An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church

Proper

Variable parts of the eucharistic liturgy and the Daily Office which are appointed for a particular day according the the season or occasion. These parts of the liturgy may be contrasted with the fixed portions and options of the liturgy which do not vary with the season or occasion. The proper for the Eucharist includes the collect, the lessons, the selection from the Psalter, and the proper preface. The BCP collects for the church year are presented in both traditional and contemporary language versions (pp. 159-261). The Lectionary readings and psalms for the Eucharist (BCP, pp. 889-931). The Daily Office Lectionary provides readings and psalms for Morning and Evening Prayer (BCP, pp. 936-1001). Propers for the Sundays in the Season after Pentecost are numbered one through twenty-nine.

The BCP includes propers for holy days, such as “Saint Andrew” and “The Annunciation”; the Common of Saints, such as “Of a Martyr” and “Of a Monastic”; and Various Occasions, such as “Of the Holy Trinity” and “Of the Incarnation.” The Proper Prefaces of the BCP include three prefaces of the Lord’s Day, prefaces for seasons, and prefaces for other occasions, such as baptism and marriage (pp. 377-382). The BCP also has a section of proper liturgies for special days, such as Ash Wednesday and the Easter Vigil (pp. 264-295). The service for Morning Prayer includes proper opening sentances (pp. 37-41, 75-78) and antiphons (pp. 43-44, 80-82).

Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.