews 10:19–22). Though we do not trust in our own righteousness, we trust in *His* abundant mercy.
3. Does the Prayer Overemphasize Sin?
Modern Western assumptions about self-worth often make the prayer’s language feel excessive. Yet Scripture repeatedly affirms human sinfulness (Romans 3, 5; Jeremiah 17:9; Psalm 51; Ephesians 2:1–3). The prayer echoes Jesus’ interaction with the Canaanite woman who humbly compared herself to a dog eating crumbs under the table (Matthew 15:27). Jesus did not rebuke her humility but *commended* her great faith.
By praying these words, we affirm that God’s mercy is not a reward for the deserving but a gift for the undeserving. As Martin Luther put it, “The love of God does not find, but creates, that which is pleasing to it.”
4. What Does It Mean to Eat Christ’s Flesh and Drink His Blood?
This language is directly biblical (John 6:53–56). Jesus’ words scandalized His listeners, and they still challenge us today. The Anglican position differs from both the Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation and purely symbolic views of the Eucharist.
Scripture presents a multi-faceted view:
• The Lord’s Supper is a memorial (Luke 22:19).
• It is a means of grace (1 Corinthians 10:16), through which we truly participate in Christ.
• Christ’s presence is real, yet He remains bodily ascended in heaven (Hebrews 8:4).
Anglican theology, shaped by the Reformers and early church fathers, holds that the Holy Spirit unites us with Christ in the Eucharist. As Richard Hooker wrote, “What our mind does not comprehend, let faith conceive—that the Spirit truly unites things separated by space.”
5. Why This Prayer Still Matters
The "Prayer of Humble Access" is not a relic of the past but a profound articulation of the gospel. Its core truths—our unworthiness, God’s mercy, and Christ’s sufficiency—are just as vital today.
It invites us to come to the Lord’s Table with deep reverence and joyful confidence, knowing that through Christ, we are not merely guests but welcomed children. As the prayer concludes, our ultimate hope is clear: “…that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.”
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