Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Sunday 16 August 2020

Celebrating the Assumption


Yesterday was the traditional Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady and today has been its External Solemnity. 


Assumption of the Virgin Mary. 
London, Worshippful Company of Skinners' Book.  Late fifteenth century. 

Image: The Roman Anglican

So on Friday I watched the online the sung First Vespers of the Assumption from the Oxford Oratory. Yesterday lunchtime I attended the Mass for the Feast in the Extraordinary Form at the Oratory and today I was there again when the Oratory offered a  Solemn Mass with a full complement of clergy at the 11 o’clock Latin OF Mass.

This weekend’s double celebration of the Assumption - and the possibilities it offered - recently caught the vigilant eye of Fr Hunwicke who blogged about the various forms the traditional Mass for the Feast has taken over recent centuries in an informed and lively post which can be read at The Assumption: dodgy celebrants


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