Once I Was A Clever Boy: Patristics for Palm Sunday

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 24 March 2024

Patristics for Palm Sunday

Last year on Palm Sunday I reproduced two sets of readings from the Traditional Breviary Office of Matins. They are from a sermon by St Leo the Great and St Ambrose’s commentary on St Luke.

I think both are very well worth reading as we enter Holy Week and therefore I am inking to them both for anyone who would like to read, or re-read them:

St Leo the Great on the Passion

St Ambrose on Palm Sunday

Quite apart from their apposite wss at this point in the liturgical year they are also fine examples of the style of both authors.