The Treasure of Christ’s Real Presence – Br. Curtis Almquist

Br. Curtis Almquist

Matthew 13:44-52

Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and reburied; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind…” (Matthew 13:44-48).

In the calendar of the Church, we remember today Edward Bouverie Pusey, born near Oxford, England, in 1800, where he was educated and subsequently became Regius Professor of Hebrew and Canon of Christ Church Cathedral. Beginning in 1833, he would become the acknowledged leader of the Oxford Movement, the Anglo-Catholic renewal of the Church of England. Pusey was a writer of tracts; however, he was a most powerful communicator as a preacher: catholic in content and evangelical in zeal for the conversion of souls. Read More

The Power and Presence of God – Br. James Koester

Br. James Koester

Edward Bouverie Pusey

Matthew 13:44-52

In many ways today’s commemoration of Edward Bouverie Pusey, is like remembering the life of a favorite uncle. A generation older than our own Father Benson, it was Pusey who deeply influenced Benson when he arrived in Oxford.

These of course were the days when Oxford was buzzing with what was to become known as the Oxford Movement. In 1833 John Keble had preached the Assize Sermon, National Apostasy, which is regarded as the beginning of the Movement. In the same year Pusey, Keble and Newman began to circulate the Tracts for the Times. In 1843 Pusey preached a sermon drawing attention to the doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. In 1845, when Newman converted to Rome, Pusey’s adherence to the Church of England was for many, a sign of stability. The following year he preached another sermon which sparked the revival of the use of sacramental confession within the Anglican Communion. Read More