Easter Day

Christ is Risen, Alleluia! He is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!

The Resurrection
Piero della Francesca c.1463
Sansepolchro, Tuscany

Image:Spectator

I originally posted this piece in 2011 and have decided to do so again this year, with some adaptation and additions.

The depiction of Our Lord is one of the most powerful ever created and impresses itself deep into one's consciousness. It is one of the few which have attempted to capture the moment of Resurrection, although carving from the same periood in alabaster from English workshops are well known as are smaller manuscript and embroidered depictions. Aldous Huxley described Piero's work  in an essay in 1925 as "the greatest painting in the world." For Huxley here was the face of someone who had indeed conquered Death and Hell.

There are online articles about Piero della Francesca's The Resurrection here and here. There are also more recent posts by Christopher Booker: The mathematical revolution behind 'the greatest picture in the world' and by Christine Zappella:Piero della Francesca, Resurrection

These articles refer to its near destruction in the Second World War, and there is more about the man who ensured its survival, Tony Clarke, in The man who saved The Resurrection

"Does not a ray of light issue from Jesus, growing brighter accross the centuries, that could not come from any mere man and through which the light of God truly shines into the world? Could the apostolic preaching have found faith and built up a worldwide community unless the power of truth had been at work within it?

If we attend to the witnesses with listening hearts and open ourselves to the signs by which the Lord again and again authenticates both them and himself, then we know that he is truly risen. He is alive. Let us entrust ourselves to him, knowing that we are on the right path. With Thomas let us place our hands into Jesus' pierced side and confess: "My Lord and my God!" "

Pope Benedict XVI

Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week

2011

From pp.276-77

Easter in Oxford

I spent the Triduum and Easter, as usual these days, in Oxford.

Maundy Thursday began, as I have previously mentioned, at Blackfriars with Tenebrae. After leading agroup out to show them Blenheim Palace - a bit dispiriting in the rain, but always spectacular - it was back for Mass and the vigil until Compline and the walk back home at midnight.

On Good Friday I had arranged to have breakfast in the city with a friend at 8.20 before going to our seperate devotions. I went again to Blackfriars for Tenebrae, then spent the day quietly before going to the Solemn Liturgy at 3 - always very well attended at bthe Oxford Oratory amnd always very dignified - and then after a cup of tea, back to church for the Stations of the Cross at 7.

Holy Saturday I went again to Tenebrae, and then spent much of the day acting as the porter in the Oratory shop before going to Confession. After that there was supper and then back to the Oratory for the Easter Vigil. The rain meant we stayed in church for the lighting of the New Fire in the porch and then followed the accustomed ceremonies. The Oratory had four baptisms and two receptions into the Church. Afterards I went for a celebratory drink with one of those received at the Vigil and his sponsor.

Easter Day followed its usual pattern at the Oratory, with the Solemn Mass ending, as is out custom, with the choir singing the Hallelujah Chorus. Afterwards there was time to have adrink and talk to freinds in the Social Centre before being invited to join friends who were going off for a Lebanese lunch at arestaurant in the Cowley Road - so we made up a British, Australian, Anglo-Irish and Anglo-American, Italian and Brazilian group to witness to the joy of the Resurrection and the Catholicity of the Church. Then back in a taxi and a fine Five Cope Vespers at the Oratory.

Today I am off to Mass at 10 and then plan on having a bit of time to myself reading a book about the reign of King Richard II.

A fixed date for Easter?

The recent comments by the
Archbishop of Canterbury about his hope of seeing a fixed date for Easter - probably the second weekend of April - established within the next ten years or do has attracted headlines in some of the press, and comment from others.

There has, of course, been provision in British statute law for a fixed date since the 1920s once agreement has been reached with other denominations as to the date.

The Vatican has since 1990 accepted the same principle as to the date.

Talking to an acquaintance of markedly Traditionalist opinions who argued that such a move would lead to a split in the Catholic Church, with people like himself insisting on celebrating Easter on the traditional/Traditional date makes it clear that such a move would quickly become contentious.

Such a split occurred with the abandonment by the western Latin church, and, eventually its estranged Protestant children of the Julian calendar in favour of the Gregorian reform in 1582 and subsequent years ( in Britain in 1600 in Scotland, in 1752 in England and Wales ), whereas the Orthodox still retain the Julian system.

Bede's account of the problems addressed by the Synod of Whitby in 663 might then become not just a matter of past history but of contemporary controversy.

Personally I am inclined to doubt if such a move will happen given the existing East-West divide on the issue, let alone more local difficulties.

I also doubt if it should happen. We have successfully managed this far with a moveable Easter, and that adds interest to the year, depending upon whether it is early or late. Bowing to external pressure for change to a settled date would be to agree to the secular agenda of the world, not to challenge it by having Easter when the full moon falls in accordance with the Biblical calendar.

Easter in Oxford

Maundy Thursday started for me with Tenebrae at Blackfriars in the Dominicans' version of the ancient office. It has become my practice to attend this during the Triduum. In the evening I went to the Oratory for the Mass of the Lord's Supper. There was a fine, reflective sermon on Priesthood from Fr Richard Biggerstaffe of the St Barnabas Society. I managed, just about, to stay awake for the Watch at the Altar of Repose, and went home after Compline.

On Good Friday I was back at Blackfriars for Tenebrae, and for the Midday Office before going to the

Solemn Liturgy at the Oratory, at which Bishop William Kenney, the area assistant bishop, presided. As always this drew a large congregation.

The High Alatar at the Oxford Oratory prepared for the Communion on Good Friday

Image: Oxford Oratory website

Following the liturgy, and apause for a cup of tea with friends, I returned to the Oratory for Stations of the Cross and the customary blessing with a relic of the True Cross - and helped in dismantling the large Crucifix which the Oratory sets up on Good Friday in the forecourt.

Holy Saturday found me starting again with Tenebrae at Blackfriars again, then going along to the Oratory, where Easter/Spring cleaning was going on all over St Aloysius'. I was set the task of emptying the font of last years baptismal water and then polished the temporary brass font ready for the evening's ceremonies. I am quite adab hand at polishing silver and brass, though I say it myself. This was further manifested as a ministry by helping a friend clean the silver thurible, chipping away at the deposit of shellac-like residue inside the lid, and was told of how it had been rescued from the wreck of church during the Spanish Civil War by a volunteer fighting alongside the Nationalists, whose son has passed it on to St Aloysius.

Apart from abreak for the Midday Office back at Blackfriars taht took much of the afternoon before I made my confession - I try to leave that as late as possible at Easter - and then Vespers at Blackfriars.

After a meal it was back to the Oratory for the Easter Vigil, where we had two baptisms and a reception into full communion. The sermon was again from Fr Biggerstaffe, who drew out the significanc eof being known and called by name by the God we know in Christ.

This year's Paschal Candle has been painted once again by Freddie Quartley. As this is the five-hundredth anniversary year of the birth of St Philip Neri, the candle depicts him, as well as angels holding instruments of the Passion, copied from the cupola by Melozzo da Forli in the Basilica of Loreto:

Images: Oxford Oratory website

On Easter Day I attended the mid-morning Solemn Mass which was celebrated by Bishop Robert Byrne who is the former Provost of the Oratory. Fr Joseph's sermon reflected on the privacy and intimacy of the Resurrection itself - that was the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in action, not an event to be witnessed by outsiders. Witnesses came later that first Easter morning. This was a suitably splendid liturgy, concluding, as is the Oratory's custom on Easter Day, with the "Hallelujah Chorus" to send us out in the spirit of the Resurrection - and off for a gin and tonic in the parish centre and time to relax with fellow parishioners,

Solemn Vespers was, I think, better attended than in some recent years, and we had theOffice sung responsively between the clergy in choir and the singers in the west gallery. There was an impressive line-up in the liturgical choir with a bishop and a monsignor joining the Oratorians and other local clergy.

And finally, after all that, it was off for a very enjoyable dinner with a friend and his family at their home.

The Fathers and Brothers of the Oratory wish you all every joy of the Resurrection and a blessed Easter.

The Resurrection

Raffaelino del Garbo

Images: Oxford Oratory website

He is Risen, Alleluia

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

The Resurrection

Raffaellino del Garbo (1466/76 - 1527)

Painted in 1510 for the abbey of Monte Oliveto, now in the

Galleria dell' Accademia, Florence

Image: theanglocatholic.com

A happy, blessed and joyful Easter to you all

He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

He is Risen! Alleluia!

The Resurrection of Christ 

 El Greco

Image: raindeocampo

The Resurrection is an event without precedent or parallel, and difficult for artists to depict satisfactorily without producing a stage-like effect. However I think El Greco's blend of Mannerism and Greek sprituality with traditional Catholic forms does convey more successfully the dynamic force of what must have been the reality - realism is not enough for such a, literally, earth shattering and earth changing event.

A holy and joyful Easter to you all   

Celebrating the Triduum in Oxford

As last year - for which see Observing the Triduum - I spent most of the Triduum serving at SS Gregory and Augustine here in Oxford - they were short of servers so I went there rather than to the Oratory from Thursday to Saturday. However I did also manage to get to Tenebrae at Blackfriars on Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday - my post from last year about its observance can be read at Tenebrae at Blackfriars, and I attended the Stations of the Cross at The Oratory on the evening of Good Friday.

On Maundy Thursday I was acting as second thurifer for the procession to the altar of Repose, helped with the stripping of the altar and stayed for the watch until Compline. On Good Friday, suitably armed with a purificator, I assisted with the Veneration of the Cross and then was back on Holy Saturday to help get the church ready for the Vigil. Here I was again thurifer, avoided getting burned fishing the charcoals out of the new fire, and read two of the prophetic readings. I was rather touched when the Deacon, my friend Daniel Lloyd from the Ordinariate, and like me an old Pusey House man, said how right it felt to be serving together again after, as we worked it out nine years since we kept the Triduum with other Puseyites at Ascot Priory. Daniel was there to sing the Exsultet and act as Deacon of the Mass - the last opportunity he will have to exercise his diaconal ministry in the former capacity before his priestly ordination on April 21st.

I have been promised photographs of the altars and statues as vested for the occasion at SS Gregory and Augustine - that of Our Lady looked particularly fine with a cope, lace veil and crown, and will post them when I receive them.

On Easter Day I was back for the Solemn Mass at the Oxford Oratory in the morning. As is the tradition at the Oratory this ended with the choir singing the Hallelujah Chorus - and confirming for one the sense that indeed the Kingdom of this world has become the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ.

After a trip out with the Oratory Sacristan into the Oxfordshire countryside for lunch at Bladon and tea at Lower Heyford I was back at the Oratory for Solemn Vespers sung by the Fathers and choir and finally Benediction to close the liturgical day.

All in all a good observance of the Triduum and of Easter Day, and, coming at the end of a Lent which was, I think, spiritually profitable and yielded insights I had not expected on Ash Wednesday, I do have a sense of spiritual rebirth. The thing now is to hang on to it...

The Day of Resurrection

The Resurrection from a missal belonging to Henry of Chichester, Precentor of Crediton.
He is recorded as having given a missal with gilded pages to Exeter cathedral in 1277, and this is presumably it. The manuscript is linked to the Sarum Master who worked circa 1250, and it is now in the John Rylands Library in Manchester.

Image: english.cam.ac.uk

A blessed, joyful and happy Easter to you all

Christ is Risen Alleluia

The Resurrection
Piero della Francesca c.1463
Sansepolchro, Tuscany

Described in an essay by Aldous Huxley as "the greatest painting in the world" there are online articles about Piero della Francesca's The Resurrection here and here.

Does not a ray of light issue from Jesus, growing brighter accross the centuries, that could not come from any mere man and through which the light of God truly shines into the world? Could the apostolic preaching have found faith and built up a worldwide community unless the power of truth had been at work within it?

If we attend to the witnesses with listening hearts and open ourselves to the signs by which the Lord again and again authenticates both them and himself, then we know that he is truly risen. He is alive. Let us entrust ourselves to him, knowing that we are on the right path. With Thomas let us place our hands into Jesus' pierced side and confess: "My Lord and my God!"

Pope Benedict XVI

Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week

2011

From pp.276-77

Easter in Oxford

I observed Holy Week and the Triduum in Oxford at the Oratory, and with the addition of Tenebrae on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, and, although I could not get to Tenebrae that day, Vespers on Holy Saturday at Blackfriars. All the liturgies, as one would expect, were performed with the dignity and mood appropriate to the particular day. The Easter Vigil, celebrated by Bishop William, the auxiliary Bishop for this part of the archdiocese, had that excitement and tangible sense of the immediacy of Resurrection in the here and now that always makes it such a high point of the year.

On Easter Day I was at the 9.30 Mass at the Oratory to act as witness to the reception into the Church of a recently acquired German friend, Andreas Groeger, who works in Oxford. This was followed by the 11 Solemn Mass, and a celebratory drink with friends in the parish social centre. Late afternoon there was Solemn Vespers and Benediction at the Oratory, followed by more exchanging of Easter wishes with friends. After that there was dinner with Andreas, his mother.who had travelled over from Germany for the occasion, his sponsor and another German friend at an excellent Indian restaurant in the Cowley Road. All in all a day of celebration, renewal and new beginnings - which is very much what Easter is about.