The popular song Day by Day  from “Godspell” was actually written in the Middle Ages by Richard of Chichester, a saint remembered for his humility, his perseverance in times of hardship, his care for the poor, and the strength and generosity of his faith. After his death miracles of healing were said to have taken place through his intercession, and a shrine grew up at his cathedral in Chichester, a small city south of London. His had been a life of close friendships and high position, but also exclusion, exile and poverty.

The intonations of a brave and searching man on his knees can be heard throughout this prayer. Borsch uses the life of Richard to illuminate and guide us as we seek day by day to see more clearly, love more dearly and follow God more nearly. These intellectually solid meditations draw on Scripture and church history to aid us in our devotional life.

Frederick Borsch, noted scholar, retreat leader, and author of 17 books, is professor of New Testament and Anglican studies at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He is a retired bishop, former dean of the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, and former dean of the chapel at Princeton University.

“A beloved bishop of our time reflects on the life and prayer of a bishop of the thirteenth century, and we are richer for knowing both men. Reading Day By Day is like having a good conversation that is both scholarly and comfortable—a warm and wise invitation to prayer as a way of life and daily living as a way of prayer.”  –Pamela Cooper-White, Professor of Pastoral Theology, Columbia Theological Seminary

“I have used this prayer every morning for donkey’s years, and these are lovely and moving reflections on the prayer of Bishop Richard by Bishop Fred. A must read!” –Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus

“Day By Day is a beautiful and imaginative meditation that plumbs the depths of the Christian life by reading Richard’s prayer, Richard’s life, and ours into one another.” – Marilyn McCord Adams, Regius Professor of Divinity, Oxford University

"Through Richard's prayer and daily life, we are invited to a deeper look at our own lives, to discover where , in the middle of our days, we might see and love and follow."—The Rev. Anne S. Howard, executive director of The Beatitudes Society

"Borsch weaves together Richard's story with Scripture stories, meditations on Richard's famous Prayer and brief comments from the writings of Julian of Norwich, Thomas Merton, poets John Donne, and George Herbert and others.

Borsch will be remembered for his little book on Bishop Richard of Chichester and his prayer." —Episcopal Life

Contact: Bill Falvey, 917-373-8510, wfalvey@cpg.org
Morehouse Publishing, 445 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016

Borsch Unpacks Power of Prayer Behind the Pop Song

(New York, NY) - The pop song Day by Day, from the Broadway musical “Godspell,” was actually written in the Middle Ages by Richard of Chichester, a saint remembered for his humility, his perseverance in times of hardship, his care for the poor, and the strength and generosity of his faith.

Unpacking the power of the prayer behind the pop song, popular author and scholar Frederick Borsch uses Richard’s early prayer as the foundation for a group of day-by-day mediations - to help us see more clearly, love more dearly, and follow God more nearly – in this new book from Morehouse Publishing:

Day by Day:  Loving God More Dearly, by Frederick Borsch
ISBN: 978-0-8192-2341-8  $15.00  Paper  5.5 X 8.5  January 2009  Available Now 
**Review copies, interviews, and excerpts available on request.**

The life of Richard of Chichester was characterized by close friendships and high position, but also of exclusion, exile, and poverty.  After his death in 1253, miracles of healing were said to take place through his intercession.  A shrine grew up at Richard’s cathedral in Chichester, a small city south of London, and he was canonized in 1262. The intonations of a brave and searching man on his knees can be heard throughout Richard’s prayer.

Drawing upon Scripture and church history, Borsch uses the life and work of Richard as the basis for these intellectually solid meditations to illuminate and guide us in focusing on our spiritual life. The new book originated as retreat addresses for clergy, seminarians, and lay people. Its overall theme of ‘life shaping prayer and prayer shaping life’ is one that bridges all seasons, and makes particularly good reading for Advent and Lent, as we seek, day by day, to see more clearly, love more dearly, and follow God more nearly. 

Frederick H. Borsch, noted scholar, retreat leader, and author of 17 books, is professor of New Testament and Anglican studies at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He is the retired Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles, and former dean at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, and at the Chapel at Princeton University.
Headquartered in New York City, Church Publishing Incorporated is the official publisher of worship materials for the Episcopal Church in the U.S., and publishes a variety of trade books through its Seabury, Church Publishing, and Morehouse Publishing imprints.

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