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Marianne Dorman

Refer also to other books of Lancelot Andrewes

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While working on my Ph.D. I was introduced to a manuscript about to be purchased by Lambeth Palace Library. It turned out to be a collection of catechetical lectures and sermons by Lancelot Andrewes.
    This book is a transcription of that manuscript, Ms. 3707. As well there are numerous footnotes that link the various lectures and sermons with other published works of Andrewes.
MARIANNE DORMAN'S BOOKS
This book introduces the Christian Year as it begins with the season of Advent. Angels Rejoice based on the readings has a daily meditation from Advent Sunday until Shrove Tuesday. It is a book that helps faithful Christians to prepare to welcome the Christ born as one of us at Christmass and on the Last Day. There are twelve glorious days to celebrate the event that changed the world for human beings. It is the joyful time of celebrating, not before as the commerical world has it.
Forty days after Christmass Christians celebrate Candlemass that acts as a bridge between Christmass and Good Friday. Even when the Christ was born there was already a shadow. The cratch and the cross are inseparable.
What shall I do this Lent
Shall I forgo dainty foods?
Or will it be the television set?
No, says the Lord,
Neither of these is enough.

What then shall I do this Lent?
Shall I attend an extra Mass?
Or may be a bible study class?
No, says the Lord,
These too are not enough.

Oh, Lord, what shall I do this Lent?
Shall I endeavour to pray more?
Or visit the sick or poor?
No, says the Lord,
These are still not enough.

Lord, I  surrender!
Ah, child that is the word
I have been waiting to hear,
Longing to hear
From your heart.

Surrender your will dear child,
Immerse yourself in My love,
Learn of that love,
That complete love,
That took Me to Calvary.

Linger awhile my dear child,
Lovingly gaze and gaze on me,
Till you know of My love,
That embraced all of mankind
To give him eternal life

Then go and keep your Lent
For good company you have,
Whatever you do this season,
Will be done in love for Me.
That is indeed enough.
                                  M.D
This poem sums up what Lent is all about and Living Lent will help you to live this.
Morning breaks.
Pale streaks
outline women.
hurrying,
intent.

Why so early?
Why so quickly?
Why so intently?

Look they are heading
for the new-hewn tomb
where the crucified was laid;
With baskets of herbs
Fresh from the garden.

Could it be true?
Remember! Remember!
What the Master taught:
He had to die
To conquer death.

Yes, yes, He is alive!
Alive for ever!
What news to tell,
What joys to share,
Death has no more sting.
                            M.D.

Easter is the Queen of all festivals. Angels Welcome enables Christians to reflect on the great Fifty Days that shout out that Christ has risen. He is risen indeed. Death has been trampled on and will die. Alleluia, Alleluia. We are Easter people.


Angels Celebrate is a three volume set covering those long months of Ordinary Time in the Christian Year. There is a two year cycle that enables those who attend daily Mass or those use the daily readings at home to be exposed to a large section of Scripture.
After celebrating the major events in our Lord's life such as His birth, death and resurrection, Ordinary Time allows Christians to focus on His teaching and healing ministry from the Gospel readings. The other (first) reading at daily Mass for those two years is taken from either the Old Testament or another part of the New Testament.
To be committed Christians we need to know the bible really well, not in a fundamental way, but with some understanding. The volumes of Angels Celebrate will help you to know the Scriptures more meaningfully in your lives.
This is a book feauturing the poetry and prose of the seventheenth century priest-poet, George Herbert. It also has an appendix featuring the Ferrar family and Little Gidding.
Of course there are many books on Herbert and his poetry, but this one is arranged in a way of which I think Herbert would approve. His poetry is arranged according to the various feasts and fasts of the Christian Year to make it more of a devotional book for Christians.

Many of those we refer to as the Caroline divines were very much part of the Renaissance era in England with their contribution of prose through their sermons or even with their poetry. One such divine was Mark Frank. This book as well as outlining his life and teaching, contains a selection of his sermons that enable the reader to have a sermon for the major Sundays and feasts in the Church's year. For anyone who has an ear for English language at its best will enjoy reading these sermons immensely.
Another divine that is included in the Caroline divines is Lancelot Andrewes, although strictly speaking he died about eighteen months after Charles I ascended the throne. He too contributed to the Renaissance era  through his sermons. Thomas Eliot, much influenced by this divine, spoke of his prose as being as fine as any English literature. The Perennial Preacher was published to commemorate the four hundred and fiftieth year of the consecration of Andrewes as a bishop in 1605.
Taking various themes from the Church's Year and Christian Iiving the editor has enabled Andrewes to be speak to us from the pulpit in this twenty-first century.
This book is basically the publication of my Ph.D thesis, Lancelot Andrewes - Mentor of Reformed Catholicism in the Post Reformation English Church.
I argued that Andrewes through his influence from his own piety and preaching enabled the English Church at the Reformation to retain much that was good in the pre-Reformation Church, especially in worship and personal piety.
He and other Caroline Divines were inspirational to those we know as members of the Oxford Movement in the nineteenth century and thus laid the foundation for what became known as Anglo-Catholicism in modern times.
All theae books are readily available online such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Deal Oz and Belltower Books, Sydney and also through me.