SOURCE: "Ye Shall Be Holy: Reflections on the Spirituality of the Oxford Movement," in Tradition Renewed: The Oxford Movement Conference Papers, edited by Geoffrey Rowell, Pickwick Publications, 1986, pp. 64-77.

In the essay that follows, Borsch describes the most significant tenets espoused by the Oxford Movement—primarily their emphasis on moral seriousness, adherence to traditional dogma, and authenticity of faith.

We know two things of the Angels—that they cry Holy, Holy, Holy, and that they do God's bidding.¹

Seeking better to understand and appreciate the spirituality of the Oxford Movement and its first leaders we become quickly implicated in the complexities of their personalities as well as of the sociological and intellectual currents which helped to shape the movement. Especially is this true if we define spirituality sufficiently broadly, so as to be inclusive of not only conscious acts of prayer, meditation and devotion, but of the whole...