4.09.2009

Resurrexit !


"And this food is called among us Eucharistia, of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise we have been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the Apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels have delivered unto us which was enjoined upon them."
—St Justin the Martyr

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Music: Bach's St. Matthew's Passion; Arvo Part's Passio (Hillard Ensemble)


Tenebrae and the Last Supper




Tenebrae
is a Latin word meaning "shadows" or "darkness."

This is the name given to quiet, somber parts of the Liturgy of the Hours that are chanted in monasteries all over the world on the last three days of Holy Week, begining a Midnight on Wednesday flowing into Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Since the 5th century the custom has been to grdually snuff the candles in the church so that the congregation is enveloped in darkness, a symbol for our lives without the Light of the World.

These prayers manifest our sorrow, a deep grief for the suffering and crucifixion Jesus, our Lord. Such grief acknowledges our own acts of betrayal, our dreadful choices with long reaching consequences, our abandonment of the laws of Divine Love and the pain, loss and darkness of our personal sins.

A Tenebrae service is an opportunity for serious reflection on one's own life. The readings are taken from Lamenation of Jeremias and the Psalms.

These solemn, mournful days of reflection are the proper prelude to Joy, and the the expanding, conquering light of Glory on Easter Morning.

On Holy Thursday, sometimes called Maundy Thursday, the liturgy includes the
Washing of the Feet after the homily, a solemn rite of service performed by Christ upon His disciples to prepare them for their priesthood and the marriage banquet they will offer, and which echoes the Old Testament practice of foot-washing before the marital embrace (II Kings 11:8-11, Canticles 5:3) In front of all the people, the priest washes the feet of 12 men who represent the Apostles.





And during supper Jesus ... got up from the table, took off His outer robe, and tied a towel around Himself. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around Him ... After He had washed their feet, had put on His robe, and had returned to the table, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord – and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."
John 13:2-14


After the Mass, the priest removes his chasuble, returns to the Altar for the rite known as the Stripping of the Altars, during which everything is removed as Antiphons and Psalms are recited. All the glorious symbols of Christ's Presence are removed to give us the sense of His entering most fully into His Passion. Christ enters the Garden of Gethsemani; His arrest is imminent. Fortescue's "Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described" tells us: "From now till Saturday no lamps in the church are lit. No bells are rung. Holy Water should be removed from all stoups and thrown into the sacrarium. A small quantity is kept for blessing the fire on Holy Saturday or for a sick call." The joyful signs of His Presence won't return until Easter begins with the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday evening.


"O Lord Jesus Christ the son of the living God, set thy passion, cross, and death between thy judgment and my soul, now, and in the hour of my death and vouchsafe to grant unto me grace and mercy: to the living and the dead rest and pardon: to thy Church peace and concord, and to us sinners life and glory everlasting, who livest and reignest, God, with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end."






Listen with yore eyes closed for 6 minutes.... jes' a few minutes to think on your life.

12 comments:

h said...

You opted to chastise me BEFORE this weekend's post was up! What the heck is a "K of M"?

Anonymous said...

Aunty Belle,
Youse is a fine educatoor of the bloggers, a one woman public service!
Thanky, may yore Easter be blessed with much joy.

Troll, how did you get chastised? Me, I just got reminded how important it is to be a stand up Christian.

Aunty Belle said...

Oh Troll Honey Chile--no no--nebber chastises mah dear Troll!! Jes' remindin' ya that we folks need to look toward Easter now fer a few days. Thas' all.

K of M? Why darlin' thas' yore own moniker--King of Mute.

Howdy Anon....I'se 'preciatin' yore kin d words.

h said...

Aunty,

Aha, Now I get it. We don't do Tenebrae services. I'm not doing a darned thing until Sunday and feel guilty about it.

Twas K9 that made that "King of" Logo. Not that I wouldn't be conceited enough to do it myself!

sparringK9 said...

i also like the imagery associated with palm sunday - the King arriving on a lowly ass. humility is what prevented so many from recognizing that Light..they were looking for the signs of power more common to earthly kings.

these days are indeed somber and as you say aunty when we meditate on the corporeal body of Christ we reflect on how we have added to the weight of his sacrifice. i am reminded of a black painting by the weirdly modern fra angelica with the blindfolded man, the judas kiss and the breath of Life.

tomorrow i would normally attend the tres ore but instead i think i am going to paint - i always draw in the 3 hours...but i was greatly annoyed last year as bishop gregory chose to use the time to lead us in prayer for his political pet projects and filling the time with stupid busy work. frankly, we should sit there and have no interruptions.

great post. will listen to the music tomorrow.

moi said...

Lovely, Aunty, thank you!

fishy said...

Aunty Belle,
So good of you to post images and information which help us all stay centered on the messages of Holy Week.
On a lighter note, I have posted my favorite symbol of rebirth thru Christ over at the Pond.

Happy Easter, Peace Be With You All.

Jenny said...

This is wonderful. Thank you for the images, words and sound.

I plan to incorporate new things into my day tomorrow.

xoxox and have a blessed Easter.

sparringK9 said...

aunty come by the dog pen to see my tre ore painting.

darkfoam said...

have a blessed easter, aunty ..
i truly enjoyed listening to your last youtube video.

fishy said...

AUNTY BELLE,
THERE IS AN AWESOME EASTER PRESENT FOR ALL US BLOGGERS OVER AT THE POND. COME READ !!!!

fishy said...

Morning Has Broken, is one of my all time favorites. Really puts me in touch with the message.

Beautiful Easter service in these parts, orchestra with drums, trombones, flutes, violin, bg piano and the choir...lovely experience. Flowers were beautiful ferns, white dogwoods, yellow iris .....bountiful. Sermon was great....make a joyful noise!

Pond eggs are posted.
Have a blessed day!