Black Rubric facts for kids

The Black Rubric is a special explanation found in the Book of Common Prayer, which is the main worship book for the Church of England. It helps people understand why they should kneel when they receive Holy Communion (a special church meal). It also makes sure no one misunderstands this action.

This explanation was first written in 1552. The name "Black Rubric" came much later, in the 1800s. Back then, important instructions in prayer books were often printed in red ink. These instructions were called "rubrics." But this particular explanation was printed in black ink, so people started calling it the "Black Rubric."

History of the Black Rubric

Why Was It Added?

In September 1552, a new version of the Book of Common Prayer was approved by the government. But before it was widely used, a religious leader named John Knox and others argued. They believed people should sit, not kneel, to receive Holy Communion. They discussed this with the Privy Council, a group of royal advisors.

Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, a very important church leader, disagreed with them. Because of this disagreement, the Privy Council decided to add a special declaration to the prayer book. This declaration explained that kneeling was a way to show "humble and grateful acknowledging" of what Jesus Christ did. It also made it clear that kneeling did not mean people were worshipping the bread and wine, or believing that Christ's actual body and blood were physically present in them.

The first copies of the prayer book had already been printed. So, this new explanation had to be pasted into them as a correction slip!

Who Won the Argument?

Historians have wondered if the Black Rubric was a victory for one side or another. Some, like Diarmaid MacCulloch, thought it was a win for Archbishop Cranmer. However, another historian, Isabel Davis, studied many examples and suggested it wasn't a clear win for anyone. She argued that adding it in such a rushed way actually messed up Cranmer's plan for everyone to follow the same rules.

Why Was It Removed and Then Brought Back?

The Black Rubric was left out of the prayer book in 1559, during the time of Elizabeth I. Queen Elizabeth wanted to keep the support of people who had more traditional religious views. She believed that Christ was truly present in Holy Communion, but she didn't want to define exactly how. She also wanted the Communion service to look more like the traditional Mass.

Leaving out the Black Rubric upset a group called the Puritans. They were Protestants who wanted to "purify" the Church of England and make it simpler. In 1661, at a meeting called the Savoy Conference, the Presbyterians (a type of Puritan) demanded that the Black Rubric be put back. But the bishops at the meeting refused.

However, when the prayer book was revised again in 1661-1662, all the bishops, clergy, and members of Parliament were involved. At a late stage, the Black Rubric was rewritten. It was made shorter, and some of its old words were updated. For example, the phrase "real and essential" was changed to "Corporal." "Corporal" means "relating to the body."

In this new form, the Black Rubric became a permanent part of the Book of Common Prayer. This means it is an important part of the Church of England's official beliefs. However, it is not included in newer worship books, like Common Worship.

What Did the Word Change Mean?

There's a discussion about whether changing "real and essential" to "Corporal" meant the church now accepted a different idea of Christ's presence. Some say it did, others say it just updated the language. The text itself helps explain: Christ's presence is real in the sacrament, but not in a physical way, like his natural body. His natural body is in heaven.

Queen Elizabeth's decision to remove the rubric in 1559 helped the church find a middle ground. It avoided moving too far towards radical Protestant ideas. Instead, it tried to balance between strong Protestantism and Catholicism, emphasizing that the Church of England was still connected to its past.

What Does the Black Rubric Say?

The Black Rubric explains why kneeling is important during Holy Communion. It also makes sure people understand that they are not worshipping the bread and wine.

The 1552 Version

Here is what the Black Rubric said in the 1552 Book of Common Prayer:

Although no order can be so perfectly devised, but it may be of some, either for their ignorance and infirmity, or else of malice and obstinacy, misconstrued, depraved, and interpreted in a wrong part: And yet because brotherly charity willeth, that so much as conveniently may be, offences should be taken away: therefore we willing to do the same. Whereas it is ordered in the book of common prayer, in the administration of the Lord's Supper, that the Communicants kneeling should receive the holy Communion: which thing being well meant, for a signification of the humble and grateful acknowledging of the benefits of Christ, given unto the worthy receiver, and to avoid the profanation and disorder, which about the holy Communion might else ensue: lest the same kneeling might be thought or taken otherwise, we do declare that it is not meant thereby, that any adoration is done, or ought to be done, either unto the Sacramental bread or wine there bodily received, or unto any real and essential presence there being of Christ's natural flesh and blood. For as concerning the sacramental bread and wine, they remain still in their very natural substances, and therefore may not be adored, for that were Idolatry to be abhorred of all faithful Christians. And as concerning the natural body and blood of our Saviour Christ, they are in heaven and not here. For it is against the truth of Christ's true natural body, to be in more places than in one at one time.

In simpler words, it says: Even good rules can be misunderstood. But because we want to avoid causing problems, we explain this. When people kneel for Holy Communion, it's meant to show thanks for Christ's gifts. It also helps avoid disrespect. But so that no one thinks kneeling means worshipping the bread and wine, or Christ's actual physical presence in them, we declare this: The bread and wine are still just bread and wine. Worshipping them would be Idolatry (worshipping something other than God), which Christians should hate. And Christ's natural body and blood are in heaven, not here on Earth. It's not possible for his true body to be in more than one place at a time.

The 1662 Version

The version in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer was changed slightly:

Whereas it is ordained in this Office for the Administration of the Lord's Supper, that the Communicants should receive the same kneeling; (which order is well meant, for a signification of our humble and grateful acknowledgment of the benefits of Christ therein given to all worthy Receivers, and for the avoiding of such profanation and disorder in the holy Communion, as might otherwise ensue;) yet, lest the same kneeling should by any persons, either out of ignorance and infirmity, or out of malice and obstinacy, be misconstrued and depraved: It is hereby declared, That thereby no adoration is intended, or ought to be done, either unto the Sacramental Bread or Wine there bodily received, or unto any Corporal Presence of Christ's natural Flesh and Blood. For the Sacramental Bread and Wine remain still in their very natural substances, and therefore may not be adored; (for that were Idolatry, to be abhorred of all faithful Christians;) and the natural Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ are in Heaven, and not here; it being against the truth of Christ's natural Body to be at one time in more places than one.

This version is very similar. It also explains that kneeling is for showing thanks and avoiding disrespect. It clarifies that no worship is meant for the bread and wine, or for any Corporal Presence (physical presence) of Christ's natural body and blood. It repeats that the bread and wine are still natural substances and should not be worshipped, as that would be idolatry. And it confirms that Christ's natural body and blood are in heaven, not on Earth, because a true body cannot be in more than one place at a time.