“Have we thought irreverently of thee, have we disobeyed thy commandments, have we neglected any known duty, or willingly given pain to any human being? Incline us to ask our hearts these questions oh! God, and save us from deceiving ourselves by pride and vanity.”
Evening Prayer 1
Another pic from Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford today.
Jane’s concise statements of Christian theology in these prayers are wonderful, better than I could do myself. And while they may seem difficult at times, imbued with the concepts of personal sin and repentance, I think these ideas are clearly carried over to her characters.
The Jane Austen Guide to Life: Thoughtful Lessons for the Modern Woman (May, 2012)