In recent years we have seen a plethora of laws hit our statute books which, despite the 'assurances' of the Minister responsible and the efforts of all the members of the various committees, working parties and lobby groups, have impacted in 'unintended' ways upon our society. It is refreshing therefore to see that the latest such law has been heavily amended by the Lords. They have struck out the vague and nebulous concept of attempting to legislate against someone 'annoying' another. The vacuous spokesperson from the Home Office, responsible for this latest bit of idiocy, tried to give the 'assurance' that the law would not be used to stifle debate, or to interfere with the right of free speech, religion or 'insulting behaviour'.
Funny, that, because it is the courts which decide what is an is not annoying - not some chinless, faceless and unanswerable wonder from the civil service no doubt up to the elbows in the drafting ink. The Blog Archbishop Cranmer has an excellent article covering the whole mess, entitled "Outlawing 'annoyance' is Cameron's crassest Law". I commend it to readers. He has the details and says it far more eloquently than I can.
As he points out, the way the law was originally drafted had come in for criticism from lawyers and judges from across the political spectrum. It was a licence to anyone and everyone with a stake in political correctness to stifle criticism and debate. When such advice comes from so large a group of legal experts, the government and their civil servants should pay heed - but they didn't. It now remains to be seen whether they accept the Lord's amendment - passed by 306 to 178 with independent Peers, Labour Peers and rebels from the coalition all voting for the change.
Showing posts with label Ministry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ministry. Show all posts
Thursday, 9 January 2014
Friday, 27 December 2013
Feasts, Festivals and their significance
Since the dawn of mankind, as archeologists are discovering, humans have found reasons to celebrate certain events, or to mark certain seasonal changes. In recent years it has once agin become fashionable to re-invent, or in the words of some, to reclaim, the major Christian festivals, usually in the name of some 'original' religion, but often just for the sake of making it more 'inclusive' and secular. In recent days I have read several treatises on how Christmas was "stolen" from Nordic pagans, or some other group or people, so perhaps it is time to look afresh at why Christianity adopted certain dates in order to mark key events or beliefs.
The one festival we can be reasonably certain of is the Easter festival. Since St John tells us the trial, condemnation, crucifixion and resurrection all occurred "on the eve of the Passover". It made sense therefore to the early Christians to mark the Jewish Passover by commemorating the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. The problem is, of course, that it isn't a "fixed" feast in the sense that it may occur anywhere between March 21 and April 25. The Jewish formula, the Orthodox Church and the Western Churches all have slight variations on the way they determine it (Rome, responsible for the way we calculate Easter in the West, changed the formula at least three times between 325 AD and 700 AD) which means, of course, that while Easter and Passover often do coincide, sometimes they don't. It also means that the Western Easter and the Orthodox Easter often don't coincide either. Personally I don't believe this makes one jot of difference - the key is that we remember what Easter is all about - the fact that Christ died on the cross (forensic analysis of the accounts makes that clear!), and rose from the tomb in a renewed 'body' on the third morning. It is this 'resurrection' which is key to the entire Christian Faith. That is why Easter is so important to all Christians.
Having dealt with the reason Easter is 'moveable' and not 'fixed' let us look at some of the other major festivals. The obvious 'biggy' is Christmas, set as the 25th December by the early church fathers. It certainly didn't take its present form however until quite late, and it isn't, and never was, intended to mark the actual day of Christ's birth. Again, examination of the gospel accounts more or less tell us it was very likely in summer. Shepherds and sheep aren't out on the hills in winter, even in the Holy Land. So why did the early fathers choose this date?
The answer is simple. Many of their converts already celebrated the Saturnalia between 21 December and 1 January. Primarily the Saturnalia is a fertility festival associated with a fairly wide range of 'fertility rites' including public copulation as an "offering" to some local deity. Under Romano-Greek practice Bacchus, Satyrs, Pan and several other 'fertility' figures featured in the celebration which marked, as you've guessed, the gradual move out of the winter and into the Spring rebirth of fields, forests and animals. Theologically it does not take a great deal of effort to link the Birth of the New Adam - Jesus Christ - to a renewal of all life, and the renewal through the 'New Adam' of all humanity as well. As St Paul did with the Athenian altar to "the Unknown God", all that really happened was that the Christian converts found a new reason to celebrate the Saturnalia, though we may be sure they didn't continue with some of the more carnal excesses!
Over time, and with the spread of Christianity, the Winter Solstice celebrations in Northern Lands were 'converted' to the Christian message, again, largely because converts already kept these celebrations, and simply were given a new interpretation of them. Thus, Yule logs, Christmas trees, decorations and lights entered the celebrations. As the faith spread, each 'new' group of converts found ways to celebrate their new faith within the framework of the celebrations of their 'old' faith. Gradually these have been 'standardised' by the wider church, but still retain a lot of local and regional variations.
This is how some of the Imbolc customs have become associated with Easter, and how some of the Samhain customs associated with the Festival of All Saints. Imbolc, a festival celebrated by the "Celtic" tribes of Northern Europe and the British Isles doesn't coincide with Easter as some think and actually falls in February. It was originally a celebration of the increase of flocks and herds, since it marks the birthing of lambs, wild boar and deer - and the original cattle. Likewise Samhain doesn't necessarily fall on what has become "Halloween" (a corruption of "All Hallows Eve", the evening preceding All Saints) which is, again, an amalgam of several similar pagan festivals celebrating Harvest, honouring the dead, and invoking local 'gods' and spirits to tide one over the winter. By switching the focus to a commemoration of the "Saints" who set us an example, and adding a commemoration of all those departed this life, the early church created a moment for reflection on life and thanksgiving following the intense labour of the summer, the harvest and the preparations for the long cold, lean months of the winter.
There is a logic to the progression of the festivals and feasts the Church adopted and it has worked very well, by and large. Of course one could argue that some of the original focus has been lost - no one would, I think, disagree that since the 1850s at least, Christmas has been gradually turned into a shopping extravaganza. One could also be excused for wondering what some folk think they are really celebrating in their church/family traditions, and I will confess to being a little concerned at some practices.
What has always intrigued me, and which I have still not been able to find an answer to, is the question of the reason why so many very diverse cultures chose to mark similar festivals at very similar periods. Christianity has adopted largely northern and western European festivals, but one can find similar festivals and seasons in many other cultures. Some, obviously, are related to the 'cycle' of the agricultural year, while others are not. Answers on a postcard please ...
The one festival we can be reasonably certain of is the Easter festival. Since St John tells us the trial, condemnation, crucifixion and resurrection all occurred "on the eve of the Passover". It made sense therefore to the early Christians to mark the Jewish Passover by commemorating the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. The problem is, of course, that it isn't a "fixed" feast in the sense that it may occur anywhere between March 21 and April 25. The Jewish formula, the Orthodox Church and the Western Churches all have slight variations on the way they determine it (Rome, responsible for the way we calculate Easter in the West, changed the formula at least three times between 325 AD and 700 AD) which means, of course, that while Easter and Passover often do coincide, sometimes they don't. It also means that the Western Easter and the Orthodox Easter often don't coincide either. Personally I don't believe this makes one jot of difference - the key is that we remember what Easter is all about - the fact that Christ died on the cross (forensic analysis of the accounts makes that clear!), and rose from the tomb in a renewed 'body' on the third morning. It is this 'resurrection' which is key to the entire Christian Faith. That is why Easter is so important to all Christians.
Having dealt with the reason Easter is 'moveable' and not 'fixed' let us look at some of the other major festivals. The obvious 'biggy' is Christmas, set as the 25th December by the early church fathers. It certainly didn't take its present form however until quite late, and it isn't, and never was, intended to mark the actual day of Christ's birth. Again, examination of the gospel accounts more or less tell us it was very likely in summer. Shepherds and sheep aren't out on the hills in winter, even in the Holy Land. So why did the early fathers choose this date?
The answer is simple. Many of their converts already celebrated the Saturnalia between 21 December and 1 January. Primarily the Saturnalia is a fertility festival associated with a fairly wide range of 'fertility rites' including public copulation as an "offering" to some local deity. Under Romano-Greek practice Bacchus, Satyrs, Pan and several other 'fertility' figures featured in the celebration which marked, as you've guessed, the gradual move out of the winter and into the Spring rebirth of fields, forests and animals. Theologically it does not take a great deal of effort to link the Birth of the New Adam - Jesus Christ - to a renewal of all life, and the renewal through the 'New Adam' of all humanity as well. As St Paul did with the Athenian altar to "the Unknown God", all that really happened was that the Christian converts found a new reason to celebrate the Saturnalia, though we may be sure they didn't continue with some of the more carnal excesses!
Over time, and with the spread of Christianity, the Winter Solstice celebrations in Northern Lands were 'converted' to the Christian message, again, largely because converts already kept these celebrations, and simply were given a new interpretation of them. Thus, Yule logs, Christmas trees, decorations and lights entered the celebrations. As the faith spread, each 'new' group of converts found ways to celebrate their new faith within the framework of the celebrations of their 'old' faith. Gradually these have been 'standardised' by the wider church, but still retain a lot of local and regional variations.
This is how some of the Imbolc customs have become associated with Easter, and how some of the Samhain customs associated with the Festival of All Saints. Imbolc, a festival celebrated by the "Celtic" tribes of Northern Europe and the British Isles doesn't coincide with Easter as some think and actually falls in February. It was originally a celebration of the increase of flocks and herds, since it marks the birthing of lambs, wild boar and deer - and the original cattle. Likewise Samhain doesn't necessarily fall on what has become "Halloween" (a corruption of "All Hallows Eve", the evening preceding All Saints) which is, again, an amalgam of several similar pagan festivals celebrating Harvest, honouring the dead, and invoking local 'gods' and spirits to tide one over the winter. By switching the focus to a commemoration of the "Saints" who set us an example, and adding a commemoration of all those departed this life, the early church created a moment for reflection on life and thanksgiving following the intense labour of the summer, the harvest and the preparations for the long cold, lean months of the winter.
There is a logic to the progression of the festivals and feasts the Church adopted and it has worked very well, by and large. Of course one could argue that some of the original focus has been lost - no one would, I think, disagree that since the 1850s at least, Christmas has been gradually turned into a shopping extravaganza. One could also be excused for wondering what some folk think they are really celebrating in their church/family traditions, and I will confess to being a little concerned at some practices.
What has always intrigued me, and which I have still not been able to find an answer to, is the question of the reason why so many very diverse cultures chose to mark similar festivals at very similar periods. Christianity has adopted largely northern and western European festivals, but one can find similar festivals and seasons in many other cultures. Some, obviously, are related to the 'cycle' of the agricultural year, while others are not. Answers on a postcard please ...
Friday, 20 December 2013
Attacking Faith?
It has been recently claimed that 100,000 Christians are killed each year, and that most 'qualify' as martyrs. Perhaps not unsurprisingly, a journalist writing for the BBC news, has questioned the numbers and the whole question of whether they can be called 'martyrs'. She attempts, in true media style, to reduce the numbers by excluding all those killed in civil wars on the grounds that 'they would have been casualties anyway'. She continues by attempting to argue that the presence of Muslim fighters on the 'other side' doesn't prove that the killings are motivated by an 'anti-Christian' movement.
This ignores, as the organisation which produced the figure states, the fact that two-thirds of the world's Christians live in 'non-Christian' countries, many of them actively hostile to Christianity. That covers all Muslim ruled countries, despite the protestations that they 'allow' the practice of other faiths. The truth is that, from the moment a child enters the school system - if they are allowed to - they are under pressure to convert to Islam. As adults they are often excluded from holding any position of authority if it places them over Muslims. The practice of their religion is also proscribed, with rules forbidding them to discuss it with Muslims or to attempt to convert anyone to it. In at least one Middle Eastern country, even the holding of services in churches is structly controlled by the state - and services can be cancelled without notice. In one I visited, Christians met in the hall of a primary school - but their use of it depended on the man who held the keys, and he frequently 'went away' on the days services were due to be held, taking the keys with him.
Throughout the lands once Christian in the Middle East, Christianity is being driven out. Laws forbidding the appointment of Bishops or Patriarchs 'trained outside of the country' are in force - and so are the laws which closed down the training colleges for the priesthood. The current Patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul) will very likely be the last, since Turkey has a law that makes it illegal for this post to be held by anyone from outside Turkey. The lands that were the cradle of Christianity are being purged of Christians. The world knows, the UN knows, the media ignores it.
Something I have noted the government, the Church of England and the media fail to mention is that Israel has a growing Christian population, while the neighbouring Muslim States - and the 'Palestinian Territories' in particular, have a net exodus of Christians. This is due to several factors, the first is most likely the constant threat from their neighbours, certainly there are economic factors in play, but one cannot ignore the frequent attacks, and murder of Christians. What is not acknowledged by the various supposedly 'neutral' Muslim governments is that their laws against 'blasphemy' and for the 'protection' of Islam are frequently used to obtain the judicial mureder of Christians, their dispossession or to drive them out of communities.
The ignorant journalists are patently unaware of the fact that a Christian reciting any of the Christian Creeds, is committing 'blasphemy' according to the teaching of Islam. This is being used in Egypt, Syria and several other Muslim States by fundamentalists to kill Christians and seize their property. In Pakistan it is not uncommon to find Christians being accused of 'insulting the Prophet' or 'insulting the Quran'. One such case did get a mention, probably because it involved a young woman, but there are many more that don't get a mention at all. In Northern Nigeria Christians are the daily target of Islamic fundamentalists attempting to succeed from Nigeria and who wish to create an Islamic State there. Even in the UK, there is pressure, in predominantly Muslim areas on 'Christians', though this is not always obvious, and certainly not acknowledged.
Sadly it is not just in Muslim countries that the Christian Faith is under attack. 'Inclusive' religious education presents a very biased picture to children of what the major faiths teach and believe. In presenting them all as 'essentially the same', Christianity is reduced. Add in the onslaught of media promotion of the humanist and atheist mantra that all religion is 'just mythology' and you begin to understand the reason that the latest Polls give a picture of a country where those who admit a faith are equalled by those who admit none.
Whether the number of 'Christian Martyrs' per year is 100,000, 1,000 or 1 is, in my view, immaterial. That fact that there are any at all is a disgrace, that it is a situation ignored by politicians, twisted by the politically correct media, and denigrated as 'typical example of the stupidity of religion' by atheists is a scandal.
This ignores, as the organisation which produced the figure states, the fact that two-thirds of the world's Christians live in 'non-Christian' countries, many of them actively hostile to Christianity. That covers all Muslim ruled countries, despite the protestations that they 'allow' the practice of other faiths. The truth is that, from the moment a child enters the school system - if they are allowed to - they are under pressure to convert to Islam. As adults they are often excluded from holding any position of authority if it places them over Muslims. The practice of their religion is also proscribed, with rules forbidding them to discuss it with Muslims or to attempt to convert anyone to it. In at least one Middle Eastern country, even the holding of services in churches is structly controlled by the state - and services can be cancelled without notice. In one I visited, Christians met in the hall of a primary school - but their use of it depended on the man who held the keys, and he frequently 'went away' on the days services were due to be held, taking the keys with him.
Throughout the lands once Christian in the Middle East, Christianity is being driven out. Laws forbidding the appointment of Bishops or Patriarchs 'trained outside of the country' are in force - and so are the laws which closed down the training colleges for the priesthood. The current Patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul) will very likely be the last, since Turkey has a law that makes it illegal for this post to be held by anyone from outside Turkey. The lands that were the cradle of Christianity are being purged of Christians. The world knows, the UN knows, the media ignores it.
Something I have noted the government, the Church of England and the media fail to mention is that Israel has a growing Christian population, while the neighbouring Muslim States - and the 'Palestinian Territories' in particular, have a net exodus of Christians. This is due to several factors, the first is most likely the constant threat from their neighbours, certainly there are economic factors in play, but one cannot ignore the frequent attacks, and murder of Christians. What is not acknowledged by the various supposedly 'neutral' Muslim governments is that their laws against 'blasphemy' and for the 'protection' of Islam are frequently used to obtain the judicial mureder of Christians, their dispossession or to drive them out of communities.
The ignorant journalists are patently unaware of the fact that a Christian reciting any of the Christian Creeds, is committing 'blasphemy' according to the teaching of Islam. This is being used in Egypt, Syria and several other Muslim States by fundamentalists to kill Christians and seize their property. In Pakistan it is not uncommon to find Christians being accused of 'insulting the Prophet' or 'insulting the Quran'. One such case did get a mention, probably because it involved a young woman, but there are many more that don't get a mention at all. In Northern Nigeria Christians are the daily target of Islamic fundamentalists attempting to succeed from Nigeria and who wish to create an Islamic State there. Even in the UK, there is pressure, in predominantly Muslim areas on 'Christians', though this is not always obvious, and certainly not acknowledged.
Sadly it is not just in Muslim countries that the Christian Faith is under attack. 'Inclusive' religious education presents a very biased picture to children of what the major faiths teach and believe. In presenting them all as 'essentially the same', Christianity is reduced. Add in the onslaught of media promotion of the humanist and atheist mantra that all religion is 'just mythology' and you begin to understand the reason that the latest Polls give a picture of a country where those who admit a faith are equalled by those who admit none.
Whether the number of 'Christian Martyrs' per year is 100,000, 1,000 or 1 is, in my view, immaterial. That fact that there are any at all is a disgrace, that it is a situation ignored by politicians, twisted by the politically correct media, and denigrated as 'typical example of the stupidity of religion' by atheists is a scandal.
Thursday, 9 May 2013
Ascension Day
This is an important day in the Christian calendar, the day we celebrate the Risen Christ's departure from our sight to the place we hope to join Him in the fullness of time. In Germany and other European countries it is a holiday, the shops are closed, churches are in full voice and the 'Himmelfarht' will be properly marked.
For Mausi and the Monk, it will be a quiet day, though with Harry, we will be travelling to Mannheim for Harry's 'family reunion' and a 'Grill' (BBQ to the UK and the US or Barbie in Australia and a Braai in the Monk's place of origin). Harry has now fully recovered and is back to his usual chirpy self - though still not eating with his usual gusto.
It promises to be a lovely day out.
For Mausi and the Monk, it will be a quiet day, though with Harry, we will be travelling to Mannheim for Harry's 'family reunion' and a 'Grill' (BBQ to the UK and the US or Barbie in Australia and a Braai in the Monk's place of origin). Harry has now fully recovered and is back to his usual chirpy self - though still not eating with his usual gusto.
It promises to be a lovely day out.
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Prayers Please ...
An online friend has asked for our prayers for his wife. She is being treated for cancer and is having some severe setbacks. He has commended to us all this prayer, usually used at Vespers ...
O GOD, who are the strength of all them that put their trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, we commend to your
goodness your daughter Julia Prosser who is in sickness and is
suffering that as far as may be expedient for her,
O GOD, who are the strength of all them that put their trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, we commend to your
goodness your daughter Julia Prosser who is in sickness and is
suffering that as far as may be expedient for her,
she may be restored to bodily health and happiness,
through your Divine Love and Light,AMEN
Sunday, 18 July 2010
Life explained!!
TWO WOLVES
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.
"One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
"The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee replied, "The one you feed."
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.
"One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
"The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee replied, "The one you feed."
Sunday, 30 May 2010
Trinity Sunday
A good service this morning, good sermon too - what I could interpret of it anyway - and good coffee and fellowship afterward. We've obviously started to be regarded as regulars since a number of people greeted us as they came in today and we had a lively conversation over coffee with two older members who speak good English. One of the more interesting things for me is that I am slowly recognising word shapes and forms and sounds - and am able to follow conversations for a large part without interpretation.
The similarities between the Old Catholic Mass and the Common Worship Anglican Rite is probably not accidental and it certainly helps me to follow the service. Taken with the generous welcome and the similarity between the Old Catholics and the Anglican beliefs on a range of things and matters, it is proving far easier than I expected to fit in. The organist said the same thing this morning - she's a Roman Catholic from Croatia!
All things considered we've certainly found a good place to worship.
The similarities between the Old Catholic Mass and the Common Worship Anglican Rite is probably not accidental and it certainly helps me to follow the service. Taken with the generous welcome and the similarity between the Old Catholics and the Anglican beliefs on a range of things and matters, it is proving far easier than I expected to fit in. The organist said the same thing this morning - she's a Roman Catholic from Croatia!
All things considered we've certainly found a good place to worship.
Saturday, 17 April 2010
RIP Mausi die Katze
Mausi the human is in mourning this evening. Her beloved black and white cat, also Mausi, was killed this afternoon by a dog that cornered her in a field near her home. The dog belongs to a local huntsman who was unable to prevent the dog from attacking her and before he could stop the animal Mausi was dead.
She has been buried in a favourite corner of the garden and some special flowers planted over her resting place. We are both rather upset at this sudden and unexpected tragedy.
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Death of a friend
Yesterday I had news I had been expecting. A week ago I learned with sadness that a long standing friend who shared many of my interests and with whom I have enjoyed many great times, had suffered a stroke after undergoing a fairly simple by-pass operation. It was a fairly major stroke which left him unable to help himself and, as his Medical Aid Insurance had reached its limit, he was sent to a "Care Home". Here he suffered another set of medical problems and last Wednesday was rushed back into Intensive Care. By Thursday he was in renal failure and sometime on Sunday or early Monday, slipped quietly away.
Dennis was a big hearted man who gave freely and willingly of his time, his services and his friendship. He wasn't the best looking man in the world and yet, once you got to know him, that was not what you saw when you were in his company. He leaves behind a brother whose family will miss their big hearted uncle. He also leaves behind a lot of friends who wil feel the poorer for his passing, myself included. I hope you will join me in a prayer for him on Saturday when he will be laid to rest with his mother, stepfather and family.
Dennis was a big hearted man who gave freely and willingly of his time, his services and his friendship. He wasn't the best looking man in the world and yet, once you got to know him, that was not what you saw when you were in his company. He leaves behind a brother whose family will miss their big hearted uncle. He also leaves behind a lot of friends who wil feel the poorer for his passing, myself included. I hope you will join me in a prayer for him on Saturday when he will be laid to rest with his mother, stepfather and family.
Monday, 3 August 2009
Back to normal services ....
Last night saw the end of another successful run of Musica Deo Sacra. It has been a fabulous year with organ recital, superb music, magnificent voices and a feast of liturgical colour. Our preachers have been excellent and everything ran like clockwork - except for one small thing last night - the batteries that power the belt packs for the radio microphones worn by the officiant and the "front of house" minister both decided to fail. One, mine, could be replaced - the officants couldn't be so those of us "In Quire" could hear his prayers and the Benediction - the nave couldn't. Still the music made up for it, but isn't it typical that some small and generally inexpensive item is the one thing that will let you down at the most inconvenient moment.
Another of the weeks "highlights" was the Medieval Feast in the Nave on Thursday evening.
It was great fun, presided over by "King" Michael the First, more normally known as the Town Crier, and the diners were regaled at the table by funny stories, medieval music on ancient instruments, and a fine selection of really glorious songs sung by the MDS Choir. The picture on the right shows the tables laid out in a great horseshoe and lit by candles. THe "Mummers" and singers, performed in the open space between. Some of the other fun can be seen in the pictures following which show the minstrels strolling, the choristers performing and some of the people enjoying the experience.
And before anyone has a wobbly about our use of the Nave in this manner, this is exactly how it was used in Medieval times, where it was used as a Market, a meeting hall for Parish and Town business and as a place where the "great unwashed" (In other words the common folk who weren't "In Orders") were allowed to gather to "hear" the Mass, but not usually to partake in it.
Another of the weeks "highlights" was the Medieval Feast in the Nave on Thursday evening.
It was great fun, presided over by "King" Michael the First, more normally known as the Town Crier, and the diners were regaled at the table by funny stories, medieval music on ancient instruments, and a fine selection of really glorious songs sung by the MDS Choir. The picture on the right shows the tables laid out in a great horseshoe and lit by candles. THe "Mummers" and singers, performed in the open space between. Some of the other fun can be seen in the pictures following which show the minstrels strolling, the choristers performing and some of the people enjoying the experience.
And before anyone has a wobbly about our use of the Nave in this manner, this is exactly how it was used in Medieval times, where it was used as a Market, a meeting hall for Parish and Town business and as a place where the "great unwashed" (In other words the common folk who weren't "In Orders") were allowed to gather to "hear" the Mass, but not usually to partake in it.
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Musica Deo Sacra
Is an annual feast of music and liturgy here at the Abbey and this is its 40th anniversary. It began on Monday with a stunning setting for the canticles and psalms, an amazing anthem and a prelude and postlude on the Milton that was just stunning. The Introit, Ecce vicit Leo to a setting by Peter Philips (1561-1628) set the scene for a service which mixed Samuel Sebastian Wesley's music with Richard Shepherd, George Garrett, Mathew Camidge, K John Pye, William Croft and Basil Harwood. The sermon by the Venerable Norman Warren was a gem in itself, setting the standard for the rest of the week.
Tuesday's service was the Solemn Eucharist in honour of Our Lady using the Missa Assunpta est Maria by Palestrina embellished by the organ prelude Ave Maris Stella by Grigny, Introit Rise up my love by Willan, Holst's Ave Maria, Archer's the Son most high, Sandstrom's Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen and finished by Flor Peeters Toccata, Fugue et Hymne sur Ave Maris Stella. The sermon by the Very Reverend Michael Tavinor, Dean of Hereford Cathedral took the standard of preaching to a new high.
Wednesday brought the Solemn Eucharist of the Holy Cross introduced by J S Bach's "O Mensch bewein' deine Sunde Gross" as the prelude. The Mass setting was "Mass for double choir" by Frank Martin with Purcell's "Remember not our offences", Orlando Gibbons "O Lord, in thy wrath", John Sanders "The Reproaches", Mawby's "Ave verum Corpus" and closed with the Praeludium in F Sharp Minor by Buxtehude. But even more was still to come as this evening we were treated to a virtuoso performance on the Milton and the Grove organs by Carleton Etherington. In a truly amazing programme it is impossible to pick out a single piece as better than any other, though I enjoyed the sheer exuberance of Grainger's "Handel in the Strand" on the Milton and Mendelsohn's Overture to the St Paul Oratorio on the Grove. And, as if that were not enough - we then moved to an unaccompanied Compline sung by the Choristers of the MDS Choir.
A musical feast that will be running through my head and others for days to come. And we're only half way through the week.
Tuesday's service was the Solemn Eucharist in honour of Our Lady using the Missa Assunpta est Maria by Palestrina embellished by the organ prelude Ave Maris Stella by Grigny, Introit Rise up my love by Willan, Holst's Ave Maria, Archer's the Son most high, Sandstrom's Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen and finished by Flor Peeters Toccata, Fugue et Hymne sur Ave Maris Stella. The sermon by the Very Reverend Michael Tavinor, Dean of Hereford Cathedral took the standard of preaching to a new high.
Wednesday brought the Solemn Eucharist of the Holy Cross introduced by J S Bach's "O Mensch bewein' deine Sunde Gross" as the prelude. The Mass setting was "Mass for double choir" by Frank Martin with Purcell's "Remember not our offences", Orlando Gibbons "O Lord, in thy wrath", John Sanders "The Reproaches", Mawby's "Ave verum Corpus" and closed with the Praeludium in F Sharp Minor by Buxtehude. But even more was still to come as this evening we were treated to a virtuoso performance on the Milton and the Grove organs by Carleton Etherington. In a truly amazing programme it is impossible to pick out a single piece as better than any other, though I enjoyed the sheer exuberance of Grainger's "Handel in the Strand" on the Milton and Mendelsohn's Overture to the St Paul Oratorio on the Grove. And, as if that were not enough - we then moved to an unaccompanied Compline sung by the Choristers of the MDS Choir.
A musical feast that will be running through my head and others for days to come. And we're only half way through the week.
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Mothering Sunday
Today is Mothering Sunday in the Church's calendar, the Fourth Sunday in Lent is marked with Asperges. The colour of the vestments for the Mass is Rose, in honour of Our Lady, Mary, mother of our Lord.
Asperges is a form of ritual cleansing, the church and congregation is sprinkled with holy water splashed by the priest using a bunch of Rosemary which he wets by dipping into a bowl carried by the Deacon as they process. During the Asperging, the choir sings Psalm 51 - The Miserere - to a setting that includes a response between verses from the congregation.
Now I have to confess that half the fun of this for me is watching the reaction of some of the kids who have never seen this, or perhaps don't remember it. The sight of three adults in fancy robes walking up and down the aisles splashing people with water is obviously fascinating - then they get splashed too and the faces go from puzzlement, to surprise - then laughter. Some visitors go through these reactions as well - especially if the Officiant gets the Harry Potter "wand action" right with the "swish and FLICK" that produces the maximum spray and spread of water. Who says that High Church practice is dull?
Of course, the main reason they all come to this and other services today is to remember mothers and motherhood. It is Mothering Sunday. Bunches of daffodils are distributed to all the children, young and old, and carried back to their mothers - or, as in my case, taken home to be placed on the bookcase alongside the pictures of my mother and grandmother.
Happy Mothering Sunday.
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Magnus Sucatus Patricius - Bishop and Missionary
The man known in his own time by the names Magnus Sucatus Patricius died this day in 461, probably aged around 76. He was born in Britain around 385 of wealthy landed parents and seized as a slave in a raid which descended on his family's villa in around 401 when he was not quite 16. He is perhaps best known by the legends that have grown around him, yet he would very likely be appalled at these same legends for he was a modest man - one who wept at the death of the very master who had abused him as a slave. He was also a remakable and truly great man and it has to be the supreme irony that we know of him possibly only because Church politics in the early Middle Ages caused the Abbots of Armagh to dig deep within their records and to unearth two of the most remarkable documents to survive anywhere in Britain or Ireland from what we now call the late Roman Period or the Dark Ages.
The Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus is in every sense of the word an Excommunication issued by a man moved by horror and grief, a man who knew what slavery meant to the men and women of his flock who had been seized by the Soldiers in his letter. A man who railed against the practice of slavery in an age when it was considered normal to enslave anyone who could not resist your force of arms. The second is more telling because it is his Declaration of Faith and exposition of his ministry. It is from that that we learn of his own seizure and six years as a slave in Ireland, of the misery he suffered during those six years and of his resolve which saw him overcome opposition from the Church itself to become the first Missionary Bishop since St Paul.
Patrick, the man, awed the Irish who had held him as a slave. They gave him the nickname "Naofa buachaill" or "Holy Boy" to mock his faith and his prayers, but he turned that into a weapon, one they could not overcome with violence or blandishment. He saw himself as God's slave and laughed at anyone who threatened to deprive him of his freedom with the answer - "You cannot, for I have none, I am the slave of God." Through this he won the respect and then the hearts of all who encountered him. Patrick, the Bishop, wasn't popular with his fellow bishops in Britain or in Rome. He was a maverick, one who refused to play the political games and got on with tending the people God had entrusted to him.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me -
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
Patrick was not a Monk, nor did he found monasteries, those came after his death. The monastics claimed him, yet he founded churches in villages (Duns or Raths in the Irish of his time) and gave communities Bishops and Presbyters to lead them and minister too them. After his death these gradually became monastic communities with Abbots taking ascendancy over the Bishops and the tradition that he was a monk grew to support this take over of the church by the ecclesiastics. If you went to look for Patrick in his own time or in a service you would have to have him pointed out as he never wore a mitre (They came much later - around 1100) or carried a crook or crozier and dressed in the ordinary clothes of the people he worked amongst. This is supported by one of the legends that speaks of a would be assassin being unable to tell the Saint apart from his charioteer.
You will not find Patrick in any list of those beatified by any Pope, nor will you find his name among those appointed Bishop by the Popes of his time, most likely because his patron was St Germanus of Auxerre and not Celestine of Rome. Patrick was declared Saint by those who knew and loved him, by those who carried on his work for the gospel with unswerving love and loyalty and one day I hope to be permitted to sit at his feet and thank him for the inspiration he has given me and millions of others. Yes, I am wearing something green. No, I will not be parading waving any national flags, nor will I be drinking any green beer. I may raise a glass of fine Irish Whiskey to the man I would like to meet more than any other in this life or the next. I am celebrating his feast in prayer and worship as he would wish me to.
The Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus is in every sense of the word an Excommunication issued by a man moved by horror and grief, a man who knew what slavery meant to the men and women of his flock who had been seized by the Soldiers in his letter. A man who railed against the practice of slavery in an age when it was considered normal to enslave anyone who could not resist your force of arms. The second is more telling because it is his Declaration of Faith and exposition of his ministry. It is from that that we learn of his own seizure and six years as a slave in Ireland, of the misery he suffered during those six years and of his resolve which saw him overcome opposition from the Church itself to become the first Missionary Bishop since St Paul.
Patrick, the man, awed the Irish who had held him as a slave. They gave him the nickname "Naofa buachaill" or "Holy Boy" to mock his faith and his prayers, but he turned that into a weapon, one they could not overcome with violence or blandishment. He saw himself as God's slave and laughed at anyone who threatened to deprive him of his freedom with the answer - "You cannot, for I have none, I am the slave of God." Through this he won the respect and then the hearts of all who encountered him. Patrick, the Bishop, wasn't popular with his fellow bishops in Britain or in Rome. He was a maverick, one who refused to play the political games and got on with tending the people God had entrusted to him.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me -
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
Patrick was not a Monk, nor did he found monasteries, those came after his death. The monastics claimed him, yet he founded churches in villages (Duns or Raths in the Irish of his time) and gave communities Bishops and Presbyters to lead them and minister too them. After his death these gradually became monastic communities with Abbots taking ascendancy over the Bishops and the tradition that he was a monk grew to support this take over of the church by the ecclesiastics. If you went to look for Patrick in his own time or in a service you would have to have him pointed out as he never wore a mitre (They came much later - around 1100) or carried a crook or crozier and dressed in the ordinary clothes of the people he worked amongst. This is supported by one of the legends that speaks of a would be assassin being unable to tell the Saint apart from his charioteer.
You will not find Patrick in any list of those beatified by any Pope, nor will you find his name among those appointed Bishop by the Popes of his time, most likely because his patron was St Germanus of Auxerre and not Celestine of Rome. Patrick was declared Saint by those who knew and loved him, by those who carried on his work for the gospel with unswerving love and loyalty and one day I hope to be permitted to sit at his feet and thank him for the inspiration he has given me and millions of others. Yes, I am wearing something green. No, I will not be parading waving any national flags, nor will I be drinking any green beer. I may raise a glass of fine Irish Whiskey to the man I would like to meet more than any other in this life or the next. I am celebrating his feast in prayer and worship as he would wish me to.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
