May I make a suggestion for the later hours of Good Friday? We shall all, I am sure, have spent much time during the day saying or reading the Passion and saying the extensive prayers of the day, either alone or in the company of a service streamed by a bishop of the Society; the Good Friday liturgy demands much of us, and rightly so. But when all is done, it seems to me to be so appropriate to tune into Radio 3 for a rendering of Bach's S Matthew Passion between 7 pm and 10. Don't let anything disturb you - just let it happen over you.
Christopher
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Today, Pope Francis presided over the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in St. Peter’s Basilica. The liturgy known as in coena Domini, takes place on the first day of the Easter Triduum and commemorates the institution of the Eucharist. Contrary to tradition that normally sees the Pope celebrate Holy Thursday Mass outside the Vatican, this year’s ceremony took place at the Altar of the Chair in an almost empty St. Peter’s Basilica. The liturgy did not include the washing of the feet, out of respect for directives intended to curb the spread of Covid-19. The Mass was streamed live and Christians across the world were invited to participate.
The Pope recalled how Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles and invited the faithful to allow the Lord to love and serve them. In his homily, the Holy Father thanked God for the ministry of so many unnamed priests, several of whom have sacrificed their lives – especially those who have died recently while serving the sick in hospitals and clinics amid the coronavirus pandemic. Pope Francis reminded Christians that only by allowing the Lord to love us will we be saved. Jesus Himself says: “If we don't eat His body and we don't drink His blood, we will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven”, said the Pope. “It is difficult to understand that we need to allow the Lord to serve us,” continued Pope Francis. He then reflected on St. John’s Gospel which describes the exchange between Jesus and Peter who told the Lord: “You will never wash my feet”. Jesus answered: “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me”. “You must ask the Lord to allow you to grow,” the Pope said, “to forgive you.” Pope Francis then gave thanks for the priesthood. “I want to be near to priests,” he said, “all of them: from the newly ordained all the way up to the bishops and to the Pope.” “You have been anointed to confer the Eucharist, you have been anointed to serve,” he added.Noting it had not been possible to celebrate the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday morning, the Pope said he hoped it could be celebrated before Pentecost. Referring to the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, he said, “I can't allow this Mass to pass by without mentioning the priesthood and all the priests who offer their lives for the Lord.” Pope Francis recalled that in these dramatic days marked by the coronavirus pandemic, more than 60 priests have died here in Italy while caring for the sick, together with doctors and nurses in the hospitals. “They are our ‘next-door-neighbour’ saints,” who have given their lives to serve the Lord and the faithful, he said. Pope Francis then turned his thoughts to the many parish priests and prison chaplains who take the Gospel into small towns and into prisons, and to the scores of anonymous priests in mission territories, many of whom die and are buried far from the eyes of the world. “No one knows their names,” the Pope said. “They are good priests and I carry them in my heart.” He also spoke of the many priests who have suffered calumny and insult, “who cannot walk the streets” because of the shame brought by bad things that have happened in the Church. “Today you are all with me at the altar,” he said. “Don’t be pig-headed like Peter: allow the Lord to wash your feet, learn to forgive the other. Just as you have forgiven, you will be forgiven. Never be afraid to forgive.” Pope Francis concluded his homily giving thanks to God for the grace of the priesthood: “I thank God for you, priests. Jesus loves you. I ask only that you allow your feet to be washed.” By Fr Tomas using the press release of © Dicasterium pro Communicatione, The Vatican Illustration © Jan Hearn What follows is a fictionalised retelling of the denial of St. Peter, in the Jewish Midrash tradition. It is based on Scriptural accounts, but also on the visions given to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, which she describes in her work: ‘The Dolorous Passion of the Lord’. To read the full thing, please click the “Read More” button at the bottom of the post.
If there’s one thing Peter cannot suffer, it’s the sound of women weeping. Even after so many years of marriage he still doesn’t understand them, nor particularly enjoy their company. Truly, if the weaker sex cannot control themselves they have no business following Messiah, although he has learned better than to say as much – particularly around the Lord himself. Jesus has always seemed unusually fond of women and the ones of ill repute seem to be his favourites, although neither Peter nor anyone else has ever seen him act dishonourably. It’s one of those wretched creatures who is weeping now, as they gather in the Upper Room to celebrate the Paschal Supper. Mary, the one from Magdala, and Peter can see the effort she’s making to contain her tears, the embarrassment on her face that she’s unable to do so. Tonight is significant, he isn’t sure why, but something in the Lord’s manner is setting all of their nerves on edge, and the Magdalene’s weeping might just be the last straw. Silently, he finds himself repeating an oft-said prayer from the Synagogue: I thank thee, Lord, that thou hast not made me a Gentile dog nor a woman. He’s about to say something, tell her to pull herself together, but it’s almost time to sit at table and the women leave, ushered away along with the Lord’s mother (Peter doesn’t mind her, really), to another building. God is merciful. Ask a person of a different faith (or none) what the most important festival in the Christian calendar is, and they’ll probably answer, without missing a beat: Christmas. It is, after all, the festival which the secular world has retained while largely turning its back on the Church, and most people celebrate it even if they aren’t of a religious persuasion. We know differently, however, and most of us are probably feeling pretty disappointed not to be able to celebrate the feasts of the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord in our usual manner. In most parishes this would normally mean extended worship services, incense, bells and singing which starts mournfully on Maundy Thursday, but builds to a joyful crescendo at the Saturday vigil. However, Christians have been proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for two thousand years, and it will, quite frankly, take more than a global pandemic to stop us. With that in mind, here are ten easy ways you can observe the Sacred Triduum while in lockdown. 1. Create a Gethsemane garden in your house or garden Father David has had the wonderful idea of everyone setting up a small corner in their homes or gardens as a place to pray and keep the Lord company as he enters into His passion. This can be done using candles, fairy lights, flowers, icons and anything else which inspires you. We are encouraging parishioners to send photographs of their gardens to the vicar; these will be displayed on the blog over the weekend. If you’d like some inspiration, here are the gardens from the Harris and Krejci households: 2. Make a holy hour of adoration via video link
The Benedictine nuns at Tyburn convent stream live, twenty four hour adoration from their chapel, meaning you can see Jesus whenever you like (I think of it as a bit like Facetiming in a long-distance relationship – not ideal but better than nothing!). I believe that Our Lord is pleased with efforts to draw close to Him and I’m sure that, if we approach Him as reverently as we would ‘in real life’, He’ll be all too happy to bless the time and grant us graces accordingly. You can visit the online chapel here: https://adoration.tyburnconvent.org.uk/ 3. Pray the Stations of the Cross Paul Hearn has put together a pdf file of the Stations of the Cross devotion, complete with paintings by Jan Hearn and meditations compiled by Father Tomas. It will be posted on the main page of the Parish website to download or print. In this powerful version of the Stations, we are encouraged to draw close to Our Lady, walking with her and seeing Christ’s passion through her eyes. 4. Observe the Good Friday fast Assuming you don’t have any medical conditions which would make it unsafe, you may wish to observe the Catholic tradition of fasting on Good Friday. This doesn’t have to be ‘hardcore’ – simply eating smaller, simpler meals and avoiding meat, alcohol, sweets and other luxuries can help us get into the spirit of the day. 5. Pray the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary Another powerful way of engaging with the Lord’s passion while drawing close to Our Lady. The Rosary is known for being a potent spiritual weapon (I once heard it referred to as ‘a whip for the devil’) and can be coupled with intercessory prayer for the conversion of sinners and the healing of our world. 6. Forgive someone who isn’t sorry As the Roman soldiers cruelly drove nails into His hands and feet, Jesus prayed that His Father would forgive them, for they did not know what they were doing. Our natural reaction might be to think that Our Lord really was being far too nice, yet we have to remember that our sins put Him on that cross as much as anyone else’s. It’s human nature to bear grudges and want to see justice done – but few of us would want to see justice done to ourselves. This Good Friday, try asking the Lord to highlight to you an area of unforgiveness or ill feeling in your heart, so that He can sweep it away in His merciful love. Make a commitment to forgive that person and pray for them – even if, like the Roman soldiers, they aren’t sorry. 7. Stream Masses from St. Giles or a church of your choosing Father David has been celebrating Mass daily in his home and posting videos online. He has done this to allow us to participate from our homes and make spiritual communions, by which we receive the same graces as if we had physically partaken of the Eucharist. At the risk of getting into some really deep theological water, what’s really neat about the Mass is that there is, in fact, only one – and it exists outside of space and time. Therefore, you can watch and participate any time. I recommend setting up a devoted space where you intend to stream Mass – make sure the surface is free of clutter, light some candles and perhaps even place some flowers or small statues. Approach the service with the same devotion and reverence you would when attending Church. This will make the experience special and sacred. 8. Have a couple of late nights You may wish to stay up a little later than normal on Thursday night, to watch with the Lord as He prays in the Garden. He wants His friends with Him at this moment, and will be glad of your company. You might also do the same on Saturday night as we wait for the Resurrection. 9. Make Sunday a feast day! Sunday marks the end of Lent and the most joyful day of the year in the Christian calendar. Don’t be afraid to mark the occasion with plenty of food and a glass or two of sparkling wine if you can get any. Fill your home with your favourite worship music and take the time to celebrate. 10. Take the time to worship, praise and give thanks to God for all He has done for you Because of what Jesus went through, the grave has been forever conquered, and those of us who have put our trust in Him are now called Children of God. Thanks to Him, death has lost its sting and we have an eternity in His presence to look forward to. We’ve been redeemed, reconciled to the God who so passionately loves us, and our sin has been removed as far away from us as the east is from the west, cast into a sea called Forgetfulness. Take some time to relish in your new identity, the one Jesus bought for you with His life – and give your Father glory. It’s what He wants! ...Finally, please keep checking the parish website and blog for more art, reflections and other spiritual content to make this Easter special for you. by Lucy Stothard As I was writing on Judas yesterday, I will let the Gospel (https://universalis.com/mass.htm) speak through Jan’s illustration, and will turn our attention to the first reading.
Here, we meet the Suffering Servant, an enigmatic figure described in the Book of the prophet Isaiah. This Book has been of immense importance in the Tradition of the Church; it has been often referred to as the Fifth Gospel. Its role in the sacred liturgy is prominent and it is read throughout the Sundays of Advent, on each Christmas Mass, on several Sundays during Ordinary Time, on Palm Sunday, the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. Whether by direct attribution or by mere allusion, this book stands behind much of the New Testament imagery. Who is this Suffering Servant? This question is never directly answered but we can find details in each of the oracles; they all point at Our Lord. His mission is one of whom the Lord has chosen, in whom He is well pleased and upon whom His spirit rests, who comes to establish justice The Suffering Servant himself acknowledges this mission, announcing the salvation of Israel as well as the deliverance of all nations. His mission, however, depends on God and on his faithfulness to his call which will lead to his glorification. The Servant laments the cruelty inflicted upon him; yet, he confesses his faith in God, despite having been apparently abandoned to his enemies. Turning to the gospels, we learn of Jesus' awareness of His identity as the Suffering Servant. What Jesus was trying to say about being both the Suffering Servant and the Son of Man has been first recognized in one of the oldest writings contained in the New Testament, St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, where in 15:3 he quotes a credal formula which he himself had already received: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures". The phrase "according to the scriptures" refers specifically to Isaiah; after all, the gospels were not yet written. By Fr Tomas Illustration by Jan Hearn © Anyone with any experience of being an expat or immigrant will know that it’s not easy. Far from what TV programmes such as A Place in the Sun (is that even still on?) will tell you, adjusting to life in a new country comes with its own unique set of challenges, difficulties and frustrations as well as joys. Tasks which would be simple and even mundane in your own country become enormously complicated when you combine a language barrier with bureaucracy. Making friends, establishing a routine, renting a flat and making it habitable, settling into your work – all of these things require time, and anyone who expects them to happen overnight is likely to be disappointed.
Fortunately, the Spanish have a lovely little expression: poco a poco – little by little. I heard these three little words often during my time living and working in Catalonia, from various people. They were a heartening reminder that we can and should expect good things, but that they usually only come incrementally. It’s much the same with the things of God. When the idea of becoming a nun first occurred to me, providence brought one of the founding sisters of Walsingham Community into my life. She described God as an ‘organic gardener’, meaning that He can and does knock people off their horses when the occasion calls for it, but more often than not He reveals – and accomplishes – His purposes gradually and naturally. The Roman Catholic Church understands this and teaches that salvation is a matter of lifelong co-operation with God’s grace, not merely a box that can be ticked by saying a prayer. Indeed, Benedictine nuns and monks take a vow of conversatio morum, continual conversion of life. With the exception of Our Lady, saints are not born – they are made. It’s a truth which is written across all of creation and can be particularly seen and felt at this time of year. I love the way anticipation gives way to delight as the first green shoots appear in February and the days slowly warm up before the earth erupts into the glory of May. Would a fully-fledged bird be as lovely without having once been nothing more than a tiny ball of potential encased in shell? Here in England, it is illegal to steal birds’ eggs from nests. No wonder. They are sacred, speaking forth the creative mysteries of God – and redemption. And the mystery is reflected in our own nature. Ask any artist what they enjoy about their work, and they will tell you that the creative process, the actual act of lovingly and painstakingly crafting a thing of beauty, is just as enjoyable as the end result. Indeed, the finished work would be nowhere near as satisfying without the thinking, dreaming, planning, putting pencil to paper, correcting, shading and colouring. Books have to be written, children have to be raised, journeys have to be undertaken. Bread has to be baked, and who would forego that wonderful smell? Beauty is in becoming. We must resist the urge to fast forward. It is estimated that the peak of the coronavirus pandemic in the UK is still at least a week away, and it’s only after that that the government will even think about easing the lockdown. Yet a look beyond our own shores will reveal that dawn is breaking over countries whose situation seemed hopeless only a fortnight ago. Already there is talk of shops reopening in Italy and Spaniards returning to work. Life in China appears to be returning to normal. ‘Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning’ (Psalm 30: 5). Our prayers are being answered and the Great Physician is at work – but, as in so many things, He’s working gradually and in accordance with His own perfect will and timing. He is bringing about His purposes in our own lives and in the lives of those who don’t know Him yet, but it won’t be accomplished in an instant. It is He who makes the sun rise, yet rise it must – it was never meant to be a matter of flicking a switch. by Lucy Stothard The words of Our Lord today (https://universalis.com/mass.htm) are very powerful: “What you are going to do, do quickly” (John 13:27). Jesus knows that His hour is about to come come. The cup of suffering is awaiting him, the unspeakable pain of soul and body that He must undergo. “Do it quickly”: do not delay the supreme sacrifice that will unite heaven and earth. My Passion is about to begin.
There are few names which arouse an instinctive reaction of reprobation and condemnation. In all likelihood, no one ever gives names their son Judas (similarly, the name Adolf has practically disappeared throughout Europe in the last eighty years). The very meaning of the name "Iscariot" is controversial: the usual explanation is that it means "man from Queriyyot," in reference to his native village, located in the surroundings of Hebron, mentioned twice in sacred Scripture (cf. Joshua 15:25; Amos 2:2). It is sometimes also interpreted as a variation of the term "hired assassin," armed with a dagger, called "sica" in Latin. Others recognize in his name a Hebrew-Aramaic root that literally means: "He who was going to betray him." This mention is found twice in the fourth Gospel, that is, after a confession of faith by Peter (cf. John 6:71) and later during the anointing at Bethany (cf. John 12:4). This Judas Iscariot has now received a morsel dipped in the dish and the evangelist adds laconically: "At that instant, after Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered him." As Pope Benedict XVI wrote in his Jesus of Nazareth: “Anyone who breaks off friendship with Jesus, casting off his ‘easy yoke’, does not attain liberty, does not become free, but succumbs to other powers. To put it another way, he betrays this friendship because he is in the grip of another power to which he has opened himself.” Yet Judas still understands what he has done. The Light of the World in his soul has not been completely extinguished. He realizes that he has sinned, gives the money back, but it is too late. But his remorse is devoid of hope and he takes his own life. Judas goes out — and there is night, not just in the literal sense. Judas moves out of light into darkness: the "power of darkness" has taken hold of him (cf. Jn 3:19; Lk 22:53). We will never fully understand the motives of Judas. Why did he betray Jesus? Was it greed for money? Was he jealous of someone clearly more gifted and talented? Were there political reasons because Jesus was not the kind of Messiah he was expecting, one to lead an armed liberation of their country? By all means, Judas was a very conflicted man who ended up doing something immensely horrible even if it may not have been his first intention. But let us remember: Judas had a choice. He was created with a free will to accept or reject God. In his case, Judas chose self over God. We too, have a choice. By Fr Tomas We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
We brought Jesus’ body to a tomb and I arranged it there myself, silently weeping, silently rejoicing. I took one more look at my loving Son, and then walked out. They closed the tomb and before I left, I thought, I knew this had to be...it had to be for you! I would wait in faith silently. Let us pray: Yes, my Lord, this had to be because you loved me, and for no other reason. All you ask is that I live a good life. You never said such a life would be easy. I am willing to leave sin behind and live for you alone, in my brothers and sisters. By the cross with thee to stay, There with thee to weep and pray, Is all I ask of thee to give. Illustration by Jan Hearn © Posted by Fr Tomas |
Lucy Stothard & Fr David & Fr TomasLucy is an Intern at S Giles, Fr Tomas is is our curate, and Fr David is the vicar. We hope to offer some regular words of encouragement during this difficult time. Archives
May 2020
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