Devotional Societies
The history of the Anglican communion since the Oxford Movement has seen the formation of a number of devotional societies—groups that seek to bear witness to particular doctrines regarded as neglected or misunderstood: the Society of Mary, the Guild of All Souls, the Society of Our Lady of Walsingham, and the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament. Members of these various societies are pledged to pray daily for the objectives of the society.
The
Society of Mary endeavors to love and honor Mary, to spread devotion to
her in reparation for past neglect and misunderstanding, and in the
cause of Christian Unity, and to take Mary as a model in purity,
personal relationships, and family life. To these ends, members
undertake a Rule of Life, to include such special devotions as the Angelus,
the Rosary, and the Marian antiphons, as well as participation in Mass
on Feasts of Our Lady. Our Lady of the Angels Ward, the Washington
chapter of the the Society of Mary, meets at Saint Paul's on the third
Saturday of each month. Members and friends of the Society gather near
the Lady Altar after the 9:30 AM Low Mass to recite the Rosary, after
which they adjourn to the Common Room for brunch. Visitors are always
welcome, and extra sets of Rosary beads are available for those who do
not bring their own. For more information about the Society of Mary,
visit the official website.
Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel: Click to Enlarge (Photo: Laurita Liles)The
Guild of All Souls promotes the Church’s teaching regarding the Faithful Departed;
encourages Christian customs in the burial of the dead; urges the
celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the time of burial
according to the Propers appointed in the Book of Common Prayer; and
prays for the dead, especially the departed members of the Guild, and
of the families, friends, and neighbors of the Faithful Departed at the
parish where Guild members worship. The
Guild also publishes and distributes literature pertaining to the life
and work of the Guild, and concerning the teachings of the Church
Catholic concerning the Faithful Departed. Copies of various pamphlets
are available in the tract rack in the church.
The duties of members of the Guild are to say the prayers for the dying and for the departed members of the Guild once a week and to assist at the Requiem Mass on All Souls’ Day with intention for the departed members of the Guild.
The duties of members of the Guild are to say the prayers for the dying and for the departed members of the Guild once a week and to assist at the Requiem Mass on All Souls’ Day with intention for the departed members of the Guild.
The Branch of the Guild of All Souls at St. Paul's Parish is dedicated
to Saint Michael the Archangel, Defender and Deliverer of Souls. Our
branch participated in the development and funding of the Shrine and
prayer space at the back of the church, which contains a striking icon
of Blessed Michael written by our branch member, Dr. William J.
Prather. We are especially honored that our Rector, Fr. Andrew Sloane,
is a member of the National Council of the American Branch of the
Guild. The Guild promotes and encourages attendance at the monthly
Parish Requiem Masses, where the Faithful Departed members of our
Parish family are remembered at the Altar. The monthly Parish Requiems
are now offered on the first feria (ordinary day) of the month on the
Parish calendar, excluding Advent, Christmastide, and Lent. During
Eastertide, a Mass of the Resurrection is celebrated with the special
intention for the Faithful Departed.
The
Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament was founded in England in 1862
and began work
in the United States in 1867. The objectives of the CBS are to ensure
that due honor be given to the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ in the
Blessed Sacrament of His Body and Blood; mutual intercession
(especially at the Eucharist); and the observance of the primitive and
Catholic rule of receiving the Holy Communion after fasting. The
promotion of these objectives by example and prayer is binding on all
associates. There is also prayer for the Reservation of the Blessed
Sacrament for communion and devotion, and for the establishment of Mass
as the chief service of worship on all Sundays and days of obligation.
The Confraternity also encourages frequent reception of communion, with proper preparation before and thanksgiving afterwards. The Confraternity has supplied Eucharistic vestments and wares to missions throughout the world, and its members pray daily for its intentions, contained in a quarterly Intercession Paper.
Parishioners of St. Paul’s Parish are blessed in that many of the objectives of the Confraternity have been realized here. The Feast of Corpus Christi (the ancient day of thanksgiving for the Holy Sacrament of the Altar on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday) is regarded as a day of obligation. It is observed here, with its Solemnity on the Sunday following the feast day itself.
Contact: Colin Tooze, Secretary of St. Paul's ward of the Confraternity, 703-741-0348 or ctooze@gmail.com.
The Confraternity also encourages frequent reception of communion, with proper preparation before and thanksgiving afterwards. The Confraternity has supplied Eucharistic vestments and wares to missions throughout the world, and its members pray daily for its intentions, contained in a quarterly Intercession Paper.
Parishioners of St. Paul’s Parish are blessed in that many of the objectives of the Confraternity have been realized here. The Feast of Corpus Christi (the ancient day of thanksgiving for the Holy Sacrament of the Altar on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday) is regarded as a day of obligation. It is observed here, with its Solemnity on the Sunday following the feast day itself.
Contact: Colin Tooze, Secretary of St. Paul's ward of the Confraternity, 703-741-0348 or ctooze@gmail.com.
The
Society of Our Lady of Walsingham consists of baptized Christians from
every walk of life who, through their membership (in the USA via the US
Friends of Our Lady of Walsingham), connect their prayer life to that
of the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk, England.
Society members may gather together and affiliate with local parish
Cells which offer devotions at local parish Shrines to Our Lady of
Walsingham.
The
Cell of the Holy House of Our Lady of Walsingham and of Saint Thomas of
Canterbury is the Society chapter of the US Friends of Our Lady of
Walsingham domiciled at St. Paul’s Parish. Being part of the Cell
affords all a chance to pray and be prayed for daily in a circle of
prayer by members of the Society at Walsingham and by Cells around the
world.
The Cell invites everyone, whether a member, non-member or visitor to the
parish, to join in a daily ‘pilgrimage’ to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham through devotions offered at the Lady Altar at 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
parish, to join in a daily ‘pilgrimage’ to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham through devotions offered at the Lady Altar at 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.